AB6IX (
Korean: 에이비식스;
RR: Eibisikseu; pronounced as A-B-Six) is a South Korean
boy band formed by
Brand New Music. The group currently consists of four members: Jeon Woong,
Kim Dong-hyun,
Park Woo-jin and
Lee Dae-hwi. Former leader Lim Young-min's departure from the group was announced on June 8, 2020.[4]
The group debuted on May 22, 2019, with their first
EP titled B:Complete.
Name
AB6IX is short for "Absolute Six" meaning that the absolute completeness of Brand New Boys, which is finally complete by combining the five members and the fandom, and the transcendental symbol of the five members and the fandom who will open a new horizon for Brand New Music which means "Above BrandNew Six".[5][6]
History
Pre-debut
Lim Young-min,
Kim Dong-hyun,
Park Woo-jin and
Lee Dae-hwi participated in the Mnet survival series Produce 101 Season 2 in 2017. Dae-hwi and Woo-jin placed 3rd and 6th respectively, becoming members of the temporary boy group
Wanna One. Young-min and Dong-hyun placed 15th and 28th respectively.[7] In 2018, Dae-hwi was involved with many solo activities, including taking part in the Global MC Crew on M Countdown[8] (on which he became a permanent host in April 2019)[9] and being a special MC on other music shows such as
Inkigayo[10] and
KCON during 2017–2018 on its Japan,[11] Thailand,[12] Australia,[13] and New York[14] stops.
Young-min and Dong-hyun debuted as the duo
MXM in September 2017 with their first EP titled Unmix.[15][16] The duo's name stands for "Mix and Match" and "More and More," with both having different meanings for the group. The former showcases how compatible they are as a group and the latter emphasizes their ever-growing determination for growth in the music industry. In March, they released their second EP, Match Up.[16] In August, just 11 months after debuting, they released their first full-length album, More Than Ever, which marks the last chapter of their MIX, MATCH, MORE trilogy. The duo went on tour to 9 cities around the world and also had 4 sold out fan signs and meetings.[17] Dae-hwi also participated in the album by producing "Hoping That You'd Love Me" and "Dawn".[17] MXM, along with fellow Produce 101 season 2 contestants
Jeong Se-woon and Lee Gwang-hyun, formed
Starship and Brand New Music's project group YDPP.[18]
Woo-jin and Dae-hwi collaborated on the single, "Candle", on January 29, 2019.[19]
Jeon Woong had previously been a trainee under
JYP,
Woollim, and
YG Entertainment. His pre-debut appearances include
Infinite H's M/V "As Long As You're Not Crazy" and the Mnet survival show
Stray Kids, as a YG trainee in the JYP vs YG episodes.[20]
Prior to their debut, Dae-hwi composed the song "Airplane" for the mini album
Heart*Iz, released on April 1, 2019, by girl group
Iz*One.[21]
2019–2020: Debut, early days and Young-min's departure
On January 9, 2019, Brand New Music announced that would be debut boy group with Brand New Boys (tentative name) including Lee Dae-hwi, Park Woo-jin, Lim Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun.[22][23] On March 29, Brand New Music confirmed that the group would debut as "AB6IX" in May with the five-member group.[5][6]
The group's debut reality show BrandNewBoys premiered on April 18 on
Mnet. The reality show followed the story of the five members as they prepare for their debut featured fun behind-the-scenes footage of their everyday lives and also revealed their fifth member, Jeon Woong to complete the group's line-up debut.[24][25]
On April 26, AB6IX released the performance music video for "Hollywood". Lee Dae-hwi participated in writing and Park Woo-jin choreographed the song "Hollywood", which was performed on "Produce 101 Season 2" for the agency evaluation.[26]
AB6IX debuted on May 22 with their debut EP B:Complete and its composed of seven-track including the lead single "Breathe".[27] They held their debut showcase on the same day at
Olympic Hall.[28] This album contains seven tracks, combining the works from all five members, coming from very different musical backgrounds.[29] The group made their debut stage on May 23 at
Mnet's
M Countdown with performance "Hollywood" and "Breathe".[30][31] On June 5, they won their first music show trophy on
MBC Music's Show Champion.[32][33]
On July 27, AB6IX held their first fan meeting, called "1st ABNEW," in Singapore at The Star Theatre to celebrate the release of their debut EP B:Complete.[34] On September 24, AB6IX collaborated with
Lizzo on a remix of her song "
Truth Hurts," originally released in 2017.[35]
On October 7, AB6IX released their first studio album 6ixense and its lead single "Blind for Love". The album peaked at #30 on Billboard's Social 50 Chart on October 15 after being on there for 4 weeks.[36][37] On November 9, the group held their first solo concert titled "6ixense" in South Korea at
Olympic Gymnastics Arena.[38]
On February 13, 2020, AB6IX released their digital EP 5nally, an EP contains five solo tracks for each member.[39]
On February 7, it was announced the European leg of their 6IXENSE tour was cancelled due to health concerns over the
COVID-19 pandemic and later on March 11, 2020, it was announced that they would also cancel the U.S. leg of the tour.[40]
On June 8, Brand New Music announced that Young-min would be leaving the group following his DUI.[4] As a result, the group's comeback with their second EP Vivid and its lead single "The Answer", originally scheduled for June 8, was postponed to June 29.[41]
On August 25, it was announced that AB6IX would be holding their first online solo concert titled "So Vivid" on September 12.[42]
AB6IX released their third EP Salute and its lead single of the same name on November 2.[43]
2021–2022: International collaborations, Mo' Complete series, Japanese debut, A to B and Savior
On January 7, AB6IX released a remix of
Why Don't We's "
Fallin' (Adrenaline)".[44] On January 18, the group released the repackaged version of their third EP titled Salute: A New Hope and its lead single "Stay Young".[45]
On April 26, AB6IX released their fourth EP Mo' Complete: Have a Dream and its lead single "Close".[46]
On September 27, their second studio album Mo' Complete was released[48] with contains of ten-tracks including the lead single "Cherry".[49][50] The album was features genre such as hip-hop, R&B, punk pop, electropop, synthpop and deep house, which all-members also participated to write and composed the song in the album.[51]
