Amid the growing popularity of streaming South Korean music, movies, and series, there seems to be a great appreciation and interest in South Korean entertainment (known as K-Dramas and K-Pop), which includes a growing number of music artists making music in Genres like pop, EDM, rap, rock, punk, emo, hip-hop and R&B.
Riding this global renaissance in K-pop music is South Korean group ONEUS (pronounced ONE US), who debuted their debut mini-album LIGHT US in January 2019. Following the instant success of the lead song "Valkyrie," which peaked at #15 on the Billboard Digital Sales Chart, ONEUS was welcomed as a new contender in the K-pop music space.
2019 was just the beginning for ONEUS as they quickly released two more mini-albums (RAISE US and FLY WITH US) in 2019, followed by a six-city US tour, and peaked in 2020 and 2021 with the release of their debut studio album ( DEVIL) and 3 more mini-albums (LIVED, BINARY and BLOOD MOON). With strong sales and songs that continue to climb the US Billboard charts, ONEUS continued to gain popularity in K-pop and the global music industry. ONEUS was also selected as one of Billboard's K-Pop Artists of 2020 and one of Billboard's K-Pop Artists of 2022.
2022 was a big year for ONEUS
2022 proved to be a monumental year for ONEUS as they embarked on a 13-city US tour and released two mini-albums (TRICKSTER and MALUS) that propelled ONEUS to over 1 million album sales and secured #1 and #1 spots. 2 points in the South Korean sales charts. The singles "LUNA" from the BLOOD MOON album as well as the single "Bring It On" from the TRICKSTER album and the single "Same Scent" from the MALUS album ensured that ONEUS not only scored points in the global music charts, but that topped the social media charts around the world, which generated traction and momentum for their music and interest in their performances.
Through timely and intelligent social media engagement, ONEUS has built a global audience that steadfastly supports and enthusiastically celebrates every album release, concert and tour announcement. The five members of ONEUS (Keonhee, Leedo, Seoho, Hwanwoong, Xion) work tirelessly with their dedicated fanbase known as TO MOON to create an immersive, curated music experience that's as compelling as it is exciting. [The fanname TO MOON is based on the lyrics of the song "Zig Zag" by ONEUS: "Like the earth and the moon, I revolve around you" - meaning that fans always revolve around ONEUS and share a common cause of love and Appreciation "to the moon and back".]
A good example of ONEUS' specially curated content is the playful homage to the 2022 film "Top Gun: Maverick" in which they performed the choreography to Kenny Loggins' song "Danger Zone", a song by One Republic ."I'm not worried"and music otherwise"Soldiers"There is also a charming making-of accompanying this video (see below), which offers a glimpse into the legal and professional dynamics of ONEUS members.
The Reach for Us world tour
2023 is poised to be a stellar year for ONEUS as they are currently touring 10 cities across the US before heading to South America to continue their REACH FOR US world tour in 2023:
12. Januar – New York (Apollo Theatre)
January 14 – Washington DC. (MGM National Harbor Theater)
16. Januar – Atlanta, GA (Coca-Cola Roxy)
18. Januar – Orlando, FL (House of Blues)
21. Januar – Madison, WI (The Orpheum Theatre)
January 24 – St. Louis, MO (The Factory in the Borough of St. Louis)
27. Januar – Fort Worth, TX (Will Rogers Auditorium)
29. Januar – Houston, TX (713 Music Hall)
February 2 - Phoenix, AZ (Marquee Theater)
February 4 – Los Angeles, California (Pasadena Civic Auditorium)
7. Februar – Puerto Rico (Coca-Cola Music Hall)
February 10 – Mexico City (Pepsi Center WTC)
12. Februar – Santiago de Chile (Coliseum Theater)
15. Februar – São Paulo (Audio Club)
For ONEUS, their music career is just beginning, and in an exclusive interview, the members spoke about some of the things they appreciate about their current position as musicians, as well as how they got started and some of the cool things they've been doing over the year to do that happened during the tour. Watch our interview with ONEUS below.
Our exclusive ONEUS interview
What originally made you want to be a singer/dancer/idol?
