ZEROBASEONE has returned. Reborn in a new form, from a nine-member group to a five-member group, ZEROBASEONE is set to make its comeback stage with its sixth mini album, ‘Ascend-.’

ZEROBASEONE met with Hanteo News at a cafe in Seoul on the 15th and talked about its comeback. SUNG HANBIN shared, “We had a lot of concerns about what kind of image the five of us should show, and since we made this comeback after taking time to get to know ourselves more deeply again, it feels new and meaningful.”

The title track ‘TOP 5’ is a song that came about as if by fate. SEOK MATTHEW said, “When I first heard it, I liked it so much that I immediately wanted this to be the title track.” SUNG HANBIN explained, “If you watch the trailer, it is expressed through the five senses,” adding, “It is an album that expresses things in a fun way through various interpretations.” This album, including the title track, reflects a great deal of the members’ opinions. PARK GUNWOOK said, “There were as many as 30 to 40 candidate songs, and for the title track as well, the members’ ideas were delivered to the company, so a lot of revisions were made.” SEOK MATTHEW said, “We chose everything for this album,” adding, “Since we poured our whole hearts into it, I hope ZEROSE like it.”

When asked whether this marks a new second chapter, PARK GUNWOOK said, “With the title track and the overall mood, we are trying to build a completely new image,” but added, “For fans who love our existing color, we are also creating the tracklist in a way that allows them to feel a sense of nostalgia.” Regarding the unique color of five-member ZEROBASEONE, he said, “It has a stable, calm tone and a sophisticated charm,” adding, “If we have talked about youth until now, this time we put a slightly more mature charm into the album, the lyrics, and the melodies.”

That mature charm is also revealed through the performance and visuals. PARK GUNWOOK said, “Rather than creating a stage that people can go wild over, we wanted to create a stage people could feel,” adding, “We adopted classic lines and movements used in the early 2000s, so I think people will be able to feel a familiar and sexy charm.” SEOK MATTHEW said, “I really love second-generation songs, so when I heard we were doing that concept, I thought my time had come,” adding, “I tried as much as possible to bring out that atmosphere where you just look cool without doing anything.” As artists they referenced, PARK GUNWOOK named JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and USHER, while SEOK MATTHEW chose MICHAEL JACKSON. When asked which artist he would like to film a challenge with, SEOK MATTHEW drew attention by answering, “An artist who I think would suit this song well is EXO’s KAI sunbaenim.”

This album also includes PARK GUNWOOK’s self-composed song ‘Customize.’ PARK GUNWOOK shared, “Since this is our first album released as a five-member group, I thought it would become even more meaningful if it included a song written by a member, so I worked hard on it,” adding, “By being listed in the credits, I feel like the possibilities and color of the new ZEROBASEONE have become a little stronger, so I’m proud.” SUNG HANBIN said, “You could really tell from this song that he knew the members’ strengths and had always been interested in them,” adding, “I felt so proud of him.” SEOK MATTHEW also revealed that he is working on music, and when asked whether he would be willing to take on a title track, he burst into laughter as if the thought alone made him happy, saying, “Me? A title track?”

The transition from a nine-member group to a five-member group was not an easy process. PARK GUNWOOK said, “I tend to try to enjoy the pressure,” adding, “Using that pressure as motivation and as a stepping stone to move forward, our shared goal is to put out a good result, regardless of achievements or results.” On why these five decided to remain in ZEROBASEONE, SEOK MATTHEW said, “I loved being together with the members so much that I never thought about doing it alone.” SUNG HANBIN shared, “We often talked about how lucky it was that members who were on the same page came together, and how it felt like a fateful meeting,” adding, “Since our ZEROSE are always part of our goals, we made the decision with the thought that it would be good for fans to see us continue.”

They also did not forget to cheer on the former members who are preparing to debut as NDOUBLE. KIM JIWOONG said, “Since we were once on the same team, of course I’m cheering on my former colleagues, and since we are all still running toward our dreams, I hope we all do well together.” SUNG HANBIN added, “We are cheering each other on a lot and often telling each other to work even harder.”

Their goals for this promotion period were also clear. PARK GUNWOOK, who is currently serving as an MC for M COUNTDOWN, said, “When HANBIN hyung was an MC, we received a trophy on M COUNTDOWN, and now I understand why he said back then that he wanted to receive an award with us,” adding, “I think I would feel really proud to see our team place first on the program I’m hosting.” Regarding the remaining period of activities, PARK GUNWOOK also said, “The members often talk about promoting for a long time, making music for a long time, and going far together,” adding, “Unless our relationship becomes seriously strained on a human level, I think we’ll be able to see each other for a long time.”

ZEROBASEONE’s sixth mini album ‘Ascend-’ will be released today at 6 p.m. through various music sites. Attention is focused on what kind of record ZEROBASEONE, which recorded 1,514,370 copies in initial chodong sales with its first full-length album ‘NEVER SAY NEVER’ last September, will write with this album.