“Don’t care, run it up , Blank stare, go wild!”
The hook explodes, followed by a sudden burst of metallic sound between the chorus and the second verse. “EVERGLOW” isn’t just loud — it’s a lucid, fierce, and unapologetically alternative rock number, a sound that’s become rare among today’s K-pop boy groups. The ones behind this storm are NOWZ, the five-member act — HYEONBIN, YOON, YEONWOO, JINHYUK, and SIYUN — who made their debut in April 2024.
Their first EP, IGNITION, dropped in July, igniting the scene with a collection that captures everything NOWZ stands for. The opening track of the album, a dreamy soul-pop “Fly to the Youth (Feat. YUQI),” was produced with the participation of Yuqi from ‘i-dle’ and Wooseok from PENTAGON, both of whom are also under CUBE Entertainment, alongside NOWZ. The title track “EVERGLOW” and their first fan song “DAY_AND” were crafted by Vendors, the K-pop production team led by EL CAPITXN. Known for their collaborations with NCT, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids’ HAN, tripleS, and PLAVE. The EP’s other tracks, “Problem Child” and “Louder,” burst with the same unfiltered energy — bold, electric, and unmistakably NOWZ.
What allows NOWZ to master such a range of genres is, above all, their solid foundation in skill. Leader Hyunbin, who first appeared on an audition program back in 2019, and the rest of the members — except for Yoon — each trained for more than five years before debut. Countless days spent chasing a dream inside the practice room, and the decision to refine their team identity from NOWADAYS to NOWZ, have all become part of their story. Just like the lyrics — “Running down an endless road so I can shine” from “EVERGLOW,” and “Look at me, the one who gave it all to protect myself” from “Problem Child” — their journey hasn’t always been easy, but it burns with a determination to prove themselves and keep shining brighter. “There were moments of growth and times I’d call failures during practice,” says YEONWOO, “but when I look back, I realize most of what I’ve gained came from those failures.”
In August, NOWZ took the stage at 2025 KCON LA, performing in front of a crowd of 20,000. In today’s K-pop landscape — where massive agencies dominate with overwhelming production power — the influence of long-standing houses like CUBE, Starship, and FNC can seem relatively diminished. Yet, amidst that tide, NOWZ delivered a performance that felt refreshingly grounded and precise. It’s that sweat, discipline, and the confidence built upon them that Billboard Korea chose to document. Meet NOWZ, Billboard K-pop rookie of the month — a group poised to carve their light into the next chapter of K-pop.