Seoho: I actually had stage fright! I started going to auditions and it slowly went away. That's when I realized that I wanted to do this.
Leedo: When I was younger, I also saw other people singing and dancing on stage. It looked really cool and I realized I wanted to do that too.
Keonhee: Music has always been a comfort to me. I wanted to be the person who could share that love and comfort with others.
Hwanwoong: I wanted to be a singer since I was 6 years old. My friends realized I could make it when I won first place on the high school dance talent show. After that there was no stopping me.
Xion: I remember seeing artists perform and making people emotional. Happy, sad, excited, whatever, they sang along. I also wanted to evoke these emotions in people.
Looking back on ONEUS' debut in 2019, what was the first big goal you wanted to achieve?
Seoho: We wanted to be on every music show/show.
Leedo: To be on stage for us.
Keonhee: I wanted to give our fans the best possible show.
Hwanwoong: Win at a music show.
Xion: I also wanted to be first in a music program. I really don't care about the ratings, but I wanted to give something back to our fans.
How did you feel when you achieved this goal?
Hwanwoong: I was really proud of our team. We put in the work and did what we had to do. It made me work harder and keep making our fans proud on and on and on.
What other significant accomplishments are you most proud of since the band's debut?
Keonhee: The fact that the fans are on our side. That's the most precious thing - that's what I'm most proud of. I love performing on stage, at awards shows and charts, but the most important thing is the fans.
What is the current new goal you want to achieve as a band in the future?
Xion: There have been so many good things lately, but also some not so good things. I want to be able to overcome anything to become a stronger and more energetic ONEUS.
ONEUS had a strong year with rising album sales for the albums BLOOD MOON, TRICKSTER and MALUS as well as last year's BLOOD MOON tour and this year's current REACH FOR US tour. Which key moment and which success particularly impressed you in 2022?
Leedo: When we won an award for TO MOON.
Their albums are known for having different themes. How would you describe the themes of BLOOD MOON, TRICKSTER and MALUS? Where do these topics come from?
Keonhee: BLOOD MOON is really personal. It's about the person you love the most, but it just doesn't work. TRICKSTER is the alien. It's like a wild card - you can hide in plain sight and then come out and change the game. MALUS is more about us and how we express ourselves, especially our dangerous side.
Are these themes personal to the band, the members, or just a cool theme you want to express through your music?
Hwanwoong: Every song we share means something personal to us, both individually and as a band. We grow stronger when we hear the music we create together.
What song you released does each of you carry in your heart? What does this song mean to you?
Seoho: "Red Thread" and "LUNA". I love how we all sound on it.
Leedo: "Valkyrie". This song made ONEUS what we are today
Keonhee: "An easily written song" means a lot to me. I've always wanted to be an artist, helping people deal with and process their emotions. I remember we were playing and during my solo one fan got incredibly emotional. She later told us that her father recently passed away and that music helped her get over it. I am incredibly blessed and will never forget being able to comfort a fan like this.
Hwanwoong: "LIT" probably. My singing wasn't always great, so I always sang the chorus to improve. This song helped me achieve my dream.
Xion: "Intro: Time" from our second mini-album. I opened the door to music for the first time and our fans loved it. It really helped boost my confidence.
What is the one element that you think defines who ONEUS is as a musician?
Seoho: It's hard to single out just one element, but I think it's definitely our stamina.
Leedo: Lucky. We create happy memories with TO MOON and let them create their own memories with our music. We also create beautiful memories together on stage.
Keonhee: Each member has their own charms, each of us has our own color and voice. Our greatest strength is to unite our individuality and become ONEUS. We are a team that complements each other.
Xion: ONEUS is ONEUS. We exist because of the members and who we are as people.
Hwanwoong: I think it's the freedom of musical genre, concept and point of view. Being able to show all of our personalities is what makes us thrive.
You have released many albums in recent years. What drives you and motivates you to work at this pace?
Keonhee: passion. I want to be the best that I can be. I want to protect ONEUS and everything we create. Everything we do is for the fans - to thank them for standing with us. We want to keep putting on the best shows and doing our best.
Hwanwoong: We always want to move forward. The K-Pop market continues to move and expand, and we don't want to be left behind.
