Rookie band hrtz.wav hoping to headline Lollapalooza in future

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- Kakao Entertainment's first K-pop rock band hrtz.wav pledged Wednesday to showcase a more mature sound and playful energy as it returned to the music scene for the first time since its April debut.

"Growth" was one of the keywords repeatedly mentioned by the group during a media showcase held in Seoul for its second EP, "The Second Wave: Momentum."

"I think we've grown in that we handled lyrics and composition more comprehensively this time," band member Riaan said during the event. "We put much effort into how to deliver the lyrics and how to develop the sound and performance. As a result, I think the melody lines have improved and there are more interesting instrumental elements."

K-pop rock band hrtz.wav poses for photos during a media showcase for its second EP, "The Second Wave: Momentum," in Seoul on Sept. 9, 2026, in this photo provided by Kakao Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The five-member band -- comprising Youn Young-jun on keyboard, Riaan on vocals, Dane on bass, Keiten on guitar and Hagiwa on drums -- was formed through Mnet's band survival show "Steal Heart Club."

Keiten and Hagiwa are Japanese members, while the other three members are South Korean, giving the group a multinational profile that the label has highlighted in its global marketing.

"The Second Wave: Momentum" contains six songs: "Mind," "Alive," "Sunday Morning," "Play My Guitar," "Thinkin' Bout You" and "First Daylight." All five members took part in writing and composing every track on the album.

The main track, "Alive," is described by the band as an electronic synth-pop song that blends groovy mid-tempo rhythms with retro synth sounds. Its lyrics are about the energy of emotions that grow clearer as people are drawn to one another.

Riaan recalled the band deliberated heavily over which genre to pursue before settling on synth-pop.

"When we were making the second album, we thought a lot about what genre we should do, and what came to mind was synth-pop," Riaan said. "We thought it could show Young-jun's keyboard skills even better while also letting all the members display their individuality well, so we worked through the night on it."

The track features Riize's Sungchan, a collaboration that drew attention from global music fans.

"I thought Sungchan's voice would fit well, so we asked first, and he responded positively, which is how we ended up working together," Riaan said.

Youn said the members were thrilled with the result. "All the members were happy, and we were grateful that he delivered a feature that exceeded our expectations in terms of quality," Youn said.

When asked whether the Korean-Japanese lineup had already produced a distinct musical color, Youn said the band is still searching for its signature sound.

"I think we're still in the process of finding our team's color," Youn said. "This time we used a lot of synth-pop, but next time I expect we'll try rock or stronger music, and hrtz.wav's own identity will become deeper."

Since debuting, hrtz.wav has performed at various music festivals in South Korea and abroad, experiences that have sharpened its ambitions for larger international stages.

When asked about the members' "dream stages," Dane said he wants the band to headline Lollapalooza. Keiten said he hopes to play at New York's Madison Square Garden, while Hagiwa named Japan's Summer Sonic festival as a stage he wants to stand on.