One of the main reasons why atinys have such an immense amount of pride when it comes to ATEEZ is that they know where they came from; how they started.
Unlike many other groups in the industry, ATEEZ comes from a smaller company. At their time of debut, three companies dominated the K-Pop sphere called “the big three”: SM, JYP, and YG Entertainment. This aspect often becomes a hot topic for debate in the K-Pop community, but ATEEZ themselves have, many times, reiterated their organic growth into being one of the most popular K-Pop groups worldwide.
ATEEZ’s Early Struggles as Rookies
The group has shared, with the public. memories from early in their five-year career; some fond, but many not so fond. As a group that debuted under a smaller, not nearly as well-known company, getting opportunities to perform and promote their music was difficult. Looking at their early sales, their debut album had only sold 430 on the first day, where they now have sold over a million in 2023.
Even one year later, only 100 people attended their anniversary fanmeeting in 2019. Wooyoung himself has said that ATEEZ truly built themselves from the ground up, sharing that their debut song, Pirate King, was often cut from TV broadcasts so they got little national exposure.
The leader, Hongjoong, also said that, during the debut days, they had to shorten their songs and performance times to even be considered for a spot in TV music shows. He, himself, faced many struggles of his own, like the other members, as his laptop which had his production guides and work, was stolen so he had to rework everything.
Despite financial and promotional shortcomings, ATEEZ has made immense progress in their fanbase, musical, and individual growth, their current albums and performances reflecting the hard work they have put into their dream.
Global Expansion
Even before their debut, ATEEZ, who were known as KQ Fellaz at the time, captured the attention and hearts of many around the world with three performance videos, each showcasing a different style and charisma:
This hype was only exacerbated with what atinys consider to be a blessing and a curse: world tours. Only five months into their debut, the group embarked on their first-ever “Expedition” world tour.
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(I took this video myself when I attended their Break the Wall concert in Newark, 2022)
As previously stated, ATEEZ is not as successful domestically as they are internationally and this is for a few reasons:
- Fourth generation boy groups are just not nearly as popular and listened to as girl groups
- ATEEZ is not from one of the big 4: SM, HYBE, JYP, and YG (where success is almost always guaranteed)
- ATEEZ had already built a global fanbase pre-debut with KQ Fellaz
- Because ATEEZ promotes overseas so much, the fandom in Korea often expresses their disappointment in this
- Boy groups in general build their fanbases based on fandom and stan culture (particularly with young women/girls), while (most) girl groups build theirs on the general public
What Sets ATEEZ Apart from the Rest?
Concept
When you learn about ATEEZ’s pirate concept, you begin to see just how intricate and detail-oriented it is. Every comeback, atinys are given new clues to their storyline and the satisfaction when you puzzle all the pieces together is like no other. Different parts of the lore intertwine with each other like a matrix and, since debut, ATEEZ has maintained an identity that is unique to only them. In addition, even the music producers, the Edenary Team, work to help bring the story to life through thematic decisions.
Otherworldy Performances
The fact that the group even has a proclaimed “demon line” which consists of those who have such great stage presence that they often look “possessed” is an insane feat of its own. However, over time, this line has now been extended to the whole group as every member brings a unique aspect to their performance. In a show called Immortal Songs where different artists come to compete and are judged by legends, ATEEZ won four separate times against other legends. Let that sink in.
There isn’t a group quite like ATEEZ when it comes to bringing a stage with 100% energy every time. An aspect that contributes greatly to this is the fact that ATEEZ essentially never lip syncs on stage. This is especially impressive when you consider the fact that ATEEZ is part of the fourth generation in K-Pop, where most groups are commonly known to lip sync often in an effort to focus more on their dance performance. In fact, let’s hear from the boys themselves:
Versatile yet Distinct Music
Atinys and non-atinys alike would be able to recognize an ATEEZ song from a mile away. Since their debut, the group has been able to boldly define what their sound was, and fans were able to quickly pick up on it as well. With the help of their production group, the Edenary Team, ATEEZ’s concept has been engrained into their songs, and every creative decision in the lyrics and instrumentals just… makes sense.
ATEEZ’s music is also often seen as very theatrical as if it could be placed in an epic movie trailer. Their main concept being about a revolution does contribute to that as well; however, it is the mix of instrumental complexity and captivating melodies that pull you in. Especially when you read the lyrics to some of their songs like Turbulence, New World, and Sunrise that incite motivation and unconditional support, listening to ATEEZ’s music can really make you feel like you can take over the world.
The other obvious factor that makes ATEEZ’s music special is the incredible diversity it has. From the ballad to EDM trap, electropop, rock, R&B, synthwave, and now Afrobeats-infused dancehall genre, they can do it all.
Source: @kepteez on Tiktok