KARD Touches On Their Disbandment Announcement Ahead Of Final Comeback

Co-ed group KARD (BM, J.Seph, Somin, and Jiwoo) shared their resolve as they gear up for activities promoting their new album “Where To Now? Part.2 : NOWHERE,” speaking with reporters during a round interview held on July 21 at Over The Rainbow in Gwangjin District, Seoul.

“Where To Now? Part.2 : NOWHERE” marks the first full-length studio album from KARD, who began their career with a pre-debut single in December 2016. The album carries extra significance as it’s the group’s final release before their exclusive contract with agency DSP Media comes to an end.

Earlier this month, DSP Media had announced via a notice posted on its official website, “After careful discussions with the four members, we have decided to wrap up KARD’s group activities with this album and the upcoming tour.”

In this interview, the members confirmed directly that their exclusive contract with DSP Media will end on December 31. However, they made clear that the end of the contract doesn’t mean the group is disbanding, asking fans to think of it instead as putting “a comma” on their story.

Jiwoo said, “We haven’t had any major fights or disagreements with each other,” adding, “After the contract ends, we’ll each spend time on our own, but we could come back together as KARD again someday.”

Even without disbanding, once the members go their separate ways, KARD’s activities as a group will be on hold for some time. Resuming group activities down the line would also require an agreement with DSP Media, which holds the group’s intellectual property rights.

With no telling when they might reunite for a new album, all four members poured more effort than ever into this record.

“We Want People To Say We Left Behind a Classic”

The new album contains 10 tracks in total, including the title track “Back To Life.” The members said they made the album while looking back on the 10 years since their debut.

J.Seph said, “We renewed our contract once back in 2022. This time, unlike back then, the agency never brought up the subject of a new contract, so I intuitively sensed that a renewal probably wasn’t going to happen. That’s why I went into making this album from the start with the mindset that it would be our last.”

The title track “Back To Life” is a dancehall track built on a moombahton foundation. Somin said, “It’s the kind of refreshing, upbeat sound people usually associate with KARD, and I wanted to show that we’re having a great time performing it.”

All four members of KARD took part in writing the lyrics for “Back To Life.” Somin explained, “The song carries the message, ‘You’re not alone,'” adding, “We wanted to offer comfort and encouragement through the music to anyone going through a hard time.”

Jiwoo said, “Our goal from the start was to be a group that keeps up with global music trends, and the moombahton-based songs we put out early in our career ended up doing better than expected — that became KARD’s signature sound,” adding, “I think this new song will be one that shows how much KARD has grown and changed over the years.”

Among the album’s tracks, “Always” was made as a fan song dedicated to Hidden Kard, the fandom that has supported the group for 10 years, carrying a message of gratitude.

The members said, “Hidden Kard has been like a guardian of our self-esteem. Whenever we were tired or struggling, they were always a bright light for us,” adding, “We poured our sincerity into writing lyrics centered on the message, ‘Thank you for always being a bright light for KARD.'”

KARD will release the album’s full track list digitally on various music platforms at 6 p.m. on July 28. On August 8, they’ll kick off the first stop of their new world tour, “NOW HERE,” at Gabin Art Hall in Gangnam District, Seoul — a tour they’ll continue through the end of their contract.

BM said, “After we release this album, I want people to say, ‘Why are they leaving right after putting out such a classic?'” He added, “I’ve also imagined us taking first place on a music show with ‘Back To Life.’ If that actually happens, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back the tears.”

Somin said, “I want to work hard to show our fans more smiles than tears during this promotion.”

Source: (A)