hrtz.wav breaks through with the first wave
hrtz.wav, pronounced “hearts wave,” is a five-member global band formed through Mnet’s survival program Steel Heart Club, where each member ranked first in their respective position within the band: Riaan on vocals, Hagiwa on drums, Keiten on guitar, Young-jun on keyboard, and Dane on bass. According to their company, Kakao Entertainment, their name combines “hrtz” (symbolizing mind, soul, and the frequency of sound) and “.wav” (symbolizing unprocessed, high-quality sound and waves) to signal a new wave of band music. Their debut mini-album, ‘The First Wave,’ released on April 8, 2026, delves into themes of identity, youth, love, and heartbreak through its six tracks.
“NINETEEN,” the title track, explores all the various emotions and experiences tied to being nineteen. The lyrics “I’ve been counting days / 아무 말도 못 한 채로 매일 / 멈춰 있어 너와 나의 순간 속에" capture the speaker thinking of a past relationship, conveying the yearning of wanting to go back even if some time has passed. The song also emphasizes the desire to hold on to something grounding amid life’s unpredictability with the repeated refrain of “Forever, forever like nineteen”. “어른인 척 말은 해도 / Thought about it over and over again" further captures the internal struggle of wanting to grow up, but also wanting to stay young. “NINETEEN” perfectly reflects both the uncertainty and complexity of youth, and with all the members’ direct contribution to the writing, this lends authenticity to the song’s themes.
The 5th track, “어리버리 (Outta My Mind),” through the lyrics of “깊은 바다 같은 너의 눈에 빠져" and “My heart’s like a bungee, 계속 어리버리해," evokes a late-night state of mind where a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts run wild that often come with a new or first love. Written by members Dane and Riaan, it captures the thrilling sensation of young love, where excitement, doubt, and uncertainty coexist in every moment, leaving you both exhilarated and unsure of what comes next.
“Highlight,” the third track, opts for a slower pace, expressing the pain of moving on from a past relationship and realizing memories are all you have left. The lyric "난 네가 없을 때 써 내려간 그런 highlight" reflects the emotional struggle of holding onto the best moments of the relationship, even when the person is no longer around. The refrain “난 네가 생각이 나서 또 엔딩을 쓰고” deepens this internal conflict, emphasizing how the speaker continuously rewrites the story of their relationship, wondering if things could have been different. As the song progresses, “하루 종일 생각하면 늘 결말은 이것 / 이제야 너를 보내려 하네 이젠 goodbye", the speaker realizes that despite the memories, the only way forward is to say goodbye and move on. It’s a beautiful, introspective track that speaks to the emotional aftermath of a breakup and holding on to the “highlights” of a relationship.
The remaining tracks — “Dream,” “I AM SO FINE,” and “Close to Me (우리만의 이야기)” — help round out the arc of the album. “Dream” leans into a more atmospheric tone, adding on to the album’s themes of uncertainty and longing. “I AM SO FINE” introduces a slightly brighter, more danceable energy, but the lyrics contradict that by masking vulnerability behind a confident front, with the speaker convincing themselves they’re over a breakup, but struggling with the aftermath of it. “Close to Me (우리만의 이야기)” focuses on connection and shared memories, almost like a conversation between the band and the listener. Together, these tracks weave a cohesive coming-of-age narrative.
The band has been confirmed for multiple music show appearances and prestigious festival stages this year, including KCON Japan in Chiba on May 8-10. and the Awesome Music Festival in Seoul, South Korea, on April 25-26. Additionally, hrtz.wav has been confirmed to perform the OST for the drama, ‘Perfect Crown’.
What stands out most about ‘The First Wave’ is how it sounds like summer; the music perfectly captures the feeling of sun-soaked days and late-night drives with its vibrant instrumentation and direct, conversational lyrics. It also sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a coming-of-age movie. If this is their first signal to the world, it feels like the beginning of a much bigger transmission.
