ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo and Norwegian artist Peder Elias have released their first single together called “Hey Hello.” It officially released on streaming services on August 30, a month after its reveal. The duo unveiled the single in July at Cha Eunwoo’s fanmeeting Just One 10 Minute [Mystery Elevator] in Seoul. 

How the Collaboration Happened

The two pop singers became acquainted in 2022. According to an interview between the two, Cha Eunwoo, a fan of Elias’s music, reached out first on Instagram. He did not receive a response, something that Elias later promised to make up for, until a Fantagio staff member ran into Elias’s agent in South Korea. The two finally met and recorded a duet cover of Elias’s “Bonfire.” Their meeting and cover were some of the first videos uploaded to the official Cha Eunwoo YouTube channel.  

Elias’s following in South Korea has led to appearances on local media and other collaborations with Korean artists. In 2022, he collaborated with soloist SURAN for “Darling.”  He also appeared on radio shows such as Wendy’s Youngstreet, hosted by Red Velvet’s Wendy, and attended the Genie Music Awards, where he won “best pop artist.” In 2023, he collaborated with SEVENTEEN’s BSS for their track “7PM,” and appeared on Inkigayo with them. 

The Message of “Hey Hello”

On July 6, 2024, Elias made a special guest appearance at Just One 10 Minute [Mystery Elevator] in Seoul. He joined Cha Eunwoo on stage for the then-unreleased pop song. The track comes across as heartwarming, just like its message. “Hey Hello” reflects on time spent with loved ones no matter where they are: “like music, friendship and love knows no borders,” Elias wrote on Instagram. He wrote and composed the song with William Wiik Larsen.

The song’s video contains footage from the duo’s performance and their preparation process. With both singers’ popularity and friendships expanding worldwide, this song about celebrating connections around the world makes for a great collaboration. “Hey Hello” is out exclusively on streaming platforms now.

Edited by Cara Musashi