On November 24, AB6IX made their Japanese debut under
Victor Entertainment with their first Japanese EP Absolute 6ix.[52]
On January 17, AB6IX released the special album Complete with You.[53] Marketed as "special album", the EP was consists of five-track including the
dance-pop lead single "1,2,3" and solo track from each members.[54]
The group released their fifth EP A to B on May 18.[55] It consists of five tracks, including the lead single "Savior" and a whole EP incorporating with the
hip hop,
R&B and
Pop rock genre.[56] The group's through their media showcase cited that the EP would shows their "mature" concept with "sexy" side unlike their previous released and also confirmed that all-member participated in the EP productions.[57][58]
In June, AB6IX began their fan meeting tour 'AB_NEW AREA', with the first events held on June 4 and 5 in Seoul. They then had evens in Japan and the United States.[59] Then, on August 27, they held a fan meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.[60]
On August 17, AB6IX released their second Japanese EP Savior.[61] On August 27, they released special single for their fans "Chance", also marks their first english single since debut.[62][63]
On September 15, AB6IX released the song "Moonlight", a collaboration with Faroese singer
Reiley.[64]
On October 4, their sixth EP Take a Chance was released with contains of seven-track including the lead single "Sugarcoat" and a Korean version of "Chance".[65]
2023–present: The Future is Ours series
In March 2023, Victor Entertainment announced that AB6IX would be released their first original
Japanese single "Fly Away" on May 10, 2023 and also announced that the single would be play as the ending theme of Fuji TV anime Fugitive Great Mission started in April 2023.[66]
AB6IX released their seventh extended play The Future is Ours: Lost on May 29, 2023.[67]
Their eight EP The Future is Ours: Found was released on January 22, 2024.[68] The EP composed of five-track with the
pop rock song "Grab Me" serves as the lead single.[69]
Other ventures
Endorsements
Before the official debut of AB6IX, the members were selected as a beauty model of the Korean beauty brand "Acwell" on April 24, 2019.[70]
On August 29, 2019, AB6IX was chosen as the new model of "Elite" uniform for the 2020 new semester.[71] On September 25, 2019, AB6IX was appointed as the image cast of
ABC-Mart for product "Nike Court Vision".[72]
Ambassadorship
On September 19, 2019, AB6IX was officially appointed as the newest ambassadors for
Korea Scout Association.[73] On February 20, 2020, AB6IX was appointed as public relations ambassador for Youth Cyber Violence Prevention Education Program by
Samsung Group, Green Tree Foundation and
Social Welfare Community Chest.[74]
^Park, Soo-in (June 16, 2022).
AB6IX 방콕 글로벌 팬미팅 개최, 3년 만 태국 팬들 만난다 [AB6IX Bangkok global fan meeting held, meeting Thai fans for the first time in 3 years] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Ji, Min-kyung (2022-09-22).
AB6IX, 새 앨범 트랙리스트 공개..몬스타엑스 형원 수록곡 프로듀싱 [AB6IX releases track list for new album.. Produces songs from MONSTA X's Hyungwon]. OSEN (in Korean).
Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-22 – via
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^
abc* B:Complete:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2019年06月10日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on June 10, 2019]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
6ixense:
週間 アルバムランキング 2019年10月21日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on October 21, 2019]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
Vivid:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年07月13日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on July 13, 2020]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
Salute:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年11月30日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on November 30, 2020]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
Mo' Complete: Have a Dream:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2021年06月07日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on June 7, 2021]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
Mo' Complete:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2021年11月15日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on November 15, 2021]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
Absolute 6ix:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2021年12月06日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on December 6, 2021]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
Savior:
週間 CDアルバムランキング 2022年08月29日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on August 29, 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
^週間 アルバムランキング 2020年01月13日付 [Weekly Album Ranking on January 13, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon.
Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
^週間 アルバムランキング 2021年11月15日付 [Weekly Album Ranking on November 15, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from
the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^週間 CDアルバムランキング 2022年08月29日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on August 29, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from
the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
^Lee, Seung-hun (January 5, 2021).
"'내리겠습니다 지구에서' 박예진X안세민, 커플 탄생 예고→김지우 학생회장 자진 사퇴 [종합]" [[Overall] Let Me Off The Earth. Park Ye-jin X Ahn Se-min announces couple's birth → President of Student Council, Kim Ji-woo voluntarily resigned]. OSEN (in Korean).
Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
^Hwang, Mi-hyun (November 27, 2019).
"2019 AAA, 장동건·갓세븐·트와이스·레드벨벳·세븐틴 대상 수상(종합)" [2019 AAA, Jang Dong Gun, GOT7, TWICE, Red Velvet, Seventeen Grand Prize (General)]. Naver (in Korean). News1.
Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^M2 X 지니뮤직 어워드 [M2 X Genie Music Awards The Male Group Voting]. Genie Music (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
^Hwang, Hyejin (January 30, 2020).
"'서울가요대상' 달라진 대상 시스템...방탄소년단 앨범대상→태연 음원대상" ['Seoul Music Awards' changed target system... BTS Album Award → Taeyeon Sound Source Award]. Naver (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.