WayV Unveils 'BIG BANDS' A Bold New Chapter in Their Musical Journey

Rosa Gulliver
Jul 18
3 min read

Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | July 18, 2025

WayV Unveils 'BIG BANDS' A Bold New Chapter in Their Musical Journey

NCT sub-group WayV has released their highly-anticipated seventh mini album BIG BANDS, via SM Entertainment. The six-track album delivers on the group’s renowned expansive production while showcasing a more diverse musical palette.

The EP is bookended by Chinese and Korean versions of the titular single “BIG BANDS,” an upbeat track that combines vibrant jazz elements and addictive chorus vocals to deliver a commanding sense of scale. Co-produced by Jesse Blum, multi-instrumentalist for Twenty One Pilots, the song delivers on its name with punchy brass and a full-band feel.

All-English “Ice Tea” mixes playful lyrics with vintage synth sounds and hip-hop-rooted drums, stirred together into an upbeat party anthem. The hip-hop influences continue with “WOAH,” which features a ’90s-inspired melody using distorted guitars and powerful 808 bass.

The mini-album slows down a beat with “Sad Eyes,” a medium-tempo pop record that explores the pain of parting with and longing for a loved one. The penultimate track “Your Song” was co-written by member KUN. An acoustic guitar rhythm underpins lyrics about becoming each other’s light in the darkness, walking together towards a shared dream.

BIG BANDS follows WayV’s acclaimed 2024 mini-album FREQUENCY, which broke their own week-one sales records and earned them the historic title of the first non-Korean group to win a first-place award on a Korean music show. In August last year, the group kicked off their first concert tour, 'ON THE Way,' with 20 shows across Asia, concluding earlier this year with sold-out finale performances in Seoul, South Korea. Next month, they’ll begin their second concert tour 'NO Way OUT,' this time beginning in Seoul with two already sold-out shows.

About WayV

WayV (威神V) composed of members KUN, TEN, WINWIN, XIAOJUN, HENDERY, and YANGYANG is a subgroup of SM Entertainment group NCT. Known for their genre-blending sound, powerful choreography, and global appeal, WayV has built a strong foundation in the Chinese-speaking market while also expanding their presence worldwide. With standout hits like “Kick Back,” “Love Talk,” “On My Youth (English Ver.)” and “Give Me What,” the group has solidified their presence not only in South Korea and China, but across stages globally, including London's own O2 Arena at the recent SMTOWN LIVE in London. WayV made a historic debut in 2019 when their first mini-album Take Off topped iTunes Charts in 30 countries. Later that year, “Love Talk” became the first song by a Chinese group to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify. Their first full-length album Awaken The World swept China's QQ Music Rising Chart, with all ten tracks charting in the Top 10. In 2023, WayV hit the road for their fanmeeting tour 'Phantom,' which saw them perform in Europe for the first time, before going on to sell out their 'On My Youth' China tour. In 2024, they earned their first Korean music show win, the first all-Chinese group in history to do so with “Give Me That.” Most recently, their mini-album FREQUENCY placed in the Top 5 on iTunes in 17 countries, arriving mid-way through their first concert tour 'ON THE Way,' with 20 shows across Asia. In August 2025, they will begin their second concert tour, 'NO Way OUT,' starting in Seoul with two sold-out shows.