AHOF “Rendezvous” With Destiny in Debut Album “WHO WE ARE”

AHOF have officially arrived — and they’re blasting off with their debut album WHO WE ARE, released on July 1. Short for All-time Hall of Famer, the multinational nonet — STEVEN, JEONGWOO, WOONGKI, ZHANG SHUAIBO, HAN, JL, JUWON, CHIH EN, and DAISUKE — first caught the spotlight as finalists on SBS’s global survival show Universe League. Now, the boys are charting their own course through the musical cosmos.
Nine Twinkling Stars
What if “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” grew up and got all up in its feelings? AHOF’s first track of the album, “소년 무대 위로 넘어지다 (The Little Star)” is a tender reimagining of the childhood lullaby we all probably know, now dressed in hopeful harmonies and accessories with childlike wonder. The rough English translation of the Korean title is “A boy falls on the stage.” In this case, it’s nine twinkling ones. JL opens the chorus like a soft bedtime story with “Twinkle, twinkle little stars / The night we became nine shards of stars.” HAN follows gently with “We bloom again in the spot we fell in.” And then, CHIH EN closes it with, “In the moment, we’ll shine forever together.” With this opening track, AHOF land with grace and just enough sparkle to brighten up the whole galaxy.

The next track, “파랑 학교, 초록 잔디, 빨간 운동화 (The Universe)” is a nostalgic shout-out to where it all began — on Universe League. The boys recount the memory of their first meeting with the world, dressed in blues, greens, and reds. Back then, each of them arrived on the scene with different paint brushes. Now, they have a new canvas, a stage where they can paint their dreams together in nine distinctive colors. It’s a feel-good song filled with excitement and hope for what’s to come. As ZHANG SHUAIBO sings, “A beautiful story that your respective colors can draw when they come together.”
Worlds Colliding
AHOF master the art of making longing feel cinematic with their title track, “그곳에서 다시 만나기로 해 (Rendezvous),” which roughly translates to “Let’s meet again there.” Blending together shimmering electronic textures with band-driven alt-rock, the group delivers a gut punch of yearning with a dash of boyish sincerity. One that feels both intimate and infinite, like missing a moment you never quite had. It’s anemoia in sonic form. Leader STEVEN ponders in the song, “Will you still be the same as you were that day? / Have you changed too much? / Have you forgotten me while loving someone else?”
The music video is just as evocative, with breathtaking close-ups of each member in solitude, lost in thought. Then, slowly, someone else appears, reminding us that even the loneliest paths can converge. With soft blues, slow-motion runs, and bright smiles, it’s a visual diary of reforged bonds and friendships. And the choreography? Fluidly sharp movements, centering partnership, proximity, and connection, just as the song’s interlude echoes through: “Two worlds apart, collided.”
Perfectly Imperfect
Soft guitar strums meet trap beats in “미완성은 아닐거야 (Incompleted),” a sentimental ballad about perfectly imperfect people making something beautiful together. The song is sincere, heartfelt, and unyielding in resolve. The delicate guitar strums blend together with trap beats to create something sincere, heartfelt, and unyielding in resolve. “We’ll make it one day.” In the world of AHOF, even the incomplete can still shine.
Following right behind is “우주 최고의 꼴찌 (Cosmic Underdog),” EnVi-certified to be your new morning anthem. The fifth track on the album is a piano-driven, dance-pop groovy number that feels like a tight hug and a supportive pat on the back. With fluttery charm and the romantic optimism of a high-teen drama, “Cosmic Underdog” will melt even the coldest of hearts. In this song, the boys tell us how it’s totally okay to trip a little on the way to your dream. Even if they’re the universe’s last place, they’re still the best. Where to and how fast you run in life don’t matter. What matters is that you’re still moving forward, and that is something to celebrate. The track’s closing lines seal the deal: “I don’t know where the end is / But even though I’m a little late, I believe in us who are running to you.” Whether you’re slow to start or still figuring it out, this one’s for you!
Shining Number
For the final track, “아홉, 우리가 빛나는 숫자 (AHOF),” the boys aren’t bidding farewell. Instead, it’s another sweet hello now with dreamy synths that feel like a letter between the members and to their fans. And, of course, everyone else in the universe. With melodic EDM beats draped over spoken-word verses, each member takes turns to speak in their native language, creating a multilingual confessional of gratitude, identity, and unity. The track’s weight culminates in the final line “아홉, 우리가 빛나는 숫자,” or in English, “Nine, our dazzling number.” And with that, AHOF write a delicate conclusion to their first chapter. Rest assured, they’re not putting down the pen anytime soon.
With WHO WE ARE, AHOF open up a much bigger narrative to come. From starry lullabies to cosmic coming-of-age tunes, each track adds a brushstroke to the portrait of a group ready to shine in harmony. As storytellers, they’re not chasing after perfection, but connection to each other and their fans. In doing so, the nine boys hope to craft out a new constellation built on authenticity, emotion, and music. WHO WE ARE is only the beginning, and you won’t want to miss a single moment as AHOF claim their place in the galaxy’s hall of fame!
Take a listen to WHO WE ARE on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. Be sure to follow AHOF on their journey through Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook!
Craving another K-pop album deep dive? Read our full breakdown of ENHYPEN’s DESIRE: UNLEASHED here!