These days, new K-Pop groups seem to debut on a weekly basis. 2019 saw 30 rookie group and unit debuts, and 2020 is unlikely to be much different. So, in a sea of new boy groups, what sets rookies DKB apart? The members told all in a new interview.
Brave Entertainment’s first boy group in almost a decade, DKB (pronounced Dah-Keu-Bee) debuted in February with “Sorry Mama”. The group, whose name stands for “Dark Brown Eyes”, has 9 members: D1, GK, Teo, E-Chan, Heechan, Lune, Junseo, Yuku and Harry-June.
It still feels like I’m dreaming. We just took a baby step, and we are satisfied with what we have shown with our first work. We look forward to how much more we can ascend.
— E-Chan
Of course, every K-Pop group is different in its own way, but DKB does have one particularly unique element—they produce their own songs and their own choreographies.
Of course, DKB isn’t the only self-producing idol group. They stand alongside seniors like SEVENTEEN, EXID, and Stray Kids, but groups who produce and choreograph are still in the minority. All 9 members have been working together to make their own music since trainee days, where their songs were evaluated monthly.
Some of these songs actually made it into DKB’s debut album, Youth. One of them was “Samsung”, which compares confidence with the success of the Korean tech giant.
I had written a self-empowering song titled ‘Samsung’ for the monthly evaluation. I wanted to approach hip-hop, which is usually serious and heavy, in a more interesting way… My idea was taken, and it went into our debut album.
— GK
Their first title track, “Sorry Mama”, was written by D1, GK, Teo, and E-Chan. It combines a hip-hop beat with a relatable message about standing up for yourself against adults. GK revealed that he faced that very fate when his mother didn’t support his K-Pop goals at first. Heechan went through something similar, paying for his own performance lessons as a youngster.
I moved to Seoul six years ago… I had to work day and night to afford money for lessons. My parents had worried a lot, but I didn’t want to depend on them.
— Heechan
With Dancing High winner Junseo in the group, DKB was also able to develop its own dance without the need for a professional choreographer.
Alongside songwriting and choreography, the members also have skills in DJing, acrobatics, Chinese, and Japanese.
I learned DJing, which helped me understand hip-hop in a wider, more in-depth perspective,
— E-Chan
According to the members, these skills give them a huge competitive edge. Between them, D1 says, “We are capable of producing what we want. We are not confined to any framework”.
What matters now is having the audience’s approval.’ We plan to keep showing our musicality step by step until they accept us.
— D1
“Sorry Mama” has already amassed 750,000 views on YouTube in less than 2 months. Watch the video here!
Source: Koreaboo
