NCT Dream shared their thoughts about the group’s first studio album “Hot Sauce” at an online media conference on Monday.

Before the event started, the group’s label SM Entertainment announced that the LP’s pre-order sales came in at more than 1.7 million units.

“We’re flattered by the fact alone that we were able to fill the album as a septet,” said the members.

They had initially wanted to focus on creating as many memories as possible with each other during the preparation, but strived to push themselves to go further as they were boosted by their fans’ overwhelming support.

Setting records and achieving feats are important, of course, but they want to enjoy themselves and make each day count, they said.

“It means a lot that I can join the first full-length album. And I wanted to do better, put in more effort,” said Mark, who returned to the youngest NCT subunit after over 2 1/2 years.

The album consists of 10 tracks and “now all of us are adults and the messages we want to pass on to you fill them up to the brim,” said Jeno.

Seventeen to return in June: report

Seventeen is in the last stages of preparing for its new album, according to media reports on Monday.

The band is reportedly aiming to come out with new music next month after several members -- Hoshi, Jun and The8 -- successfully wrapped up their solo gigs earlier this year.

Its agency Pledis Entertainment, in responding to the reports, said that the date of its return has not yet been set and that it will make an official announcement when the schedule is finalized. 

The group has been making headlines abroad, sweeping charts in Japan with single “Hitorijyanai” that came out last month and clinching its first nomination in the top social artist category from the 2021 Billboard Music Award. It also appeared in a string of US talk shows such as the Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Late Late Show with James Corden.

Oh My Girl’s new EP will be “turning point” 

Oh My Girl hosted an online media showcase to roll out its eighth EP “Dear OhMyGirl” on Monday.

After putting out back-to-back hits last year -- “Nonstop” and “Dolphin” -- Jiho admitted that they felt the pressure to outdo themselves. They had also racked their brains trying to figure out the way they should be headed.

“Instead of making a drastic turn, though, we wanted to continue to show the bright energy, as we did in ‘Nonstop’ and ‘Dolphin,’” she said, “This, we believe, will be a turning point and we’re full of excitement.”

The seven-piece act is returning 13 months after its seventh EP “Nonstop” and the title track “Dun Dun Dance” features an addictive hook.

“I feel attached to the new album since it seems to tell the story of ourselves, full of our taste,” said Hyojeong.

The lyrics remind her of the conversations the members had and how they have matured with their music, she added.

Mimi was absent from the event due to a health issue.

WJSN’s 2nd unit shares teaser clip

WJSN’s second unit the Black uploaded a teaser trailer for its forthcoming debut album on Sunday.

The music video snippet gave fans a taste of their title track “Easy,” from their debut album “My Attitude,” with members Exy and Eunseo, SeolA and Bona pairing up as detectives and suspects. The scenes were a stark change from the idols’ previous innocent and chaste image.

The quartet’s debut single consists of two tracks: “Easy” tells a story of a slow yet fatal seduction, while “Kiss Your Lips” sings of bold imagination. Exy participated in writing the lyrics and melodies of both tracks.

The girl group’s first subunit Jjokkomi consisted of Soobin, Luda, Yeoreum and Dayoung and its cute and upbeat “Hmph!” from October last year was a success.

The single will be unveiled on May 12.

By Hwang You-mee
(glamazon@heraldcorp.com)