![]() Each and every one of our fans refused to give up on us, and it’s just so fulfilling to see that from the stage. Now that more people know you and the number of fans has increased, how does it feel? Donghun: It brings me to tears every time. We hit bottom, and then we were on our way up, so we didn’t have anything to lose. Never mind getting lessons, we didn’t even have a mirror at the studio to look at ourselves while practicing. There were times when we couldn’t practice because we didn’t have a studio. But there were maybe six to seven people, and they left as well.ĭid you have any other difficulties in the early days as well? Jun: We’ve had our share of woes. We did it anyway, thinking that people will watch if we kept dancing. But we didn’t know how to deal with the things on the site - we were the very definition of rookies. We actually thought a lot of people would come, and we rented so many things for it. ![]() ![]() Jun: I can’t really remember it precisely. I think seven people were there to watch us. We actually didn’t get to practice together because we didn’t have the time. You still cover other groups’ dance performances, but do you remember the first time you went out to the streets to perform? Chan: It was in early 2016. We don’t try to fit into different genres of music, we just like them all. Kim: So we’re also interested in a variety of genres as well. We want to be special, with our own identity. But at the same time, I think that we enjoy what we do. Don’t you find it risky to try new things? Donghun: Yes, I think so in a way. You were called the “hot pants boys” when you wore short trousers for your debut performance, which some people liked and some found unfamiliar. There are so many bands out there, and to survive as A.C.E, we have to try new things. Why don’t you join us? This is what we’re saying. What’s different is different and not wrong, so we’re going down our own path. Jun: It’s about us saying, “Let’s not think about what others think and just walk down our own path.” The message that we want to send is mostly targeted at people who see difference as something wrong. The Korean title for “Savage,” “Bbittakseon,” translates to deviation or derailment. The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with members Jun, Kim Byeong-kwan, Donghun, Wow and Chan to talk about their story and their music. 29 and its lead track “Savage,” the group is ready to prove they’ve grown from five boys dancing in the streets to a K-pop band that’s ready to shine. With their latest EP “Under Cover: The Mad Squad” on Oct. 9 of Billboard’s World Albums chart in May with their second EP “Under Cover.” Last week, it debuted on Billboard’s Social 50 chart for the first time. A.C.E was awarded the Next Artist Award at the 2019 Soribada Best K-Music Awards and peaked at No. Perhaps they shine all the more for the efforts they made to overcome those hardships. A.C.E has gone through all the difficulties of a boy band struggling to make it with little help from its entertainment agency. When we came back after the show and practiced altogether, I felt like I was back home.”īefore their debut in 2016, they uploaded a video of their song “Zombie” and literally went out to the streets: putting on street performances covering other groups’ songs in parts of Seoul popular with young people. “It was a meaningful experience, with some hardships. “It made us become closer to each other after taking part in the show,” said Chan. This required some division of labor: members Donghun, Wow and Kim Byeong-kwan took part in “Mixnine,” while Jun and Chan went on “The Unit.” ![]() As a result, they resorted to taking part in KBS’s program featuring existing K-pop groups with small fan bases, “The Unit,” and JTBC’s “Mixnine” program in 2017. ![]() Although they already had a fan base, that wasn’t enough to actually make them viable. This is the penumbra of the bright spotlight of fame - a place known well by K-pop boy band A.C.E.Ī.C.E made its debut in 2017 with the single “Cactus” but only made their name in 2018 - ironically on TV talent programs. Literally hundreds of K-pop groups make debuts every year in Korea, and it’s getting harder for a group to get a proper time slot on major shows or events. From left are members Chan, Donghun, Jun, Kim Byeong-kwan and Wow. Boy band A.C.E met with the Korea JoongAng Daily for an interview, top. ![]()
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