They've grown tougher and bolder. &TEAM has shed their boyish look and infused raw emotion into powerful choreography, delivering a more dramatic stage presence.
The group held a media showcase on October 28 to celebrate the release of their first mini album Back to Life — marking their official Korean debut three years after first launching in Japan.
"We're deeply moved to finally debut in Korea," the members shared. "It feels like our first debut all over again. This album captures our passion and ambition for a new beginning. Please watch how &TEAM evolves from here."
A New Challenge After Three Years
&TEAM originally debuted in Japan in 2022 as HYBE's first local-based boy group. Since then, they've achieved major success — their third single "Go in Blind" sold over one million copies and earned a Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, as well as a spot among the Top 5 Best Albums at the 39th Japan Gold Disc Awards.
Now, they're turning a new page with their long-awaited Korean debut. MAKI reflected, "We faced so many challenges, but each one helped us grow. Becoming million sellers, winning awards, and topping Oricon — all of that was thanks to our fans."
HARUA added, "K-pop isn't just about Korea anymore — it's a global stage. We wanted to take on this challenge to truly become global artists, and the chance to meet fans more often makes us excited."
For JO, this debut is an introduction: "It's a chance to show people who don't know us what &TEAM is all about."
YUMA described it as "a new start and a new challenge," adding, "We want to express our unique color and identity on the main K-pop stage and expand to an even wider world."
TAKI, who had dreamed of this since childhood, said, "There were times I couldn't fully express myself because of the language, but now I'm just happy and ready to show new sides of me."
The members also focused heavily on improving their Korean skills. HARUA shared, "We recorded everything in Korean. We studied pronunciation, final consonants, and subtle tone differences to sound natural."
Back to Life — Rising Stronger Than Before
MAKI described Back to Life as "an album filled with our teamwork and growth from the past three years." It features six tracks — "MISMATCH," "Rush," "Heartbreak Time Machine," "Who am I," and more — blending rock hip-hop, '90s R&B, dance, and rock ballad styles.
The title track "Back to Life" is a powerful rock hip-hop anthem that captures the group's fierce determination. "It means 'to be reborn,'" explained UJU. "Even through pain or struggle, we'll keep standing up and chasing our dreams. That's the message behind the song."
Their performance mirrored a cinematic story — with sweeping group choreography, emotional expression, and tight control. HUMA noted, "We performed it like a drama. Every move carries emotion, and the nine of us practiced endlessly to synchronize perfectly."
They also showcased "Lunatic," a funkier, more playful stage that highlights &TEAM's confident energy and vibrant groove.
The Start of a New Chapter
Back to Life features collaborations with global producers including HYBE's Bang Si Hyuk, SOMA GENDA, Grammy-nominated songwriter Julia Lewis, Tyler Spry, Scotty Dittrich, Mick Coogan, and Park Moon Chi.
MAKI shared, "This album shows a new color of &TEAM. It's a huge and meaningful starting point for us."
YUMA added, "We've become stronger as a team. I can feel how much we've grown in a short time."
With many major K-pop acts making comebacks this month, the group expressed no pressure — only excitement. "It's thrilling to share the stage with so many talented artists," said HUMA. "Our weapon is teamwork — the power of nine."
Their goal? A No. 1 on Korean music shows. "We want to make our fans proud," said JO.
MAKI concluded, "Our Korean debut is a big challenge and an important leap forward. After this, we want to greet fans worldwide on a world tour — and my personal dream is to perform at Lollapalooza."
&TEAM's new album Back to Life was released at 6 PM KST on October 28.
