AB6IX (Korean: 에이비식스;RR: Eibisikseu;pronounced as A-B-Six) is a South Koreanboy band formed byBrand New Music. The group currently consists of four members: Jeon Woong,Kim Dong-hyun,Park Woo-jin andLee Dae-hwi. Former leader Lim Young-min's departure from the group was announced on June 8, 2020.[4]
The group debuted on May 22, 2019, with their firstEP titledB:Complete.
AB6IX is short for "Absolute Six" meaning that the absolute completeness of Brand New Boys, which is finally complete by combining the five members and the fandom, and the transcendental symbol of the five members and the fandom who will open a new horizon for Brand New Music which means "Above BrandNew Six".[5][6]
Lim Young-min,Kim Dong-hyun,Park Woo-jin andLee Dae-hwi participated in the Mnet survival seriesProduce 101 Season 2 in 2017. Dae-hwi and Woo-jin placed 3rd and 6th respectively, becoming members of the temporary boy groupWanna One. Young-min and Dong-hyun placed 15th and 28th respectively.[7] In 2018, Dae-hwi was involved with many solo activities, including taking part in the Global MC Crew onM Countdown[8] (on which he became a permanent host in April 2019)[9] and being a special MC on other music shows such asInkigayo[10] andKCON during 2017–2018 on its Japan,[11] Thailand,[12] Australia,[13] and New York[14] stops.
Young-min and Dong-hyun debuted as the duoMXM in September 2017 with their first EP titledUnmix.[15][16] The duo's name stands for "Mix and Match" and "More and More," with both having different meanings for the group. The former showcases how compatible they are as a group and the latter emphasizes their ever-growing determination for growth in the music industry. In March, they released their second EP,Match Up.[16] In August, just 11 months after debuting, they released their first full-length album,More Than Ever, which marks the last chapter of theirMIX, MATCH, MORE trilogy. The duo went on tour to 9 cities around the world and also had 4 sold out fan signs and meetings.[17] Dae-hwi also participated in the album by producing "Hoping That You'd Love Me" and "Dawn".[17] MXM, along with fellowProduce 101 season 2 contestantsJeong Se-woon and Lee Gwang-hyun, formedStarship and Brand New Music's project group YDPP.[18]
Woo-jin and Dae-hwi collaborated on the single, "Candle", on January 29, 2019.[19]
Jeon Woong had previously been a trainee underJYP,Woollim, andYG Entertainment. His pre-debut appearances includeInfinite H's M/V "As Long As You're Not Crazy" and the Mnet survival showStray Kids, as a YG trainee in the JYP vs YG episodes.[20]
Prior to their debut, Dae-hwi composed the song "Airplane" for the mini albumHeart*Iz, released on April 1, 2019, by girl groupIz*One.[21]
2019–2020: Debut, early days and Young-min's departure
On January 9, 2019, Brand New Music announced that would be debut boy group with Brand New Boys (tentative name) including Lee Dae-hwi, Park Woo-jin, Lim Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun.[22][23] On March 29, Brand New Music confirmed that the group would debut as "AB6IX" in May with the five-member group.[5][6] The group's debut reality showBrandNewBoys premiered on April 18 onMnet. The reality show followed the story of the five members as they prepare for their debut featured fun behind-the-scenes footage of their everyday lives and also revealed their fifth member, Jeon Woong to complete the group's line-up debut.[24][25] On April 26, AB6IX released the performance music video for "Hollywood". Lee Dae-hwi participated in writing and Park Woo-jin choreographed the song "Hollywood", which was performed on "Produce 101 Season 2" for the agency evaluation.[26] AB6IX debuted on May 22 with their debut EPB:Complete and its composed of seven-track including the lead single "Breathe".[27] They held their debut showcase on the same day atOlympic Hall.[28] This album contains seven tracks, combining the works from all five members, coming from very different musical backgrounds.[29] The group made their debut stage on May 23 atMnet'sM Countdown with performance "Hollywood" and "Breathe".[30][31] On June 5, they won their first music show trophy onMBC Music'sShow Champion.[32][33] On July 27, AB6IX held their first fan meeting, called "1st ABNEW," in Singapore at The Star Theatre to celebrate the release of their debut EPB:Complete.[34] On September 24, AB6IX collaborated withLizzo on a remix of her song "Truth Hurts," originally released in 2017.[35] On October 7, AB6IX released their first studio album6ixense and its lead single "Blind for Love". The album peaked at #30 onBillboard's Social 50 Chart on October 15 after being on there for 4 weeks.[36][37] On November 9, the group held their first solo concert titled "6ixense" in South Korea atOlympic Gymnastics Arena.[38]
