&TEAM continue to solidify their growing global presence in their second Korean EP, Mark on Me. Woven within the EP’s dynamic six tracks is a narrative of evolution with a newly unveiled romance arc. Mark on Me arrives ten months after their record-breaking Korean debut, Back to Life, which earned them multiple career-defining milestones. Since their 2022 debut in Japan as HYBE LABEL’s first localized group, the nine members have been baring their claws with their dominating stage presence and all-rounder skillset.
EnVi virtually attended the media showcase for Mark on Me held on Tuesday afternoon in Seoul, South Korea. In addition to an exclusive early look at performances for the title-track, “Mark on Me,” and the b-side, “Good Boy,” press were treated to a Q&A with &TEAM. Members EJ, FUMA, K, NICHOLAS, YUMA, JO, HARUA, TAKI, and MAKI confidently stepped onto the stage in sleek, black leather ensembles that resembled the EP’s mature shift in sound.
&TEAM’s leader, EJ, began the media showcase with a word of determination: “We want to repay the love we’ve been showered with in Korea last year, so we’re back and better.”
A Second Challenge
&TEAM’s landmark Korean debut, Back to Life, propelled &TEAM to million seller status and made them the first Japanese artists to achieve this feat in both Japan and Korea. Not only did they receive their first win with “Back to Life” while promoting on Korean music programs; they also achieved a “triple crown” by earning multiple wins across multiple broadcast stations.
“I think our first Korean promotion was like our first step to a bigger global stage,” MAKI reflected. “It, of course, wasn’t easy, but we all really poured our hearts into the album, and we were over the moon when we became million seller status and won first place on Korean music shows. We’re reaching for something higher this time around.”
Images courtesy of YX LABELS.
One thing about &TEAM is that they are no strangers to taking on a challenge. For their first Korean comeback, &TEAM took it upon themselves to challenge their limits. &TEAM compares Mark on Me to a “second challenge” as Back to Life focused on getting their name known while Mark on Me demonstrates their artistic versatility.
“So far, our performances were mostly about our explosive energy and that sense of rushing forward,” TAKI said. “This time, it’s a little bit different — it’s more about our deeper emotional expression and more mature vibes, so I hope many of you feel that this new side also suits us very well.”
Mature Transformation
The EP’s namesake and title-track, “Mark on Me,” is a departure from &TEAM’s typical performance focused image and high energy sound. “Mark on Me” is a fantasy pop track that emphasizes the nonet’s seductive side with highly-stylized vocals and dramatic musical qualities.
“I was honestly quite surprised when I first heard it,” YUMA revealed. “I thought, ‘So this is the title track?’ However, I also felt that with the experience we now have, we could definitely do the song justice and show how much we’ve grown as artists.”
For &TEAM’s sub-leader FUMA, he found the song to be reminiscent of musical theater and wanted his vocal direction to reflect this style: “I discussed a lot with the producer about what tone would work best with the song, and I tried to convey the emotions with a little more power while also paying attention to subtle details.”
The performance for “Mark on Me” noticeably features more restrained choreography compared to their previous tracks. There are no complex or quick-paced formation changes, and the performance hones in on each member’s acting abilities to play out the song’s emotional tinge. However, in true &TEAM fashion, the track closes with an effortlessly suave, albeit more relaxed, dance break.
K went on to share why they exchanged their knife-sharp synchronicity for new moves: “Up until now with ‘Back to Life’ and ‘We on Fire,’ we showcased our powerful energy and our sharply synchronized choreography, but with the new album, rather than focusing big bold moves, we paid more attention to conveying the layered emotions through our expressions and gazes […] we really worked hard to make sure all nine of us were conveying the same emotions, so I hope audiences would try to focus on that.”
Move Like a Beast
However, this dialed-down intensity doesn’t apply to their b-side, “Good Boy,” which full-sends their beast-like performance abilities. “Good Boy” is right up &TEAM’s alley — an energetic hip-hop track characterized by booming 808s and hype-inducing chanting that set the foundation for an explosive live performance. &TEAM’s company juniors and fellow global sensations CORTIS also have writing credits on the song.
