Rookie Boy Group Xodiac Talk Debut Album Throw A Dice, Group Goals, Dream Collaborations, And More

BuzzFeed sat down with the boys of Xodiac to chat about all things Throw A Dice, their pre-debut activities, future goals for their careers, and more.

This is an excerpt from Daebak Weekly, the BuzzFeed newsletter about all things K-pop. You can sign up here.

With so many new debuts hitting the stages these days, it's hard to keep up with them all. So when a rookie group generates buzz prior to their debut, it's a big deal. Xodiac, a nine-member act debuting back in April, is one of these new groups to have many impressive notches under their belt early in their careers.

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Formed under Hong Kong-based agency, One Cool Jacso, Xodiac is the first K-pop boy group to land four major magazine shoots, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE MEN, Harper’s Bazaar, and Men’s Uno from Hong Kong, before their official debut and winning awards at the global Weibo Account Festival. The group as a collective received an award for “Potential New Boy Group”, and group leader Lex is one of the first solo pre-debut artists to receive the “Fashion Rookie” award.

This new group continues to grow their global fanbase through their debut album, Throw A Dice, receiving over one million views on its title track music video in just one week.

BuzzFeed sat down with the boys of Xodiac to chat about all things Throw A Dice, their pre-debut activities, future goals for their careers, and more.

Can you give an introduction to Xodiac for those who are meeting you for the first time?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Leo: X! Beyond the world! Hello, we are Xodiac. The group name
Xodiac comes from the constellation Zodiac. It means to find your own constellation with your hard work and effort. We will show you our endless possibilities and charms, please show a lot of love and support for us!

Describe your debut album Throw A Dice in one word or phrase.

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Lex: I want to describe our debut album Throw A Dice with the word “awesome” 9 members with different charms and talents come together to show you awesome performances!

Hyunsik: It’s the result of our hard work.

Zayyan: For me, Throw A Dice is a debut album that showed a lot of sides and colors of Xodiac with different genres and concepts.

Beomsoo: I want to describe it as “Xodiac,” as this is our first debut song and title
song.

Wain: I agree, I think Throw A Dice means “Xodiac.” There are 6 possible outcomes when you throw a dice, and we have 9 members with 9 dies that shows our variety of charms through this album.

Gyumin: I would like to use the word “expectation”. When you throw a dice, you
would be expecting the results. This debut album also creates expectations of what’s going to happen in the future.

Sing: Throw A Dice is “cool”. During the music video shooting, we had various glamorous outfits, with elimination games as the storyline. It showed how cool our members are.

Davin: I would describe it as “dream.” We have been practicing hard to prepare for our debut. Our dreams gather to form Xodiac and show our great performance of Throw A Dice.

Leo: It’s the beginning of Xodiac and myself.

What message do you hope to convey with your first mini album?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Hyunsik: I want to let people know that Xodiac is starting and how our music is
like.

Leo: Throw A Dice is an album with five songs of different styles and different participating members. We would like to show you our various possibilities and both the unity and flexibility of the group Xodiac.

How was the experience of performing on stage as Xodiac for the first time?

Instagram: @xodiacofficial

Lex: I was nervous and excited at the same time when I got on stage as Xodiac for the first time. Now we have more experiences on stage so I think we are more relaxed now!

Leo: Practicing together with the members before debut, finally getting on stage as Xodiac, I am really proud of my members and I feel thankful for our company to give us this opportunity to debut.

Can you share a memorable moment you have from making this album?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Wain: There were so many memorable moments when we were preparing for this album. When we did the music video shooting. For the last day of our music video shooting, everyone including production team, hair, make-up, and styling team, all staff stayed up overnight for our shooting, so it was very meaningful and memorable for us.

Sing: There are times when we gather to practice taking selfies. Our facial expressions were so funny!

What are your goals as Xodiac and as individuals?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Lex: Our goal as Xodiac is to win the Rookies Award as it is possible to win this award only when you are a rookie. Individually, I would like to be an idol recognized by other artists and I would like to [try] acting too!

