KPOP’s first idols with hearing disabilities celebrate their first debut anniversary with epic comeback, showcasing a mature and alluring concept
Following the success of their first mini album, Follow, Big Ocean staged a striking comeback with the release of Underwater, a dramatic, moody album that conveys the message that everyone harbors deep and intense instincts beneath the surface.
Worldwide Recognition
Since their debut in April 2024, Big Ocean has achieved worldwide recognition and made headlines for their novel disability representation in the KPOP industry. As the first idol group with hearing disabilities, members Chanyeon, PJ, and Jiseok have become music industry pioneers through their use of technology to overcome their limitations and by incorporating sign language into their performances. The members learned to sing and dance to vibrations of the beat through wristwatches they wear and flashing screens that work as metronomes. In addition, they leveraged AI voice conversion tools to sing their own records, allowing them to overcome shortcomings in pitch.
A Journey To The Depths
Big Ocean’s new album, Underwater is a musical journey themed to “The Merman”—a mythical being, half-human and half-fish, who struggles to find a place on land. The four tracks in the album depict Big Ocean’s journey of recognizing themselves as mermen and awakening their instincts:
- “SINKING” portrays submersion—the pain of drifting apart despite trying to hold on to a loved one.
- “FADE OUT” represents realization—as they sink deeper, all external noise fades away, leaving only the clarity of their own voice.
- “Attention” is the title track and symbolizes instinct. Having embraced their identity as mermen, they regain confidence, seducing the listener to dive into the water and surrender to the emotional whirlpool.
- “End of Time” tells the story of a reunion. Under the moonlight, they dance and promise eternity.
Listening to the album in order feels like watching a heartbreaking melodrama — and soon, listeners find themselves rooting for the mermen’s transformation as they are reborn from the darkness, and perhaps even discovering their own meaning in Underwater‘s depths.
Watch the official music video of their title track “ATTENTION”, available now on YouTube!
Follow Big Ocean on SNS:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/big_ocean.official
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@big_ocean.official
X (Twitter): https://x.com/Big_O_cean
BSTAGE: https://bigocean-official.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHeBk_JZumXnogpogVZH0UA
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