First formed in 2015 as M.A.S 0094, ONEWE is a five-member Korean band, and most of all, a group of friends who gathered around their passion for music. Their formation story is as unique as their music: Kanghyun (electric guitar), Harin (drums) and Giuk (bass and rap) all attended the same music academy and decided to create a band. Yet, none of them were vocalists; therefore, Giuk asked his neighbourhood friend, Dongmyeong, to join the band. They now had a vocalist (and pianist), and decided to attend a K-pop contest in Suwon, South Korea. There, a runner-up contestant stood out to them: Yonghoon. Dongmyeong was sent to ask him to join the band, and he accepted: M.A.S 0094 was complete.
After that, they started as a cover group and then released a few albums, donating all their profits to the Korean Council, an organisation defending former Comfort Women’s rights. They joined a K-pop agency, RBW entertainment, in June 2017, and officially became ONEWE a year later, in June 2018. Their first album as ONEWE is 1/4, released on May 13th 2019, and includes the songs ‘Ring on my Ears’ (and its remix), ‘Reminisce about All’ and ‘0&4’.
However, what really makes them such a unique group is their – literally – ethereal songs. Most of their songs are like poems using planets, stars, and other celestial bodies as metaphors to convey true and relatable emotions. For instance, their single ‘STAR’, released on November 23rd 2021, is a promise of eternal love; a lover promising they will wait until the universe is in their favour, no matter how long it takes to “get to the star”. The beauty of the lyrics is emphasised and completed by Yonghoon’s poignant high note during Kanghyun’s solo. Another good example from their stellar discography is the song ‘Regulus’, released on August 29th 2019, whose meaning takes root in the story of ‘The Little Prince’. The song is about lovers who shine on each other, staying together even through dark times. The link with the novella written by Saint-Exupéry can mostly be found with a reference to the rose that symbolises hope and embodies one of the lovers. The universe theme is omnipresent in their lore and discography, yet, while still staying true to their own musical style, they also released a few songs of very different genres. They already went from a rockish song, with ‘Hippie’ (August 11th 2022), to more jazzy melodies with ‘Kiss in the Rain’ (April 17th 2024), by way of 2010s pop rock, with ‘End of Spring’ (May 26th 2020).
More than their formation story and their universe themed aesthetic, all the members are part of a talented, skilled, and colourful puzzle. Giuk’s quirkiness, Dongmyeong’s energy, Harin’s softness, Kanghyun’s guitar solos, and Yonghoon’s voice: all of this mixed to get the perfect balance between talent and originality. In the end, ONEWE is the perfect band for people who appreciate self-made and self-produced artists, and even more if you prefer listening to songs that are more than three minutes long. And good news! They recently came back on March 5th with their album WE : Dream Chaser, and the title track, a chosen track that is promoted in official South Korean media, ‘The Starry Night’.
Written by: Shan Gosselin
Edited by: Suzanne Teernstra
