From ‘Face’ to ‘Needle & Bubble’: NU’EST to cap off career with ‘The Best Album’ (Sabong News)
Author
Jonathan Hicap
Date
MARCH 08 2022
After 10 years in the K-pop music scene, boy band NU’EST will be disbanding on March 14 with members going their separate ways.
“The exclusive artist contract with NU’EST will be concluded as of March 14. Our company and the members of NU’EST went through careful consideration and discussions on the future of the individual members and on what would be the best path for everyone and how they can present their best selves,” Pledis Entertainment, NU’EST’s agency, said on Feb. 28.
After the expiration of their contracts, NU’EST’s JR, Aron and Ren will leave Pledis Entertainment while Baekho and Minhyun will stay and renew their contracts.
“We respect and support the decisions of every member, as they are the result of careful and extensive consideration and discussions,” the agency said.
NU’EST (an acronym from NU [new], Establish, Style, Tempo) debuted on March 15, 2012 with the single album “Face” containing the title track of the same name, “NU, Establish, Style, Tempo” and “I’m Sorry.”
In 2017, NU’EST career got a much-needed boost when JR, Baekho, Minhyun and Ren became contestants on the survival audition TV show “Produce 101” season 2.
Minhyun eventually won and became part of the project boy band Wanna One, which debuted in August 2017 and disbanded in December 2018.
While Minhyun was in Wanna One, JR, Baekho, Ren and Aron formed the subunit group NU’EST W and released their first album “W, Here” containing the carrier track “Where You At.”
Through the song, NU’EST W achieved their first TV music chart win on Oct. 19, 2017 on “M Countdown,” which was also the first ever music show win for NU’EST since debut. NU’EST with Minhyun won their first TV music show trophy on “Show Champion” in May 2019.
After Minhyun returned to NU’EST, the group members renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment for three years in 2019, or seven years after debut.
NU’EST held their “Segno” concert in the Philippines on Aug. 31, 2019.
The disbandment of NU’EST came as a surprise to fans. They are the second group under HYBE Labels to disband after GFriend in May 2021.
NU’EST will be ending their career as a group with the release of their last album titled “NU’EST’s The Best Album Needle & Bubble” on March 15, the date of their debut.
“NU’EST’s The Best Album ‘Needle & Bubble’ record of NU’EST’s ten-year-long journey and showcases the wide breadth of their musical world. It also contains a message from NU’EST for L.O.Λ.Es,” according to Pledis Entertainment.
The group’s last album was “Romanticize” released in April 2021.
In the Feb. 28 announcement, the agency said, “NU’EST will cap off their official activities as NU’EST of Pledis Entertainment with their album that will be released in March. Pledis Entertainment wishes the best for the members’ new leap forward and growth, and will continue to cheer for their bright future ahead of them. We would like to express once again our gratitude to L.O.Λ.E who have always stayed by NU’EST’s side. We ask you to give your unchanging love and support to the members as they embark upon the next chapter of their careers.”
