What OMEGA X Teach Us About Never Giving Up
OMEGA X, courtesy of SPIRE
In an industry where second chances are rare, OMEGA X proves to be an exception.
“All eleven of us have debuted before,” Yechan said prior to his second debut in the group. “If you look at us, each of us has very different skill sets and are talented in different fields. The purpose of OMEGA X was to gather us in one group and allow us to continue fighting for our dreams.”
The eleven members of OMEGA X are Jaehan, Hwichan, Sebin, Hangyeom, Taedong, Xen, Jehyun, Kevin, Junghoon, Hyuk and Yechan. Each member is an experienced idol who has felt the devastation of their dream slipping away as their first group disbanded. For many of the eleven members disbandment was the result of COVID-19. Several came from extremely talented nugu groups like 1THE9 (Yechan) or SPECTRUM (Jaechan). Some of the members share a history: Kevin and Junghoon were members of ENOi, while Jehyun and Xen debuted together in 1TEAM. Nearly all of the boys have competed on a survival show. What sets OMEGA X apart from other rookie groups is the simple fact that each member is still here, beginning again inside familiar territory.
This fall OMEGA X will begin their first North American tour titled “CONNECT: DON’T GIVE UP” produced by CODE1 Entertainment. Just a little over a year ago, many of the members were trainees again, fumbling towards a dream that was once so close. This is a tour that might have felt impossible to the members just over a year ago. But OMEGA X is proof: Don’t count yourself out. And our dreams? They come back to us.
Jehyun remembers how it felt when his group 1TEAM, disband in early 2021 after two years of promotions. “In some ways I was on the way towards my dreams and then hit ‘STOP,’” Jehyun recalled in an interview last year. “But thanks to this opportunity, I am able to continue pursuing my dream again.”
The center of K-Pop cannot hold how many talented groups debut each year. Every week I watch Music Bank and Inkigayo and note how many rookies are vying to break through. Each is as talented as a group from the “big four” labels, but there is an undercurrent in the music industry that I want to point out. This unspoken difference in groups is one of wealth and class. If a company does not have the money or connections to market a group properly, to invest in cutting edge costumes and photo shoots, then all that is left is raw talent – and a miracle.
What does the success of OMEGA X mean for an industry that strives for perfection? In K-Pop there is no room for a mistake; hurdles and struggles are rarely acknowledged unless it is with the assumption that the idol has overcome a hardship. Idols are supposed to be role models but sometimes this feels out of step with the demands of a culture where imperfections are valued. OMEGA X isn’t the first group to speak openly about their failures but they are the first who’s concept is designed by this. The eleven members in this group were put together because they have more to give. Their story is not over yet.
Inside this group, there is no set leader. Instead, each member is encouraged to push themselves farther than they thought was possible. In their previous groups, the members might have been designated a rapper or dancer or lead vocalist, but here, everyone is on the same level. There is no hierarchy. “It was challenging for a member from the vocal line to rap or from the rap line to sing,” said Taedong when asked about the unusual decision for the group to have no set roles. “But everyone worked really hard and contributed to quality performance.”
They’ve surprised each other with how multi-talented each member is. When the boys recorded “Younger”, a ballad from the first mini-album Vamos, Hyuk was impressed with Hangyeom’s vocals. “He has a strong voice when he sings and raps, which made me curious about how he’d handle a soft song like ‘Younger,’” he shared. “His voice suited the song perfectly, which surprised me.”
Jehyun agreed and said that he was inspired by watching Jaehan record the song. “I already knew Jaehan was a good singer, but he was exceptionally good in “Younger,” and I appreciated him helping out the members vocally for this track. Everyone did well, which surprised me.”
OMEGA X is notable not just for their history, but also for the direct involvement members have in their music. They’re producers, writers, and conceptual designers who have been given a direct hand in creating the image of OMEGA X. Their discography is already stacked for a rookie group. This year they released their first album “Story Written in Music” which contains the hit single “Play Dumb”. Their playfulness is matched equally with a depth that I love to find in groups. Tracks like “Binary Star” show tenderness, while “Take Em All” displays their swagger. But throughout the album, there is a subtext: This is a story each member felt they might have never been able to tell before now.
They are particularly proud of the song which bears their name. “Having a namesake song in the album helps the fans remember our name, and also invites them to be more curious about us,” Kevin said. “A line from “Omega X” goes, “All eyes on me,” which is actually our goal. I love the meaning behind having “Omega X” in our debut album.”
The members are aware that this kind of opportunity rarely comes to idols twice. “I was very worried,” Hyuk said about debuting in a new group. “Until I met the members.” They are lucky, they say, because people believe in them. But they also reiterate that their bond as members is close to being one of brothers. No one understands what they’ve been through like each other.
“I laugh a lot more [these days],” Hyuk reflected. He enjoys hanging out with the members and being a part of the team. Jehyun agreed: “I’m having happy days now that I can make my dreams come true again.”
Jehyun recalled something his parents told him when he was younger that stayed with him as times got tough. When 1TEAM disbanded and he was left to start again, their advice came back to him. “I liked the advice my parents gave me,” he said. “‘It’s okay to take a break when you’re tired, but don’t give up.’”
Tickets for OMEGA X’s tour are on sale soon. Join the group’s official Facebook page for up-to-date info and plenty of fans up for discussion or friendship. Follow OMEGA X and CODE1.
