There is a cliché along the lines of "it's the journey, not the destination" - used to illustrate the value of savouring a process without fixation on the end result. As trite as this catchphrase may be, there is legitimacy in its wisdom. Uncannily, these allegorical journeys and destinations come to head when examined in the scope of the eight-piece K-group ATEEZ.
Unravelling first as a concept of "K-Pirates" fronted by eight teenagers, ATEEZ has now carved out a signature for themselves. Their lore involves Krakens and multiverses (have you heard of Halateez?), symbols of rebellion, and cameos of the Möbius strip. It seems intimidating, but the boys are, after all, a band of sea-faring brothers, ready to take on anything to spark a revolution among today's youth. Equipped with their intricately fabricated concept and distinctively impactful sound, the boys' voyage towards super stardom thus far has ultimately proved successful. Four months into the new year, ATEEZ is set to embark on their fourth world tour while making history with a Coachella pit-stop - they are the first K-pop boy band set to take the stage. The achievements seem more impressive when one considers the group's beginnings in a company that only had 10 staff members.
Fast forward to today, with these achievements in tow, one would realise there is more than one hero in ATEEZ's underdog story. Hits like "Deja Vu" and "Bouncy" only scratch the surface of their musical prowess. Stints on reality programmes like Kingdom: Legendary War (2021) a rap reality broadcast where they ranked third confirm the effort the boys feed into their work. There has also been a dynamic that has been in development for longer than their careers, which qualifies the boys as more than colleagues - birthing genuine interactions and friendships that go the distance.
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