On February 13, 2020, AB6IX released their digital EP5nally, an EP contains five solo tracks for each member.[39] On February 7, it was announced the European leg of their 6IXENSE tour was cancelled due to health concerns over theCOVID-19 pandemic and later on March 11, it was announced that they would also cancel the U.S. leg of the tour.[40] On June 8, Brand New Music announced that Young-min would be leaving the group following his DUI.[4] As a result, the group's comeback with their second EPVivid and its lead single "The Answer", originally scheduled for June 8, was postponed to June 29.[41] On August 25, it was announced that AB6IX would be holding their first online solo concert titled "So Vivid" on September 12.[42] AB6IX released their third EPSalute and its lead single of the same name on November 2.[43]
2021–2022: International collaborations,Mo' Complete series, Japanese debut,A to B andSavior
On January 7, 2021, AB6IX released a remix ofWhy Don't We's "Fallin' (Adrenaline)".[44] On January 18, the group released the repackaged version of their third EP titledSalute: A New Hope and its lead single "Stay Young".[45] On April 26, AB6IX released their fourth EPMo' Complete: Have a Dream and its lead single "Close".[46] On May 24, AB6IX released thepromotional single "Gemini" throughUniverse Music for the mobile application,Universe.[47] On September 27, their second studio albumMo' Complete was released[48] which contains ten-tracks including the lead single "Cherry".[49][50] The album was features genre such as hip-hop, R&B, punk pop, electropop, synthpop and deep house, which all-members also participated to write and composed the song in the album.[51] On November 24, AB6IX made their Japanese debut underVictor Entertainment with their first Japanese EPAbsolute 6ix.[52]
On January 17, 2022, AB6IX released the special albumComplete with You.[53] Marketed as "special album", the EP was consists of five-track including thedance-pop lead single "1,2,3" and solo track from each members.[54] The group released their fifth EPA to B on May 18.[55] It consists of five tracks, including the lead single "Savior" and a whole EP incorporating with thehip hop,R&B andPop rock genre.[56] The group's through their media showcase cited that the EP would shows their "mature" concept with "sexy" side unlike their previous released and also confirmed that all-member participated in the EP productions.[57][58]
In June, AB6IX began their fan meeting tour 'AB_NEW AREA', with the first events held on June 4 and 5 in Seoul. They then had evens in Japan and the United States.[59] Then, on August 27, they held a fan meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.[60] On August 17, AB6IX released their second Japanese EPSavior.[61] On August 27, they released special single for their fans "Chance", also marks their first english single since debut.[62][63] On September 15, AB6IX released the song "Moonlight", a collaboration with Faroese singerReiley.[64] On October 4, their sixth EPTake a Chance was released which contains seven-track including the lead single "Sugarcoat" and a Korean version of "Chance".[65]
In March 2023, Victor Entertainment announced that AB6IX would be released their first original Japanese single "Fly Away" on May 10, and also announced that the single would be play as the ending theme of Fuji TV animeFugitive Great Mission started in April 2023.[66] AB6IX released their seventh extended playThe Future is Ours: Lost on May 29.[67]
Their eighth EPThe Future Is Ours: Found was released on January 22, 2024.[68] The EP is composed of five tracks, with thepop rock song "Grab Me" serving as the lead single.[69]
Before the official debut of AB6IX, the members were selected as a beauty model of the Korean beauty brand "Acwell" on April 24, 2019.[70]
On August 29, 2019, AB6IX was chosen as the new model of "Elite" uniform for the 2020 new semester.[71] On September 25, 2019, AB6IX was appointed as the image cast ofABC-Mart for product "Nike Court Vision".[72]
On September 19, 2019, AB6IX was officially appointed as the newest ambassadors forKorea Scout Association.[73] On February 20, 2020, AB6IX was appointed as public relations ambassador for Youth Cyber Violence Prevention Education Program bySamsung Group, Green Tree Foundation andSocial Welfare Community Chest.[74]
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^M2 X 지니뮤직 어워드 [M2 X Genie Music Awards The Male Group Voting].Genie Music (in Korean). Archived fromthe original on June 21, 2019. RetrievedAugust 24, 2019.
^Hwang, Hyejin (January 30, 2020)."'서울가요대상' 달라진 대상 시스템...방탄소년단 앨범대상→태연 음원대상" ['Seoul Music Awards' changed target system... BTS Album Award → Taeyeon Sound Source Award].Naver (in Korean). Newsen.Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. RetrievedJanuary 30, 2020.
