Sept. 10, 2026, SEOUL, KOREA – Kakao Entertainment’s global band hrtz.wav returned with its second mini-album, “The Second Wave : MOMENTUM,” on Sept. 9, ushering in a new wave with a release shaped by the members’ creative input and distinct musical color.

Centered on the theme of growth, the album is led by its title track, “ALIVE.” Blending a groovy mid-tempo rhythm with retro synth sounds, the song is about people drawn to one another and coming together to feel truly “alive.” RIIZE’s Sungchan features on the track, combining his trendy, hip sensibility with hrtz.wav’s dynamic energy.

“I think ‘ALIVE’ best captures the theme of our album,” member Youn Young-jun said during a press event in Seoul. “We reached out to Sungchan because his voice felt like a great fit, and he was happy to join us.”

‘The Second Wave : MOMENTUM’

The EP also offers the upbeat “Mind,” the playful “Sunday Morning,” the guitar-driven “Play My Guitar,” the retro-tinged “Thinkin’ Bout You,” and the emotive “First Daylight.” The members took part in the album’s creative process, penning lyrics for all six tracks and earning co-composer credits on “Thinkin’ Bout You.” Riaan and Dane also contributed to the composition of “Mind,” further showcasing their growing musical capabilities.

“The lyrics and performances we’ve developed through our festival experiences are key parts of our creative identity,” Riaan explained. “We also wanted to delve into themes that people our age could easily relate to, expressing a broader and more nuanced range of youthful emotions through the lyrics.”

Returning five months after its debut EP, “The First Wave,” hrtz.wav is ready to showcase a more energetic and free-spirited side. While “The First Wave” signaled the beginning of the band’s musical journey with a refreshing pop-rock sound, “The Second Wave : MOMENTUM” takes a step further, introducing a new musical world shaped by sophisticated synth sounds and direct messaging.

“As we thought about each member’s strengths and how to bring out hrtz.wav’s identity, we wanted to try a sound that was different from what we’d done before,” Dane said. “That’s why we decided to incorporate synths.”

hrtz.wav consists of five winners of the global band-making project “Steal Heart Club” — Ketien (guitar), Hagiwa (drums), Dane (bass), Riaan (vocals), and Youn Young-jun (keyboard). After building a global fanbase through compelling performances on the competition show, the band made its official debut in April. Its debut title track, “NINETEEN,” landed on both the Shazam and Melon HOT 100 charts. The band then quickly made its mark on the festival circuit, performing at more than 10 major festivals in Korea and abroad.

Following the release of “The Second Wave : MOMENTUM,” hrtz.wav is set to further expand its presence on the global stage. Just one month after its debut, the band took the stage at KCON JAPAN 2026, where it received an enthusiastic response from local fans and media. Building on that momentum, hrtz.wav plans to take its music to stages around the world. Kakao Entertainment will continue to provide comprehensive support through its expertise across the music business, including IP planning, production, distribution, and marketing.