The First Wave Lyrics & Tracklist – hrtz.wav

Album Overview

The First Wave is the debut mini album by South Korean band hrtz.wav, released on April 8, 2026. This six‑track EP marks the formal debut of the five‑member ensemble formed through the Mnet band survival program “Steel Heart Club.” The title reflects the group’s intention to bring a fresh musical “wave” by blending band‑centric rock influences with modern pop sensibilities. The album was issued through Kakao Entertainment in multiple physical and digital formats, including CD and QR versions, and showcases a variety of pop‑rock and alternative elements across its concise runtime. The opening title track “Nineteen” features contributions from all members in the lyric writing process, emphasizing the band’s collective creative role from the outset.

Release & Musical Style

Released on April 8, 2026 at 6 PM KST, The First Wave presents a youthful rock sound anchored in guitar‑driven arrangements, dynamic rhythms, and emotive vocal performances. Drawing from pop rock, modern rock, and alternative influences, the album captures different facets of youth and emotional introspection, from the energetic cadence of “Dream” to the reflective themes in “Close To Me (우리만의 이야기).” The band’s musical identity as a “fresh wave” rock group signals its aspiration to stand out in the contemporary Korean music scene with an authentic band performance ethos.

Tracklist

  1. Dream
  2. Nineteen (Title Track)
  3. Highlight
  4. I Am So Fine
  5. Outta My Mind (어리버리)
  6. Close To Me (우리만의 이야기)

Credits

Primary Artist: hrtz.wav, a five‑member band consisting of:

  • Yoon Young‑jun – keyboard
  • Riaan – vocals
  • Dane – bass
  • Keiten – guitar
  • Hagiwa – drums

Label: Kakao Entertainment

Songwriting & Composition Credits: The title track “Nineteen” features collective lyric contributions from all five members. Other tracks involve collaborations with external songwriters and composers such as DAY1 (TAKE A CHANCE), chAN’s (TAKE A CHANCE), Lim Sung Min, LEY (AVEC), Sign Off Noah (Inner Circle), Jvde (GALACTIKA *), WOOBIN (GALACTIKA *), Taka Perry, Jay Lee, 정가, friday. (GALACTIKA *), JUNHA (GALACTIKA *), OGI (GALACTIKA *), Lee Ki Hwan, Seoha, CONA (KIPLE), and CHOCHI among others, with arrangement duties shared across writers and producers involved in each respective track.

Album Context

hrtz.wav’s formation took place through televised competition, with each member securing top ranking in their instrumental or vocal roles. Their collective debut with The First Wave represents both a culmination of their journey on the show and a strategic entry into the broader music market. The band’s name itself—combining “hrt z,” referencing frequencies of sound and emotion, with “.wav,” symbolizing high‑quality audio waves—encapsulates their sonic and conceptual ambitions. The release has been contextualized as a bid to introduce a new wave of band‑driven music, blending performance proficiency with contemporary pop‑rock energies through live instrumentation and shared creative processes.