Xion: It's the energy. From our fans to our members, we want to keep building this community.
Is there a style of music or genre you still want to explore?
Seoho: Hip-hop, but I also want to be able to show my voice.
Leedo: I want to try more band vibe. I want ONEUS to mix with other bands.
What inspires you in your professional life?
Seoho: It's the passion for the work and the desire to keep going.
Leedo: The love and support for the fans.
Keonhee: None of this would be possible without the fans. I always want to be their strength and continue to make them proud.
Hwanwoong; My parents! I love making my parents proud (and showing them how cool I am!). I would like to travel with my family soon.
Xion: It's every member of ONEUS. There are days when I feel like I don't want to do anything, but they are always there to pick me up.
What do you see or experience that contributes to your artistry and serves as a muse that you incorporate into your music and performances?
Hwanwoong: I enjoy watching other artists perform, either in person or in online videos. I will use others as an example when building and creating our songs and performances. I love seeing how other people express themselves.
What visual elements are you most proud of and what have you contributed to your musical and stage performances?
Keonhee: We use our time on stage to share and illustrate the story of ONEUS. Sometimes it seems impossible, but it's incredibly exciting.
How would you describe your music and performance style now?
Hwanwoong: I think our music resonates and can be enjoyed by everyone. It's not just generational. We sing about experiences that everyone can understand and empathize with. The lyrics are catchy and fun, and each album has a distinct concept and color. We really appeal to the masses. Our performances are also based on the concepts of the album. It's a complete experience.
What do you enjoy most about creating, practicing and playing your songs?
Seoho: When fans are happy.
Leedo: I love knowing that there are people out there who enjoy our work and are excited for what's next.
What advice would you give to the next generation of K-Pop trainees or those considering a K-Pop career?
Leedo: “Trust in yourself and the people in your life who believe in you. It won't be easy and there will be many obstacles, but if you believe in yourself and your dream, you will make it. Don't let pride get in the way.”
Keonhee: “It will be really difficult at the beginning, but you have to keep going. The challenge is nice. Don't be afraid to fail and find the courage within yourself to move forward.”
What do you wish someone had told you about being a K-Pop artist that you didn't know when you became a trainee?
Seoho: I can't think of anything special. I like challenges and solve them myself, also with lots of people and advice at my side.
Leedo: I would like to hear that you should believe in me a little more. "Remember that there are many people who support and trust you and your talent."
Keonhee: "Take care of yourself and believe in yourself a little more. However, you will learn as you go.
Xion: I want to tell them not to get discouraged and keep going in the direction they want. "There are few opportunities you grab before they're gone - don't be embarrassed. Stop worrying about others and do what makes you happy.”
Hwanwoong: I wouldn't be where I am if I just listened to people around me and didn't trust my gut. "Prove what you want to do and do it."
What do you think is the biggest compliment from your fans, the TO MOONs?
Seoho: : I think it's: "I will continue to support you!"
Leedo: "Thank you."
Keonhee: We enjoy our music and being on stage. I personally love to hear "you're cute and cool" but the best part is actually seeing the fans enjoying the music.
Xion: "You made my difficult days a little easier." I want to send good vibes and energy to TO MOON. When they share that they have gained a little strength with us, I will always be grateful. I promise to keep working on it.
Hwanwoong: "You are the last idol in my life."
What do you think is the most important thing to keep your passion for music alive?
Leedo: Effort. I can share my passion and make TO MOON happy by always doing my best.
Hwanwoong: It's important to keep challenging myself. If I'm not excited about what we're achieving, it's hard to make everyone happy.
What's next for you? What can your fans expect?
Keonhee: I want to keep telling stories. I promise I will always work to tell you something nice.
Xion: We are now on our first world tour. We work a lot for the global TO MOON and are very happy to see you.
With endless tenacity, passion and creativity, ONEUS strive to keep going higher and further with their music, enjoying every day to the fullest with their loyal TO MOON fans. This desire to celebrate is inviting and creates a mutually satisfying experience for all who participate in ONEUS' musical journey.
To learn more about ONEUS and their music, you can join the celebration and learn more through their official social media accounts atInstagram,Facebook, zYoutube.
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