Key Takeaways
Hrtz.wav returned with its second mini album, The Second Wave : MOMENTUM, about five months after debut. The group put synthpop at the center and said the choice was made to show its individuality. The title track, ALIVE, features Seongchan of RIIZE, and the members spoke about Lollapalooza and Summer Sonic as goals.
Hrtz.wav marked its comeback on September 9 with a showcase in Seoul’s Seongdong District for The Second Wave : MOMENTUM. The five-member rookie band used the release to present synthpop as a deliberate sound choice. Formed through Mnet’s Steelheart Club, the group is already drawing attention for how quickly it is shaping a clearer identity.
New release puts synthpop in front
The Second Wave : MOMENTUM leads with synthpop, a direction the members said they chose to show their individuality more clearly. The album contains six songs, including “Mind,” “Sunday Morning,” and “Play My Guitar.” Its title track, “ALIVE,” also features Seongchan of RIIZE. The release gives the band a focused sound profile at a very early stage.
Built from a survival show and early stage work
Hrtz.wav is a five-member band made up of members who each topped their positions on Mnet’s band survival show Steelheart Club. The group name combines “hrtz” and “wav,” reflecting its identity in the name itself. This second mini album arrives about five months after debut, and the members said they have been building live experience through performances at multiple music festivals. They also appeared at KCON JAPAN 2026 in May.
Festival stages are already part of the plan
The new album is being framed as a step beyond the debut era’s youth and freshness, with an emphasis on growth and a higher goal. Rian said the group wanted to capture specific emotions that people their age might feel, widening the range of what the band can express. Dane said he wants to headline Lollapalooza, while Hagiwa said he wants to stand on the Summer Sonic stage because he is from Japan. Those remarks point to a band thinking ahead in global festival terms, even as this release anchors its next phase. That is the clearest sign that hrtz.wav is turning early momentum into a larger artistic direction.
