Mnet
Mnet’s global band-making survival show ‘STEAL HEART CLUB’ wrapped its 10-week journey, culminating in the birth of the final headliner band hrtz.wav.
In the live-broadcast finale aired at 10 p.m. on the 23rd (Tue), ‘STEAL HEART CLUB(STEAL HEART CLUB)’ delivered a perfect, drama-like ending: from the self-composed song mission stages by the three finalist teams to confirming the band name, the 15 youths’ narrative, and the debut lineup announcement. Starting with 50 aspiring musicians, ‘STEAL HEART CLUB’ traversed some 40 stages over 10 weeks, depicting fierce competition and growth all the way to the moment the final five-member debut lineup was born, keeping viewers immersed to the very end.
The final mission was the ‘original song mission’, with teams formed around three self-composed tracks. Dane’s ‘It’s Okay’, Kim Kyung-uk’s ‘Satellite’, and Yoon Young-jun’s ‘Us at the End of That Season’ were unveiled in turn, and each original composer directly chose members by position to complete the three teams. In the process, Kim Kyung-uk, under the weight of pressure, shed tears, saying, “I want to create a great stage and need help,” and the sincere support and comfort exchanged among the aspiring musicians underscored the gravity befitting a final.
The finalized three teams were Nam Seung-hyun·Dane·Rian·Oh Da-jun·Hanbin Kim’s ‘It’s Okay’, Kim Geon-woo·Kim Kyung-uk·Kim Eun-chan B·Lee Woo-yeon·Jung Eun-chan’s ‘Satellite’, and Park Hyeong-bin·Yoon Young-jun·Lee Yoon-chan·Kayten·Hagiwa’s ‘Us at the End of That Season’. Filling the final stage with distinct colors and high completeness, the three teams drew lavish praise from directors Lee Jang-won, Jung Yong-hwa, Sunwoo Jung-a, and Ha Sung-woon.
The opening stage, ‘It’s Okay’, kicked off the final with a powerful sound. Lee Jang-won said, “A final is indeed a final. You could feel the weight of the ending from the sound alone,” while Jung Yong-hwa praised, “Both the ensemble and the strength of the song were fully alive.” The following ‘Satellite’ stage shifted the mood with lyrical sensibility and lingering resonance; Sunwoo Jung-a marveled, saying, “I watched without noticing time pass,” and Ha Sung-woon added, “I do not know why Kim Kyung-uk was so worried. It was a moving and beautiful stage.”
The last stage, ‘Us at the End of That Season’, sustained explosive energy from the beginning to the end and brought the final to a perfect close. Sunwoo Jung-a said, “The first blast was tremendous. It was an intense performance that burst like fireworks,” and Jung Yong-hwa raved, “It is a splendid song that takes you to another dimension. It was a genre first seen on ‘STEAL HEART CLUB’ and the freshest stage.”
The 15 finalists also took time to decide their own debut team name. Among several candidates, the final choice was ‘hrtz.wav(hrtz.wav)’. The venue was filled with thunderous cheers for a name imbued with the intent to create a new wave of band music that reflects youth. The support videos from family, friends, and colleagues that followed left the aspiring musicians teary-eyed with deep emotion.
Mnet
Based on the final tally combining on-air voting and daily cumulative votes, five position-toppersguitar Kayten, keyboard Yoon Young-jun, drums Hagiwa, bass Dane, and vocal Rianwere confirmed as the debut members. Kayten said, “‘STEAL HEART CLUB’ was the happiest time of my life. We will change the world with this band.” Yoon Young-jun said, “Thank you for allowing me to realize the band dream. I will grow into a great artist,” and Hagiwa, in tears, said, “I will become a drummer who brings happiness to the world.” He added, “Because I have a distinctive look, I was anxious about whether I could fit in, but everyone welcomed me warmly, and I could make music joyfully,” expressing repeated gratitude. Dane said, “I am so happy to debut. I sincerely thank everyone who sent so much love,” and Rian shared, “This is the moment I have imagined every day since I started music,” with overflowing emotion.
Thus, the five-piece band hrtz.wavcomprising Dane, Rian, Yoon Young-jun, Kayten, and Hagiwawas born as the official debut lineup. MC Moon Ga-young offered final remarks: “I hope the raw energy the youths showed on stage reached everyone well. Please look forward to hrtz.wav’s activities ahead.”
Over the past 10 weeks, Mnet’s ‘STEAL HEART CLUB’ was not a simple survival show but a project that documented aspiring musicians learning each other’s music, influencing one another, and becoming complete as a single band. Like their confession, “the youth of a certain day,” the show brought their heartfelt music intact to the stage and concluded a passionate journey. Anticipation is building for what new resonance hrtz.wav, which has just sent out its first ripple, will create next.
Meanwhile, for Mnet’s ‘STEAL HEART CLUB’, CJ ENM planned and produced the program, while Kakao Entertainment is responsible for the program’s music distribution and for album planning, production, and management of the band that was ultimately formed. Through the partnership between the two companies, they have announced plans to present a next-generation iconic band that will carry forward the global K-band boom.
