XEED Breaks the K-Pop Mold with Debut
Tired of seeing teenagers debut and making you feel old? Look no further, as XEED breaks the status quo! The quartet boasts maturity, both in profession and age. Maknae JAEMIN is 26, a refreshing change from the groups we see these days that are debuting at 16-years-old. With age comes experience, and the four members have it in spades.
A Quick Introduction
While newly debuted groups tend to have some experience in the field before their debut, the four members of XEED have had fairly significant careers before deciding on this path.
Leader DOHA was first seen on BOYS24, the survival show that would lead to the creation of IN2IT. He was extremely popular as a contestant, but ended up being eliminated and didn’t make the group. Since then, he signed with Million Market and has released music on his SoundCloud both before and after military service. RONI was part of a pre-debut boy group Off The Cuff (that officially disbanded in 2021) before making his solo debut. BAO was apparently supposed to be a member of the 2013 boy group LC9, but they disbanded before he was announced. He would later be part of the group LUCENTE, a six-member group that would disband in 2021. Since then, he’s posted K-Pop dance covers on YouTube with a friend and has garnered a sizable TikTok following. JAEMIN also participated on BOYS24 and made it to the semi-final before being eliminated. Since then, he’s been a backup dancer for groups such as BTS, TXT (Tomorrow x Together), ONF, and Stray Kids.
The Debut
Title track “Dream Land” has already surpassed one million views on YouTube. The song itself is quite catchy, with heavy uses of synths and a driving beat that shifts to complement the rap verses. The end of the chorus has a shift in tempo, which adds a bit of flare to the overall track. It has a classic, addictive K-Pop feel and gives a chance for each member to shine in their respective specialty. The video is pretty basic, but clearly the main focus of the video is to showcase the choreography. The members wear outfits that showcase a more mature vibe, fitting for their age. Overall, it’s a solid release, especially coming from a smaller company.
Mini-album Dream land features five tracks, and bless them for giving us more than just a single upon debut. If the title track struck you, be sure to check out the mini-album on streaming sites! It’s refreshing to see this group break the narrative that K-Pop is only for those who are young and for showcasing that even as you approach your 30s, you can always start a new career.
Edited by Aleena Faisal