“If we have the opportunity to collaborate or do more tracks like these moving forward, we’d love to do that,” EJ commented in respect to CORTIS’s participation on “Good Boy.”
The live performance for “Good Boy” felt like a 180 from “Mark on Me,” with a flurry of hard-hitting moves that proved their adaptability as performers. &TEAM executed every step and groove with full-power like they were entering battle, which left a lingering impression as the closing act of the showcase.
Images courtesy of YX LABELS.
The vibe switches up yet again on the third track, “Love Jang,” which was unveiled live later in the day at &TEAM’s public comeback showcase. NICHOLAS named this song as his favorite on the project, affectionately describing it as “the little brother of ‘MISMATCH.’” This song carries over the peak Heisei-style R&B from “MISMATCH” with additional retro influence in the lyrics, which are inspired by ‘90s love journal culture.
The subsequent track, “Accelerate,” also features an R&B sound, but with an atmospheric vibe built on synths and breezy vocals. The final two songs dip into &TEAM’s signature rock-influenced sound that has been prevalent since their debut. “Empty” is a sentimental alternative rock ballad driven by their raw vocal delivery, whilst “Night to howl!” is oozing with feel-good energy rooted in 2000s American pop-punk.
A Mark on Your Heart
“Night to howl!” feels like an emblematic ending to the EP, as it tugs at the heartstrings while playing into their ongoing werewolf lore — even inviting audiences to “howl” along. Mark on Me is yet another installment into &TEAM’s world-building from the DARK MOON universe pre-established far before their official debut. However, this EP features quite possibly the most important narrative shift yet: an encounter with romance.
“So far, the narrative was about nine werewolf boys becoming a team that grows together,” HARUA explained. “This time around, it’s about the werewolf boys meeting ‘the one’ — the person meant for them. This person sees the boys’ hidden marks but they don’t see them as flaws, but as something that’s special so the boys can embrace who they truly are.”
Images courtesy of YX LABELS.
This “love” is representative of how LUNÉ (&TEAM’s fanbase) have stood by &TEAM throughout the years. Thanks to their fans’ unwavering love, &TEAM are able to show sides of themselves they once concealed or didn’t know they possessed, which is most evident throughout this EP. Each track on Mark on Me highlights an integral part of &TEAM’s identity, whether that is developing a sound they’ve previously tapped into or expanding on their lore.
“I would describe this album as an album that leaves a lasting mark on each other’s hearts,” NICHOLAS said. “You can not only find the tough sides of werewolves, but the beautiful process of a once isolated boy opening up to you or this person who recognizes who he truly is.”
Accelerating Forward
With LUNÉ by &TEAM’s side, there is no limit as to how much more these global stars will grow. The nonet just recently celebrated two major performances, including their North American performance debut at KCON LA 2026 and first solo dome performance for “2026 &TEAM CONCERT TOUR ‘BLAZE THE WAY’ ENCORE in BELLUNA DOME.” &TEAM are also continuing their dome run at KSPO Dome in October as they finish off their concert tour encore with a two-day concert in Korea. These feats are just more fuel toward &TEAM’s rapid worldwide expansion.
“When we were in LA we were so excited by the energy of the fans there, and that left a big impression on us. So we want to go to places we haven’t been yet because we do know that there are fans out there waiting for us to come and meet them,” K said.
EJ welcomed invitations from global and local festivals when the discussion of dream performances arose. This prompted MAKI to note Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival as his dream performance.
Their meteoric run this past year has proven no dream is ever too short for &TEAM. What truly kept the pack intact while achieving this level of acclaim is their unmatched brotherhood and synergy. When asked what they are most looking forward to with Mark on Me, JO answered with a sincerity that represented their long-standing camaraderie.
“For our upcoming promotions in Korea, I’d really love for us to win first place on Inkigayo, because EJ is one of the emcees,” JO said. “[…] if we could be number one on Inkigayo and EJ could call out &TEAM’s name as the winner, it would be a very special moment for all of us and our fans. Above all, through this upcoming promotion I hope we can introduce &TEAM and our performances and our charms to more people out there who may not know us yet.”
Mark on Me is now available on streaming platforms and for physical release from certified retailers. “Link” with &TEAM on Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
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