Popular K-pop band SEVENTEEN released its latest album this week, with t2 virtually attending the launch. Titled 17 IS RIGHT HERE, the launch also had the group releasing the music video for their lead single, Maestro.
The launch that took place in Seoul, had all 13 members of the boy band present, who took turns to talk about the soul and spirit of their new album. Based on the group’s signature sound, 17 IS RIGHT HERE presents four new tracks, Korean versions of eight previously released Japanese lead singles, 20 lead singles from past Korean releases and a digital-only instrumental version of the group’s debut single, Adore U.
What also stood out is the use of AI in the music video for their single Maestro, which marks one of the most cinematic videos the group has ever come up with. Set in a dark, dystopian world with the message that anything, including music and art, can be easily created with technology, the video has the members of the band going deep to explore the concept of ‘true creation’ as they confront and eventually embrace the unfamiliar beings introduced to them, ending the video with a thought-provoking question: “Who is the real Maestro?”
With pre-order records standing at a whopping three million copies 10 days before the official release of the album, SEVENTEEN has already scored a winner. What’s more, the album quickly shattered first-day sales records, selling over two million copies. These numbers not only solidify SEVENTEEN’s status as one of the most influential and successful K-pop groups but also show the unwavering support of its dedicated fanbase, which is known as Carats.
At the global press conference ahead of the album release, SEVENTEEN shared that 17 IS RIGHT HERE marks the beginning of a busy and diverse year for the band, which includes, for the first time, a plan for a tour of the US in the Fall this year. In Europe, they are set to grace Glastonbury’s main stage and will be the sole K-pop act to perform at this year’s Lollapalooza Berlin. Furthermore, SEVENTEEN is slated to return with another album in the latter half of this year.
The launch was a starry affair with the SEVENTEEN boys — S. Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, WooziI, The 8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino — once more offering fans a peek at what makes them the group they are, consistently fired by a fiercely independent spirit and a nonpareil in-house creative ecosystem.
The 13-piece act’s music structure hinges on the interplay of hip-hop, vocal, and performance, all of which are evident once again on 17 IS RIGHT HERE. The band has been going from strength to strength. They closed out 2022 as the first K-pop act to win PUSH Performance of the Year at MTV Video Music Awards as well as Best New and Best Push at MTV European Music Awards. In 2023, their 10th Mini Album FML and 11th Mini Album SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN both debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No.1 on World Albums chart, proceeding to become the Top 2 best-selling albums in K-pop history.
