[Interview] Zero Base One: "From Nine to Five Members... Our Story Begins Now"

First Steps as a Five-Member Group with Mini Album "Ascend-"

"TOP 5" Reinterprets 2000s Dance Pop

"A Turning Point to Prove Our Identity as Artists"

Zero Base One is engaging in an interview at a cafe in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 15th. (From left) Park Gunwook, Kim Taerae, Sung Hanbin, Matthew Seok, Kim Jiwoong. Provided by Wake One

They let go and pared down. The fifth-generation idol group Zero Base One has reduced its lineup from nine to five members, and now stands at the starting line once again. With their sixth mini-album, "Ascend-," the theme they present is a return to "essence." Instead of seeking glamorous descriptors to mark their next leap, they have chosen to reconnect with their roots. After closing one chapter and beginning a new one, we met them on May 15 at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul.

Zero Base One said, "Since this is our first time showing a new side of ourselves as five members, we prepared with a determined mindset to turn crisis into opportunity." Having raced forward without rest for three years since their debut, they now face the challenge of the team’s reorganization at its peak, and they expressed their resolve to tackle it head-on. Sung Hanbin emphasized, "What hasn't changed are our passion and the intensity in our eyes," adding, "Because this is the first album we are presenting as five, we poured an immense amount of passion into it." Kim Taerae said, "I hope we can paint an even bigger picture for the future together with these great members."

The key theme of this album is "essence." In the process of questioning the group's identity, they put their bond with fans at the forefront. Sung Hanbin defined it as follows: "Because we debuted through a survival program vote, knowing exactly what the love of our fans means is our essence." Kim Jiwoong also said, "Through these changes, I’ve felt many emotions, such as happiness and sadness," and added, "Rather than exaggerating or embellishing, I thought that showing our mature selves as we are now would be the way to communicate more closely with our fans."

The title track, "TOP 5," is a reinterpretation of 2000s dance pop. The group studied Michael Jackson and explored the "aesthetics of minimalism." Park Gunwook explained, "Rather than making the performance flashy, we created choreography and visuals that feel refined by keeping things clean and minimal." Sung Hanbin shared, "Since many of us were born in the 2000s, it was a challenge to fully understand this concept. We watched videos of artists who made musical history and sought advice from the company and those around us to develop our own style." Kim Jiwoong added, "Even in interior design, leaving some empty spaces can look more sophisticated than filling everything up. We tried to capture that sense of aesthetic space in this album."

The expansion of their musical spectrum also stands out. Park Gunwook showcased his abilities as a creator with his first self-composed song, "Customize," a pop rock track depicting the state of losing oneself as emotions deepen. He said, "After finishing it, I realized the song was quite difficult, which surprised me, but I’m grateful to the members for delivering the results just as I had imagined." Kim Jiwoong commented, "Gunwook tailored a suit for us that fits perfectly."

The bond with former members remains strong. Matthew Seok said, "We finished the last tour concert with the mindset of showing our unique color as a nine-member group one last time. I’m happy that the process of ending one chapter and starting a new one wrapped up beautifully." Park Gunwook added, "The group chat for all nine of us still exists. Sometimes, members send us missions via KakaoTalk during live broadcasts, and we still meet up for meals and cheer each other on."

Regarding the timing of their comeback overlapping with the group "Andouble," which includes former members, Sung Hanbin said, "Rather than seeing it as a competition, I believe that promoting together and receiving attention will create a positive synergy. Just having our names mentioned in the world once more is good viral exposure."

Zero Base One is attending an interview at a cafe in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Provided by Wake One

Zero Base One is participating in an interview at a cafe in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Provided by Wake One

The hyphen (-) at the end of the album title "Ascend-" symbolizes "an unending leap." Park Gunwook emphasized, "If our previous music told the story of going from zero to one, now is the point where Zero Base One will fully unfold the story after reaching one."

The album, which will be released at 6 p.m. on May 18, consists of seven tracks in total, starting with the cinematic score "Intro.," followed by "V for Vision," "Exotic," "Changes," and ending with "Zero to Hundred."

The goals for this comeback are to enter the top ranks of the music charts and to promote in a healthy way. Park Gunwook said, "I’m currently the MC of 'M Countdown,' and I want to experience the feeling of receiving a trophy directly with the members." Sung Hanbin remarked, "During the two-month hiatus, I thought deeply about how I should approach this album for the fans who waited for us. I hope to hear our songs playing everywhere on the streets." Matthew Seok shared, "I think this album is a 'music hotspot.' I’m confident that if we move forward with faith in ourselves, our fans will recognize our sincerity."

Having built a foundation for their leap, their journey is now at a new turning point. Sung Hanbin said, "They say time never lies, and because we’ve spent so much time together, we've become more adept at communicating with each other. Recently, we’ve had deeper conversations about what we want to do and what our group stands for, which has strengthened our bond."

Kim Jiwoong said, "Now, just by looking into each other's eyes, I can tell what the other members are thinking. With our hearts wide open and united in purpose, we’ll continue to have fun as we promote together." Kim Taerae added, "I want to continue being an artist that we can all be proud of going forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.