The Wind to make a comeback as a five-member group produced by Block B's Park Kyung

The group With the Wind has returned with a fresh new look after 1 year and 2 months. At a media showcase held on the 29th at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, With the Wind announced the start of their second chapter by releasing their fourth mini-album, 'Second Wind : S#00'. This comeback marks their first return in approximately 1 year and 2 months since the release of the digital single 'Hello Tomorrow' last May.

There is a change in the group's lineup for this promotion. Performing as a five-member group—Tanaton, Choi Han-bin, Park Ha-yuchan, Ahn Chan-won, and Jang Hyeon-jun—the group stands without member Kim Hee-su, who is currently taking time to recover while receiving treatment at a medical institution for anxiety symptoms. At the time, Kim Hee-su was notified of a temporary hiatus by his agency following medical advice that sufficient rest and recovery were necessary.

Park Ha-yuchan Elected as Leader Amidst the Shift to a Five-Member System

Following the hiatus of leader Kim Hee-su, Park Ha-yuchan was appointed as the new leader through a member vote. "I am not the oldest member, so I felt a lot of pressure wondering if I could fill the void left by Hee-su," Park Ha-yuchan said. "Since the members trusted me with this role, I feel a responsibility to lead well based on what I learned from him."

During the practice process, the members focused on balancing vocals and performance so that Kim Hee-su's absence would not be felt. Park Ha-yuchan stated, "While practicing, we tried to balance everything so that Hee-su's absence wouldn't be noticeable. We approached it with the mindset of doing our absolute best." Ahn Chan-won added, "I had a video call with Hee-su and all the members recently, and I felt relieved to see him doing well and staying healthy. We are rooting for him so that he can join us on stage again in good health."

The 'Refreshing Hip' Identity Designed by Block B's Park Kyung

Block B's Park Kyung produced all the tracks on the fourth mini-album. The title track, 'Party Like A Rock Star', is a Pop&Rock track that harmonizes a funky main guitar riff with EDM-style lead synths. Through this track, which adds an energetic band sound, With the Wind presents an identity called 'Refreshing Hip', blending their existing refreshing image with a free and confident mood.

Regarding the collaboration with producer Park Kyung, Choi Han-bin said, "I was a fan who had 'Inferiority Complex' and 'Normal Romance' on my playlist even before we started working on songs with him. It feels unbelievable and makes me happy." Tanaton added, "I had high expectations because he is someone who always makes incredible music. In the end, I am grateful that he created a new atmosphere while perfectly capturing our unique charm."

The album contains a total of five songs, including the title track: 'With the Wind', 'That's Smoove!', 'Shiver', and 'Back and Forth'.

The Origin Code 'S#00' Aiming for a Leap Forward

The subtitle 'S#00' included in the album name is the Origin Code representing their determination to leap to a higher level. '#00' symbolizes the coordinates where all stories begin and the first page where With the Wind's new universe is recorded. This represents their musical direction to leap higher through the strength that returns during moments of exhaustion.

Park Ha-yuchan defined this album as "the album that announces our Bon-gyeok-jeok-in (full-scale) second round. We are leaping forward once again within a new environment and concept." Jang Hyeon-jun said, "I see this as a second chance. I want to show our growth and new charms. The members' facial expressions and gestures have changed so much, and I can feel that we have grown ourselves."

Goals of Dreaming of a K-pop Industry Storm

With the Wind set specific goals for this promotion. Choi Han-bin said, "We have the goal of winning first place on music shows, and I hope we can take up a place in the public's memory." Park Ha-yuchan added, "Our goal is to become a 'refreshing idol' without limits." Practicing until the early hours of the morning, the members expressed their ambition, saying, "We want to become a massive storm or typhoon blowing through the music industry."

The title track 'Party Like A Rock Star' was released on the 29th at 6 PM through various online music platforms.