ARrC Returns as the “nu kidz” With a New Lineup
Watch out, ARrC has made their first comeback with nu kidz: out the box. On February 18, they released the five-track EP with the title track “nu kidz.” This marked the group's first release following the departure of former member Ziwoo and the addition of member Andy. Ziwoo left the group for personal reasons on January 22, and Andy joined the group on January 31. Before his debut, Andy participated on the 2024 JTBC survival show PROJECT 7, which formed the group CLOSE YOUR EYES. Andy disclosed on PROJECT 7 that he trained at Mystic Story with ARrC, but did not initially make it into the lineup.
TRACKLIST:
“nu kidz”
“loop.dll”
“accident ~ at the studio”
“alien in seoul”
“connected”
Out with the Old, in With the “nu kidz”
ARrC states their goal to break out of society’s constraints in “nu kidz.” They seek their own way to live, ushering in a new era of freedom. Three composers of ARrC’s debut title track “S&S (sour and sweet)”— Benjamin 55, Stary 55, and Young Chance—collaborated with Jeffrey Paul Allen, Sam SZND, and Evan “E.mac” Palmer to create the 2000s hip-hop sound of “nu kidz.”
Its music video features surroundings in disarray: its establishing shot with a clothing sale gone wrong is just the start. The members can always dance, even if they find themselves in a washroom erupting with fire or during a chaotic protest. As ARrC filmed the music video prior to their lineup changes, Ziwoo appears and Andy is absent. However, the song’s official audio contains Andy’s voice.
Feel “connected” With the B-Sides
nu kidz: out of the box includes four B-sides: the group songs “loop.dll” and “accident ~ at the studio,” and the unit songs “alien in seoul” and “connected.” These follow ARrC’s funky mix of hip-hop, R&B, and jazz. “loop.dll” uses a distorted sound with a jazzy bassline as the group sings about feeling trapped in a digital world of misinformation. “accident ~ at the studio” draws from the neo soul genre to describe the creative process of making music.*
Vocalists Andy, Kien, Rioto, and Doha sing the first unit track, “alien in Seoul.” This R&B song centers around sticking out like a stranger in a big city.* The EP ends with rappers Choi Han, Hyunmin, and Jibeen working together in “connected,” a song about staying together regardless of physical distance. The song encapsulates the meaning of ARrC, “Always Remember the real Connection.”
*Note: lyrics taken from the English captions in the official videos.
Edited by Cara Musashi