V01D’s “Tug of War:” Can They Give The Rose a Run for Their Money?
The band V01D (보이드) takes its first steps into the K-Pop scene with “Tug of War” (터그 오브 워), the title track of their debut mini-album 01, and it feels like their sunbaes The Rose have found some serious contenders for the throne of Korean pop-rock.
Formed by IX Entertainment, the band is composed of five members: Song Yoochan (송유찬, drums), Jo Jooyeon (조주연, vocals), Jung Jiseob (정지섭, guitar and vocals), Kevin Park (케빈박, keyboard and vocals), and Shin Nosuke (신노스케, bass). The band’s name combines “void” and “number one,” symbolizing their ambition to fill the void with energy and emotion as they strive to become the top band.
Listening to “Tug of War,” it’s hard not to think of The Rose, arguably the most internationally recognised Korean rock band in recent years. The track carries the same blend of lyricism, emotional depth, and pulsating intensity that recalls the early days of their sunbaes’ career.
01 was released on March 11, containing four tracks: the title track “Tug of War,” the previously unveiled title track “ROCKROCK,” “The One,” and “LUNA.” On the day of the release, V01D held a showcase for the mini-album at SA Hall in Seoul’s Daehakro (literally “University Street”), the vibrant district often considered the birthplace of Korean musical culture, and the place to be if you love theatre and busking.
As per reports on Korean media, thanks to the content published on their official social media channels in the days leading up to the release of the mini-album, V01D has already rallied domestic and international fan support, heightening anticipation for their individual musical abilities and debut tracks. As their agency stated in the same source mentioned above: “This marks the first step in reaping the rewards of the five members' relentless day and night practice to perfect their band sound.”
Jung Jiseob is not new to the K-Pop scene. He debuted in 2019 as the second member of 2Z and, upon meeting audiences as part of V01D in Daehakro, he said with a trembling voice: “I couldn't sleep at all last night. I managed to hide it until the moment I arrived at the venue this morning, but my whole body was tingling. Hearing '10 seconds to go' made the past flash before my eyes like a panorama. It feels overwhelming, like waking from a long dream."
In the band’s presentation, particular attention was given to highlighting each member’s musical skills in their respective fields. The artists describe this as the driving force behind their career as they take their first steps onto the domestic and international music scenes and continue to shape their identity. Yoochan said: “After rehearsals, we always set aside time to talk. Discussions about our future direction are central. We promised each other that through this promotional period, we would find the color that suits us best. We will spend not only rehearsal time but also our leisure time together, strengthening our resolve."
Don’t miss out on V01D! And if you’re thinking of adding the album to your shelves, you’ll be glad to know there are two versions to choose from: the standard edition and the platform edition.