MUSIC
NOWZ Kicks Off Comeback with Enthralling Fan Showcase
NOWZ, consisting of members Hyunbin, Yoon, Yeonwoo, Jinhyuk, and Siyoon, held a fan showcase on the 9th at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their first mini-album 'IGNITION.' Notably, (G)I-DLE's Yuqi, who produced the pre-release single 'Fly Freely (Feat. Yuqi),' supported her Cube Entertainment juniors by hosting the event.
The showcase kicked off with a performance of 'Problem Child,' a track from their new album that is already being hailed as one of their best performances to date. They also captivated fans with a variety of performances, including the rock-genre title track 'EVERGLOW' and 'Fly Freely feat. Yuqi (G)I-DLE.'
Jinhyuk described the new album as "an album that captures NOWZ's identity and narrative, like a gift set with a different atmosphere for each track." The group, previously known as NOWadays, officially changed their name to NOWZ, a nickname given by fans. Hyunbin shared, "Our fandom, Day& (Day_and), has been calling us 'NOWZ' for a while, so the new name doesn't feel unfamiliar."
Yuqi's participation in the showcase was also noteworthy. She surprised fans by joining NOWZ on stage for her part in 'Fly Freely (Feat. Yuqi).' She expressed her excitement, saying, "Just like the Cube family, I was eagerly waiting for NOWZ's comeback. They worked hard to prepare for it."
In addition to their performances, NOWZ shared album insights and behind-the-scenes stories in a segment called 'NOWZ Unzipped.' They also engaged with fans by answering their concerns in 'a letter to the youth' and participated in a challenge segment 'Right NOWZ' with Day&. The showcase concluded with an emotional performance of 'Diary (DAY_AND),' their first fan song, where they expressed gratitude to their fans.
Yeonwoo expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for being part of NOWZ's youth and supporting us. We exist on stage because of Day&." Siyoon added, "We will show you more in the future. Thank you for coming despite the heat." Yoon shared his aspirations, "I'm looking forward to what lies ahead. We will strive to become even better artists."
Following the showcase, NOWZ will begin their music show promotions for the title track 'EVERGLOW' from their mini-album 'IGNITION' starting on the 10th with 'M Countdown.'
By Ji-won Kim, Ten Asia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
