The Playlist: Five Emerging Asian Boy Groups You Need to Listen To in 2023
For decades, boy bands have become a fixture in the world of pop culture. Since the 1960s, all-male groups like The Beatles and The Jackson 5 cemented their position in the music industry. The boy band phenomenon boomed further from the 1990s to the 2000s, with Westlife, NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys dominating the entertainment scene. This trend continued into the 2010s with the rise of One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, and The Vamps.
Despite Western acts taking the lead on the global charts, the past two decades also witnessed significant contributions from the Asian region. K-Pop groups, like BIGBANG, 2PM, Super Junior, BTS, EXO, Seventeen, and the list goes on, have given birth to a new breed of boy groups who can sing and dance simultaneously.
From Cantopop to P-Pop and K-Pop, here are five Asian boy groups you need to stan in 2023.
Mirror
About the act: Dubbed as Hong Kong’s biggest boy band, Mirror is a 12-member group consisting of members Keung To, Anson Lo, Edan Lui, Ian Chan, Jer Lau, Alton Wong, Jeremy Lee, Lok Man Yeung, Anson Kong, Stanley Yau, Frankie Chan, and Tiger Chau. Signed under Sony Music Entertainment, the group has clinched several awards since their debut, including the Metro Radio Hits Music Award for Best Group in 2021.
Why listen to them: Elevating the Cantopop genre in Hong Kong, Mirror infuses straightforward lyrics into their high-energy tracks that will make you dance instantly.
Song to add to your playlist: “Sheesh”
BOYNEXTDOOR
About the act: Debuted in May 2023, BOYNEXTDOOR is composed of members Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak. They are signed under HYBE’s newest sub-label, KOZ Entertainment, headed by Block B’s Zico.
Why listen to them: BOYNEXTDOOR offers a fresh twist on K-Pop music, showcasing powerful hip-hop beats and strong vocal performances that will make your heart flutter.
Song to add to your playlist: “One and Only”
Hori7on
About the act: Comprised of members Jeromy Batac, Kyler Chua, Marcus Cabais, Reyster Yton, Vinci Malizon, Kim Huat Ng, and Winston Pineda, Hori7on is an all-Filipino pop group formed through the survival reality show “Dream Maker.” They are signed under MLD Entertainment, the company behind the success of artists such as Lapillus, TFN, and Momoland.
Why listen to them: Taking inspiration from groups like ENHYPEN and NCT Dream, Hori7on incorporates a variety of genres into their music, including pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance music.
Song to add to your playlist: “Six7een”
Zerobaseone
About the act: Composed of members Kim Ji-woong, Ricky, Sung Han Bin, Zhang Hao, Han Yu-jin, Kim Gyu-vin, Seok Matthew, Park Gun-wook, and Kim Tae-rae, Zerobaseone, also known as ZB1, is a nine-member K-Pop boy group formed by MNET’s survival reality show “Boys Planet.”
Why listen to them: In each of their songs, Zerobaseone has a distinctive chorus drop that will get you on your feet.
Song to add to your playlist: “Our Season”
Trinity
About the act: Trinity is a Thai-based boy band consisting of members Sivakorn Adulsuttikul, Lapat Ngamchaweng, Jackrin Kungwankiatichai, and Teeradon Supapunpinyo until he left the band in 2021. They are signed under Anuwat Wichiennarat’s label 4nologue.
Why listen to them: All-Thai boy group Trinity follows the K-Pop formula, featuring rhythmic melodies, catchy hooks, and harmonious vocals in their tracks.
Song to add to your playlist: “Thank You All”
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