A2O SOUL have made their official debut. The 15-member boy group released their debut mini album SUPERSTAR on Monday, November 9, along with the music video for “Dancing in the Dark”, the second of the EP’s double title tracks, according to Soompi. The five-track EP, which runs 16 minutes, arrived at 6 p.m. KST on music platforms in Korea and abroad.
The group, from A2O Entertainment — the agency founded by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man — pre-released their first title track, “SUPERSTAR”, on October 13, the day after they were officially introduced alongside their sister group A2O LITE at the global debut showcase “WELCOME TO SOULITE”. The EP pairs the pre-release with “Dancing in the Dark” as its double title tracks, with a sound the label calls “new synthwave”.
The A2O project, in full
A2O SOUL’s debut comes as the A2O project hits its stride. Their sister group A2O LITE, who debuted with “NEON” in October, have just won an 11th music-show trophy — the most decorated debut campaign of the year — and the two groups were introduced together at the same showcase on October 12. The project is Lee Soo-man’s first major venture since leaving SM Entertainment, and it is built around the “Zalpha Pop” sound he has described as music for the generation born between Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
“SUPERSTAR” was co-written by longtime SM producer Yoo Young-jin, according to the Korea Herald, and the EP comes in three physical versions — two photobook editions and one platform edition — available for pre-order at major online and offline retailers.
What comes next
The debut EP is the start, not the finish. A2O SOUL’s five tracks, led by two title songs, give the group a foundation to build on — and with their sister group collecting trophies every weekend, the pressure to match them is real. The “Dancing in the Dark” music video arrived with the EP on Monday evening, and the group’s first music-show appearances will be the next test. For now, though, the headline is simple: the 15-member boy group from Lee Soo-man’s new agency has officially debuted, and the A2O project now has two acts on stage.