Beomsoo: My goal as Xodiac is to become a group where people would say “Oh! I know Xodiac!” Individually I am interested in writing lyrics, composing songs, and modeling.

What was it like releasing your pre-debut track “Calling,” knowing it was listeners first time meeting you?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Wain: This is the song for the public to meet the group Xodiac and myself for the first time, so I felt very excited and worried at the same time, wondering will people like our song. However, our fans showed a lot of love and support for us and wiped out my worries. I feel so thankful and Xodiac will work hard to become better.

Sing: It felt unreal when it was released, and it was amazing to see so many fans from all over the world supporting us.

How did it feel to see the support and encouragement you received from fans before you officially debuted?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Zayyan: It’s very heartwarming and makes me really happy to see how supportive
our fans are, and how much they love us even before our debut. It makes us even
more excited about our debut and work harder to show our best side.

Gyumin: I am so happy that many fans waited for us and love us. It made me think
that we have to work harder to return this love we receive.

Did you have any worries or nerves relating to your debut? How did you cope?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Hyunsik: Trainees who are training to become singers will all agree on this. It’s not easy to debut so there are many times I wanted to give up. However, I kept on imagining myself singing on stage and it pushed me through the hardship. That’s how much I want to become a singer. It took me a long time, but all this time was not wasted. I keep on developing and improving, gaining so much in this journey to debut.

Leo: Before our debut, I saw a lot of great seniors and wondered if I am able to be
as good as they are or if I am suitable to become an idol. However, after we debuted and met our fans, it gave me the motivation to keep working hard after seeing their support.

What concepts would you like to try in the future?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Hyunsik: I want to try a refreshing concept! Or sexy concept would be good, too.

Sing: I want to try a sexy concept in the future.

Who is an Eastern and Western artist you’d love to collaborate with?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Zayyan: I have a list of role models that I would love to collaborate with! For example NIKI (singer-songwriter from Indonesia), Nadin Amizah, Rendy Pandugo, and Sezairi. For Korean artists, I really love Zion T and Jannabi. For Western artists, I really adore Bruno Major, Lizzy McAlpine, Aj Rafael, Daniel Caesar, and many more!

Beomsoo: Eastern artists I want to collaborate with includes Zico, Mino, G-Dragon, BI, and Bobby. Western artists I want to collaborate with include Justin Bieber, 5SOS, Charlie Puth, Post Malone, Coldplay, and more. Actually the list goes on, it would be nice if I can collaborate with various artists to broaden my spectrum. It would be such a great honor for me!

In addition to your “Throw A Dice” music video, you recently released a three-part video series for singles on your debut album. How was filming? Is there any interest in pursuing an acting career in the future?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Lex: During the film of this three-part video, I have gained so much interest in acting. That’s why I would like to become an artist who can also get recognition with my acting.

Hyunsik: Actually, I was so worried before filming. I have always wanted to try
acting, but I didn’t have any experience in it. However, as I was filming I realized that I must act in the future! I got a lot of praises throughout the filming, and I think it suits me very well too.

Do you have a message to your fans and our readers?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Lex: Hello, BuzzFeed Daebak readers! Xodiac will work hard to become a group that gives out good vibes and become a touching and comforting existence to you guys. Please show a lot of love and attention for us. Thank you!

Beomsoo: BuzzFeed Daebak readers, please keep on showing your love and support for us. Xodiac and myself will work even harder!

What does K-pop mean to you?

One Cool Jacso Entertainment

Zayyan: To me, K-pop is not only about the music, it’s also a culture. A culture that is full of colors and different sides to it, just like how I described our debut album. K-pop music satisfies not only our ears but also our eyes. You can enjoy the music and it’s satisfying to see how K-pop artists put a lot of effort in the choreography as well. The dancing and singing make a complete performance.

Gyumin: I think it’s like a dream and a playground. When you play at the
playground, you just enjoy yourself and not realize how the time goes. And it’s hard to wrap up and go home. That’s how K-pop and performing on stage make me feel.

If you can't get enough of rookie group Xodiac, check out their debut albumThrow A Dice, and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.

Instagram: @xodiacofficial