FNC Entertainment / CNBLUE Official / N.Flying Official / Hi-Fi Un!corn Official
Established in 2006, FNC Entertainment has become one of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea. Although dance K-Pop groups such as SF9 and Cherry Bullet are signed under them, their reputation for producing successful rock bands is undeniable. FNC Entertainment’s bands have become not just role models for younger bands but have become some of the most respected legends in the Korean music industry.
The company’s succession of bands have all contributed something new and fresh to the Korean pop music scene. As rock bands, they have developed their own sound and style that has attracted many listeners to the genre.
Japan is also critical to FNC’s bands. Not only do they debut in Korea but they also debut in Japan. They learn the Japanese language and produce many albums and singles for the Japanese market. Solidifying their place within Japan has been a key aspect of their success.
Here is an overview of each of FNC’s bands and their collaborations and shared activities.
FTISLAND
FNC Entertainment
FTISLAND (which stands for Five Treasure Island) is not just FNC Entertainment’s first band but is their first group in general, debuting on Jun. 7, 2007. The current member line-up includes main vocalist HongGi, bassist and sub vocalist JaeJin and drummer MinHwan. Their fans, PRIMADONNA, are named after one of the songs on the band’s first studio album, “Cheerful Sensibility”.
Exactly a year after their Korean debut, the band made their Japanese debut with their first Japanese EP, “Prologue of F.T. Island: Soyogi”.
Their sound can be defined by dramatic yet sweet instrumentals, powerful vocals and sincere and romantic lyrics. 16 years and countless Korean and Japanese albums and singles later, FTISLAND has become a name synonymous with heart-wrenching rock ballads and HongGi’s alluring and experienced voice.
‘Lovesick’ is a song from their debut album that is one of their most iconic.
‘Wind’ is their 2017 song that is known for its intense vocals and passionate ambience.
‘I Confess’ is one of their softer songs with such sweet lyrics. It also features JaeJin’s vocals.
CNBLUE
CNBLUE Official
CNBLUE (abbreviation of Code Name Blue) first debuted as an indie band in Japan on Aug. 18, 2009 with their first mini album, “Now or Never”. They made their Korean debut on Jan. 14, 2010 with their mini album, “Bluetory”. Their current member line-up includes leader, main vocalist, guitarist and rapper YongHwa, drummer MinHyuk and rapper and bassist JungShin. BOICE is the name of their fandom, combining ‘blue’ which represents CNBLUE and ‘voice’ which represents the fans.
CNBLUE’s music as a pop-rock band is an amalgamation of different styles and elements. Each song brings something new; pop vibes, funk rock, alternative rock, soft rock, electrifying guitar riffs, sounds reminiscent of music of the past few decades, inspiration drawn from the rock genre of other cultures.
Their debut title song, ‘Loner’, is their representative song that many know and love.
Released in 2011, ‘Intuition’ is a great song to get a taste of CNBLUE’s diverse musicality.
‘Can’t Stop’ is another one of their iconic songs that listeners can’t stop singing along to after nearly a decade.
N.Flying
N.Flying Official
N.Flying (short for New Flying) first made their debut in Japan on Oct. 1, 2013 with their first digital single, ‘Basket’. They made their Korean debut on May 20, 2015 with their mini album, “Awesome”. The current member line-up includes leader, main vocalist and rapper SeungHyub, main vocalist HweSeung, guitarist Cha Hun, drummer JaeHyun and bassist DongSung.
Compared to their company seniors, their sound leans more towards pop and, as a standout, also incorporates rap into their songs. However, their sound still exhibits the much-loved elements of rock bands like exhilarating guitar riffs, heavy drum beats and groovy basslines.
Their debut song, ‘Awesome’, is an excellent example of how their unique rap elements draws listeners in from the start.
‘Flashback’ is one of their greatest hits, showcasing strong vocals, exhilarating guitar riffs and mellifluous melodies.
Their 2021 title track, ‘Moonshot’ is a killer song with roaring vocals and an instrumental to match it.
Former HONEYST
FNC Entertainment
HONEYST (combining ‘honey’ and ‘artist’) were active from May 17, 2017 to Apr. 26, 2019. They debuted with their single, ‘Like You’ as a four member band including main vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist ChulMin, drummer SeungSeok, guitarist Hwan and leader and bassist DongSung. Following their disbandment, DongSung has been N.Flying’s bassist since 2020. Their fandom name was HONEYBEES.
They were part of FNC’s trainee system, “NEOZ School”. In 2016, they participated in the survival show, “d.o.b (Dance or Band)”, where they were the band team competing against the dance team who debuted as SF9.
Their music style favours a more mellow and cruisy mood over an intense rock sound. Soothing vocals and adorable lyrics about romantic feelings accompany the light, springtime atmosphere of their songs.
Their debut song, ‘Like You’, encapsulates their style.
For something more upbeat, ‘Tik Tok’ is the perfect song to get listeners jumping with joy.
‘Someone to Love’ has got a cute music video to match the song, portraying the different ways love has been expressed throughout the decades.
Hi-Fi Un!corn
Hi-Fi Un!corn Official
The latest addition to FNC’s impressive line of bands is South Korean-Japanese band, Hi-Fi Un!corn. They debuted on Jun. 26, 2023 with their digital single, “Over the Rainbow”. The band has five members including leader and bassist KiYoon, guitarist HyunYul, vocalist TaeMin, vocalist Shuto and drummer Min. They were formed by CNBLUE on the audition program, “THE IDOL BAND : BOY'S BATTLE”.
Their debut single, ‘Over the Rainbow’ is such a delightful and youthful song that spreads positive vibes.
As a new group, their discography is currently limited but they showcased their skills and colours on “THE IDOL BAND : BOY'S BATTLE” with the below performances.
Collaborations and shared activities
FNC artists are known to collaborate on projects outside of their respective groups. Most notable of these collaborations was that of HongGi and HweSeung, two of the industry’s strongest vocalists. In 2018, they teamed up for the infamous ‘Still love you’, a song that claims hearts wherever it is sung.
As the home of the bands, FNC recently held the "FNC BAND KINGDOM 2023" in Japan. On Jul. 8 and Jul. 9, FTISLAND, CNBLUE, N.Flying and Hi-Fi Un!corn came together to perform, each bringing their own band style to Japanese audiences.
FNC Entertainment Japan
FNC Entertainment Japan
8 Must-Know Male K-Pop Rock Band GroupsKPOP STORIES Jan 25, 2022
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Comments