On February 7, 2022, IST Entertainment announced they would debut a new boy group in the first half of the year through the survival show The Origin - A, B, or What? With the culmination of the survival show, the seven-member group ATBO was born. 

ATBO makes their debut with the album The Beginning : 開花, led by the title track “Monochrome (Color).” The Chinese characters in the album title translate to “to blossom” or “open + flower,” indicating a spectacular start of the group’s journey. Inspired by the group’s name, which is an acronym for “At The Beginning of Originality,” their title track expresses their uniqueness by comparing it to colors. The dance hip-hop track finds ATBO declaring that they are not monochromatic and instead filled with colors they will use to paint the world. 

The music video for the song plays on the themes of colors and contrast, creating exciting imagery. The themes of originality and uniqueness are pretty evident in the outfits, set designs, hairstyles, and more. The music video also showcases the group’s intense choreography, which is very impressive for a rookie group. 

The Beginning : 開花 features five B-side tracks, including the song from their survival show “RUN.” The album opens with a cinematic intro titled “7IBE (VIBE),” featuring an orchestral arrangement. Hitmakers Didrik Thott, Chris Mayer, and Josef Melin composed the energizing funky track “Graffiti,” whereas producers SOFTSERVEBOY and ARTMATIC helped bring the synth-pop track “WoW” to life. ATBO members are also credited as songwriters on several tracks in the album, showcasing their many talents. 

With an interesting concept and infectious energy, ATBO makes an impact on their listeners. It will be exciting to see what they will bring to the table moving forward and how they intend to paint their canvas. Watch the colorful music video for “Monochrome (Color)” below!

Edited by Omani