K-pop group A.C.E started at the bottom, but hard work and theatrical performances have won fans over
- After early days performing as buskers, A.C.E have steadily been gaining attention in the pop industry, while building up a dedicated fandom known as Choice
- Their latest album, ‘Siren:Dawn’, reflects their struggles and is their first to break into some of South Korea’s most prominent music charts
In June K-pop group A.C.E released their latest album, Siren:Dawn, and the single Higher, for which they tapped into tales of romance and mermaids for inspiration.
“We want to show a love that we can’t have, but keep trying,” says the band’s leader, Jun, of their creative world view, which they’ve revealed through the storytelling on recent albums and in teaser images and music videos. It might as well be the quintet’s motto too.
The boy band started out as a K-pop idol group performing as scrappy buskers and has steadily been gaining attention in the industry, while building up a dedicated fandom known as Choice.
“We started from the bottom, with busking and there were no audiences,” recalls A.C.E member Chan. “We worked really hard. Many of our fans, we think, like our story, and how we try really hard at all times. They felt our sincerity and earnestness.”
This intensity towards their work has come across in each of their releases, with the band gaining a lot of love from fans for their very theatrical performances. Last year’s music video for their single Goblin (Favorite Boys) especially saw a lot of attention as the band used Korean folklore, traditional sounds and aesthetics to create a performance that was a blend of pop music and fairy-tale charm – something that’s also felt in the music video for Higher.