A band can take time to become a band. For hrtz.wav, that process began before their official debut, when YOUN YOUNG JUN, RIAAN, DANE, KEITEN and HAGIWA first came together through Mnet's reality show STEAL HEART CLUB. The competition introduced five musicians with different backgrounds and individual strengths. Turning that initial connection into a functioning group, however, presented an entirely different challenge.

Their debut mini album, The First Wave, brought together bright pop-rock melodies, refreshing guitar riffs and driving percussion, with warm synths adding colour to the band's instrumental foundation. Lead single "NINETEEN" captured that spirit particularly well, pairing an upbeat arrangement with the nostalgia and uncertainty of standing on the threshold of adulthood. There was more to the record than youthful exuberance, though. Across six tracks, the group explored new relationships, lingering heartbreak and the awkwardness of growing up. The sound moved between modern rock, alternative influences and softer, dreamier textures, establishing an early sense of their range.

Five months after their debut, The Second Wave : MOMENTUM hears hrtz.wav pushing beyond that initial formula. The second mini album brings a more pronounced electronic presence into their band sound, with sophisticated synths sitting alongside the guitars, bass and drums. Its six tracks move through different moods: the upbeat energy of "Mind", the playful character of "Sunday Morning", the guitar-led drive of "Play My Guitar" and the retro touches of "Thinkin' Bout You". Title track "ALIVE", featuring RIIZE's SUNGCHAN, adds another dimension to the release.

Live performance has been equally important. Playing to audiences beyond the community that first discovered them through STEAL HEART CLUB has given the band a different understanding of what their music can do. For RIAAN, the reality of standing on stage also brought a new appreciation of the experience and preparation required to become a more assured performer.

There is still plenty of ground they want to cover. RIAAN is interested in pushing towards a more powerful band sound and exploring new ways to bring their performances to life, while the group continue to work towards a musical identity that leaves room for each member's individuality.

We speak to hrtz.wav about their journey so far, the lessons of becoming a band, and what they hope to discover next.

Looking back at your time on STEAL HEART CLUB, what did you learn about yourself as a musician that you might not have discovered otherwise?

KEITEN For me, STEAL HEART CLUB was a turning point as a musician. Because I was able to meet so many talented people, I truly realised what music really meant to me and what its purpose was. I discovered that music is really just about the love of people.

Once the competition ended and you began preparing to debut as hrtz.wav, what was the biggest adjustment you had to make as a team?

KEITEN Because our members have such different flavours and star qualities, it was initially difficult to adjust to everybody's tastes and opinions. However, after spending a lot of time together, we gradually began to understand each other and ultimately became greater than the sum of our parts.

Your debut EP, The First Wave, explored different emotions associated with youth. What did you want listeners to understand about your generation through this next album?

YOUN YOUNG JUN This album continues exploring youth, just like our first, but I hope listeners can hear how we've matured a little along the way.

All five members contributed lyrics to "NINETEEN". How did you bring your different perspectives together to create a song that represents hrtz.wav as a whole?

DANE By putting each of our stories and honest thoughts into the lyrics, we created a song that goes beyond our individual experiences and reflects who we are together as hrtz.wav now.

Since debuting, you have performed at festivals and met audiences beyond the fanbase you built through STEAL HEART CLUB. Has performing live changed the way you understand your own music?

DANE Seeing people who weren't familiar with our music respond and enjoy themselves made me realise there's so much meaning in not just listening to music, but experiencing and enjoying it together in person. What I love about playing live is how our energy and the full sound of the band really come through.

Your second EP, The Second Wave : MOMENTUM, explores a different sound and features more creative contributions from the members. How has your approach to making music evolved since your debut?

YOUN YOUNG JUN Ever since releasing our first album, we've been talking a lot about music and trying different things in rehearsals to broaden our sound. I think that process is helping us grow as a band.

As a band with different musical backgrounds and individual strengths, how do you balance your personal artistic identities with the sound you want hrtz.wav to be known for?

YOUN YOUNG JUN We all have different musical tastes and something unique to offer, and we respect those differences. We spend a lot of time talking seriously about our ideas and exploring ways to bring them together. Through that process, we're finding a sound that's unique to hrtz.wav while letting each person's individuality come through.

What has surprised you most about the reality of being a debuted artist compared with what you imagined during your trainee or pre-debut days?

RIAAN I had often imagined myself on stage before debut. But when I actually performed on stage for the first time, I felt much more pressure than I'd expected. Watching seasoned artists perform also made me realise how much experience matters. It made me want to play more shows, learn from different experiences and keep growing.

When you think about the next stage of hrtz.wav's journey, what is something you want to challenge yourselves with musically that you have not tried yet?

RIAAN I'd love to try an even more powerful band sound. Lately, I've also become interested in using props and sets to make our performances more visually varied. I've been looking at how other artists stage their shows, and I'd like to explore new ways to bring our music to life on stage.

Imagine someone discovers hrtz.wav for the first time several years from now. What would you want them to hear in your music that tells them who you were at this point in your career?

HAGIWA I hope hrtz.wav's music is remembered for the warmth it brings. I hope our songs naturally bring back memories of the brightest moments in people's lives.