AND2BLE Eyes Bigger Success With "French Kissing" Saying "We Want to Show Better Performances"

K-POP boy group AND2BLE is determined to make 2026 its defining year, returning with a more mature sound and a renewed focus on artistic growth just five months after its debut.

The five-member group, consisting of Zhang Hao, Yoo Seungeon, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin, held a media showcase for its second mini album, "Sequence 02: Attraction," at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul on October 27.

"I hope 2026 will be remembered as AND2BLE's year," Kim Gyuvin said during the showcase.

The comeback marks another milestone for five artists who first gained recognition through Mnet's 2023 survival competition "Boys Planet." Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin subsequently debuted with ZEROBASEONE, while Yoo Seungeon joined EVNNE, another group formed with contestants from the same program.

The five later came together under YH Entertainment and debuted as AND2BLE in May with their first mini album, "Sequence 01: Curiosity."

Their debut recorded more than 730,000 copies in first-week sales, ranking among the four highest-selling K-POP group debut albums by first-week sales. The group also held its "2026 AND2BLE SHOW CONCERT: Welcome to Qurious" across four Asian cities and collected 12 trophies at domestic and international award ceremonies.

Despite the strong start, the members emphasized that their first comeback is less about surpassing numbers and more about demonstrating their growth as performers.

"We're grateful for the love our fans showed us through our debut album," Kim Gyuvin said. "Rather than feeling pressured, it makes us want to repay that love by showing even better performances."

The group's new release continues the emotional narrative introduced through "Sequence 01: Curiosity." While their debut explored the excitement of discovering unfamiliar feelings, "Sequence 02: Attraction" follows the progression from curiosity to interest and eventually to a stronger emotional connection.

Leading the five-track project is "French Kissing," a tropical R&B song built around hypnotic grooves, reggae-inspired bass lines and expressive vocals. The track features composition and arrangement contributions from LDN Noise, whose recent collaborations include KiiiKiii and ALPHA DRIVE ONE.

The song portrays the moment two people become irresistibly drawn to one another, comparing the intensity of attraction to heaven.

"When I first heard it, the dreamy melody really caught my attention," Zhang Hao said. "The more I listened, the more I noticed how rich the instrumental sounds and arrangement were. I thought it suited AND2BLE because it allowed us to show a different atmosphere from what we've presented before."

Yoo Seungeon also highlighted the production, particularly the recognizable signature sound of LDN Noise.

"When I heard the LDN Noise signature sound in the introduction, I immediately thought it was going to be a good song," he said. "The atmosphere changes during the pre-chorus, making you curious about what comes next."

The group's performance also marks a departure from the energetic choreography of its debut title track, "Curious," emphasizing controlled gestures and facial expressions.

"If 'Curious' showed our strong energy and performance, 'French Kissing' allows us to present a more restrained and mature kind of sexiness," Yoo Seungeon explained.

Ricky also took on a new challenge by performing a French-language rap section.

"It was my first time trying French, so learning the pronunciation and rhythm wasn't easy at first," he said. "However, I enjoyed the process of learning it step by step, and it made me want to try different things in the future."

Furthermore, the accompanying music video expands on the concept of attraction through five stages: observation, exploration, connection, discovery and integration.

The members also shared lighter moments from the production process as Seungeon remembered filming a music video scene in which the members appeared wrapped in plastic like sculptures. Seeing everyone trying to remain serious almost made him burst into laughter, and the members eventually shared a laugh before continuing filming.

Beyond the title track, "Sequence 02: Attraction" includes four additional songs spanning alternative R&B, progressive house, electro-pop and Britpop: "Haunted," "Potion," "Beautiful" and "Worth It."

Ricky participated in writing the Korean lyrics for "Worth It," alongside Kim Hye-yi. Speaking about the process, he explained that he had been interested in songwriting since his trainee days, despite the challenge of writing in Korean.

"Since this was our own song, I wanted to include a message I personally wanted to express and lyrics that would feel natural when I listened to them," he shared.

Speaking about the production process Zhanghao recalled recording the album in late August when the studio's air conditioning broke down, leaving the members sweating throughout the session.

"I worried about whether I would be able to concentrate," he said. "But it actually helped me relax, and I felt that I was able to express the emotions better."

Moreover, this album also reflects the members' changing approach to performance, particularly in how they communicate emotions rather than concentrating solely on technical execution.

Yoo Seungeon acknowledged that during the group's debut promotions, he had been more concerned about avoiding mistakes and maintaining accurate pitch.

"At first, I paid a lot of attention to making sure my voice didn't crack and that I stayed on pitch," he said. "Now, I think more about how to deliver the song's atmosphere and emotions. I feel that I've become more comfortable on stage."

As the group approaches the end of its debut year, the members are preparing for additional activities, including fan concerts scheduled for Seoul and Yokohama in December and various year-end performances.

They also expressed ambitions beyond album sales, including receiving greater recognition for the quality of their live stages.

"I want us to be known as a group that continues to grow," Kim Gyuvin said. "I hope we can keep improving in every aspect so that people are always curious and excited about what AND2BLE will do next."

AND2BLE's second mini album, "Sequence 02: Attraction," has been released across major streaming platforms, and will be followed by a fan showcase at 8 p.m. KST.