2022 K-pop debuts: Viviz, NMIXX, Tempest and other idol groups worth watching
In the last couple of months, we saw some new groups making a splash worldwide, like IVE charting on Billboard Global 200 for 10 weeks straight with their debut EP to becoming the girl group with the most music show wins with their debut. We also got the ‘Girls Planet 999’s winning group Kep1er making an explosive debut along with Rocking Doll and JYPE’s second boy band Xdinary Heroes.
Every year tons of K-pop groups debut hoping to make it big. Many immediately find success like IVE and Kep1er while some underrated groups take a while before they get the recognition they deserve. With huge names like Red Velvet, GOT7, BTS and Blackpink rumored to be making a comeback in 2022, some rookie groups are bound to get lost in the midst of all the fan excitement. Well, here’s a list of confirmed groups debuting this year that you should keep an eye on if you are a K-pop lover.
READ MORE
Monsta X's main vocalist to solo debut, fans say 'K in K-pop stands for Kihyun'
Was NMIXX’s single 'O.O' LEAKED? Fans blame JYP Entertainment for ruining their debut
K-pop groups debuting in 2022
H1-Key
H1-Key is a four-member girl group under the label GLG. They debuted on January 5 with the single ‘Athletic Girl’ that had Knetizens talking about their athleisure concept which was quite new. Sitala is a Thai model, Riina participated in ‘Produce 48’ while Yel was a popular JYPE trainee with Seoi being a part of YG Trainee Team 2.
Trendz
Trendz is a seven-member boy group that debuted under Interpark Music Plus which is home to the third-gen girl group Laboum. Trendz released their first mini-album ‘Blue Set Chapter 1. Tracks’ on January 5. Except for Yoonwoo, the rest of the members were supposed to debut under NH Media, known for handling U-KISS and Laboum.
Viviz
Viviz is a three-member girl group with three former GFriend members. They made their debut on February 9 with the mini-album ‘Beam of Prism’. They are the first girl group of BPM, home to Soyou and Samuel. Viviz has tied with IVE to become the fastest girl group to get a music show win after their debut.
JWiiver
JWiiver is a seven-member boy group that debuted on February 17 with the mini-album ‘Jtrap’. Some of the members were on survival shows like ‘Produce X 101’, ‘BOYS24, ‘World Klass’, ‘MIXNINE’ and ‘Show Me The Money 777’. It’s a multinational group with Korean and Chinese members under Starweave Entertainment.
NMIXX
JYPE announced the 7-member girl group NMIXX in the most unique way as they launched a blind pre-order for the limited edition of their debut album without introducing the members. It caused much buzz with the label then sharing that the members were popular JYPE trainees like Lily M, Jinni and Sullyoon. They will debut on February 22 with the single album ‘Ad Mare’.
Black Level
Black Level is a six-member boy group debuting on February 26 under Black Level Entertainment. Debut preparations are on the way as they have released concept photos and the tracklist for the debut EP ‘New-Start’. Three of the members, Taeyoung, Intake and Ze:U have also participated in the making of the album.
Tempest
Tempest is a seven-member boy group set to debut on March 2 with their mini-album ‘It’s Me, It’s We’. Some of the members previously participated in survival shows like ‘I-Land 2’ and ‘Produce 101 Season 2’. Their label, Yuehua Entertainment is home to iconic multinational groups like UNIQ, Everglow and WJSN.
ILY:1
ILY:1 is a six-member girl group under FC ENM. They turned heads by roping in four former contestants of ‘Girls Planet 999’ - Hana, Chang Chung, Lee Yunji and Ririka. They have their own pre-debut reality show ‘ILY:0’ airing since February on their YouTube channel. They recently came in the spotlight for covering Girls’ Generation’s ‘Into The New World’. They will be debuting in March.
Blank2y
Blank2y is a nine-member boy group under Keystone Entertainment. Taewoo was in the boy group 1the9’s previously while Donghyuk was in ENOi. Siwoo had participated in ‘Wild Idol’ that formed TAN. He and Mikey had also participated in the survival show series ‘Produce’ Youngbin was on ‘I-Land’ that formed Enhypen while Sungjun almost debuted with Drippin. Their pre-debut reality show will begin on March 6 and they are planning to debut in the spring of 2022.
.
— KEYSTONE Entertainment (@keystone_twt) January 27, 2022
We are 'BLANK2Y'
Finally we opened our Full Name !
Welcome to the BLANK❗
Go Up BLANK2Y❗
#keystone_entertainment
#키스톤엔터테인먼트
#keystone_reveal #공식명칭공개
#blank2y #블랭키
#boygroup #kpop pic.twitter.com/vDBaT0mzc4
Younite
Younite is an upcoming boy group under Brand New Music, home to AB6IX, Bumkey and some former members of Wanna One and X1. Younite is said to debut in the first half of 2022 and has nine members. One of them is Eunsang from X1 while Sehyeon and Kyungmun participated in ‘High School Rapper 4’ and ‘LOUD’ respectively.
Trainee A
After the global success of BTS and TXT, BigHit is planning on debuting their next boy group. They started introducing the seven members of Trainee A in March 2021 who are active on social media and have already gained a mass following. The multinational group consists of members who are Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and even a popular Thai actor. They plan on debuting in 2022.
P Nation's Loud and JYP's Loud
JYP and PSY got together to form boy groups in the most novel way possible. They launched the survival show ‘LOUD’ and created two boy groups, one for PSY’s P Nation and the other for JYPE. JYP Loud consists of five members and will debut in the first half of 2022. P Nation Loud is currently a six-member group as they had to let go of 12-year old member Koki for being too young. P Nation Loud will also debut in 2022.
TAN
TAN is a seven-member group that was formed through the rigorous survival show ‘Extreme Debut: Wild Idol’. Some of the members were part of previous groups like 24K’s Changsun, NTX’s Jiseong, Jaejun from C-Clown and TREI, and We In The Zone’s Jooan. They are planning on debuting in March under Think Entertainment.
‘The Origin’
After Victon’s Play M and The Boyz’s Cre.Ker merged, they formed IST Entertainment. And the new label is forming their first boy group through the survival show ‘The Origin’. They are going all out as the judging panel consists of Infinite's Sunggyu, GOT7’s Jay B and Minzy who was part of 2NE1. Among the thirteen contestants, four are popular trainees from SM and YG. The winning group will debut in the first half of 2022.
K-pop is also expected to see more groups debuting with idol members from survival shows. There is ‘I-Land 2’ for female contestants, MBC’s ‘My Teenage Girl’ and Mnet’s ‘Boys Planet’ which is a sequel to ‘Girls Planet 999’. MLD Entertainment, home to Momoland has also shared they are planning on debuting a girl group and have roped in Nonaka Shana from ‘Girls Planet 999’. Baby Monsters is YG’s next girl group following the success of Blackpink while HYBE’s new label ADOR is planning a new girl group. HYBE’s Source Music is forming another girl group Lesserafim that has two IZ*ONE members and some of the contestants of ‘Produce 48’.