Seoul: Known for its powerful and perfectly synchronized group choreography, Hybe's Japan-based boy group andTeam on Tuesday returned to K-pop's home soil with a song that focuses more on singing and emotions than on intense performance. The nine-member act, formed under Hybe's Japanese subsidiary YX Labels, debuted in Japan in 2022 as the first overseas group unveiled by the South Korean entertainment giant. It consists of all Japanese members except for leader EJ, who is Korean.
According to Yonhap News Agency, after three years of activities spanning Seoul and Tokyo, andTeam made its official South Korean debut last year with its first Korean-language EP, "Back to Life." On its second Korean-language EP "Mark on Me," the group leans into a more mature, emotive concept centered on its werewolf-themed fictional universe. The EP brings love into the werewolf universe, telling the story of a lonely wolf who begins to change when it meets "you," who accepts it completely. The title signifies two fated beings leaving indelible marks on one another.
"Honestly, I was surprised when I first heard it was the title track," member Yuma said of the song "Mark on Me" during a press showcase for the album in Seoul. The track opens with a gentle piano line and builds toward a fuller, more emotionally layered chorus. Fuma added that the track's intro and chorus carried a grand, almost musical-like atmosphere. "So while recording, I tried to express the emotions with more power than before, and I paid attention to even the small details like breath sounds," he said.
For K, the team's main dancer, the shift required a different kind of focus on stage. "Until now, with 'Back to Life' and 'We on Fire,' we showed strong energy and precise group choreography," he said. "With this song, we put a lot of care into expressing the mood through singing, gaze, and facial expressions." He pointed to the outro's dance break as a key moment: "It was our first time doing a dance break that's more about easing the power, and it felt really fresh."
The project brought together a roster of international hitmakers, including Griff Clawson, Johnny Goldstein, Grammy-winning Chizzy Stephens, and Soma Genda, each contributing to the album's production. Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk and singer-songwriter Benson Boone also played a role in the songwriting. EJ expressed hope that the release broadens perceptions of what the group can achieve. "If our first promotions (in South Korea) were an opportunity to introduce andTeam name to everyone, through this campaign I hope we can convey a more mature and deeper side of andTeam's appeal," he said. "We'll work hard to leave a strong impression of how much we've grown."