“Can we please have a group with all adult members?” is a
common question asked by K-pop fans these days. In an industry that often
prioritizes youth, RE:WIND is breaking the mold with a refreshing
narrative of persistence and second chances. The trio of American artists—comprising
Elaya (Japanese-Spanish-American) who trained with well-known agencies,
the first member revealed, Lei (Chinese-American) who won first out of five
thousand auditions, and Eddie (Korean-American), who has acting credits
in prominent films —represents a new chapter in K-pop, one where experience and
artistic vision take center stage. Under the guidance of ALLELE Entertainment, founded by a young female CEO Audrey Lee, these
former trainees have transformed their years of struggle in South Korea's
competitive entertainment industry into a powerful comeback story.
Introducing themselves to the world with the reveal of
their pre-release single 'RE:SET' on February 22, 2025,
RE:WIND is challenging industry norms and proving that dreams don't come with
an expiration date. The group's formation marks a significant milestone for
ALLELE Entertainment, a company dedicated to championing creativity and
providing opportunities for underrepresented voices.
“RE:SET,” is a song with a retro concept and sound and
it's RE:WIND’s way of telling their fans and anyone who's been told ‘no’ that
it's never too late. They’re proving that you can always reset and try again.
The song brings together a blend of Western and K-pop
influences, perfectly suited for their diverse backgrounds and musical styles.
With lyrics that speak of defying the odds and embracing who you are, RE:WIND
is positioning itself to be an inspiration for fans everywhere.
'RE:SET' Visualizer
As the members prepare for their official debut while
sharing their journey through their origin story series "00:00,"
they sat down with KpopWise to discuss their unique path to debut, their
creative vision, and what it means to finally stand in the spotlight on their
own terms.
RE:WIND's story is about resilience and second
chances. What does it mean to you personally to have this opportunity to debut
after facing so many challenges?
Elaya: I really struggled in the
beginning to get recognition from companies. When I finally did get the
recognition I wanted, I remember telling myself I needed to be prepared for
potential mental and physical mistreatment in the industry. I was ready to give
up everything - my education and time with my family. I didn't think that
treatment should be normalized. Being with RE:WIND and ALLELE now is a
completely different story. It honestly feels unreal - it hasn't hit me that
everything's coming together so fast. Working with everyone here, they're like
my family. It’s not even like work, it's about being creative, having fun, and
being able to express ourselves through music all while being able to have space
for our own lives. That’s what I wanted in my time as a trainee in Korea. I
wanted to make music, show off my creative, but also my family and the safety net
of my education. I'm just really happy about where I am.
Lei: Many of us were at
established Korean entertainment companies - I was at a tiny one. I had
experiences with auditions where we passed but then faced difficult choices.
Sometimes you feel you have to take an opportunity because there's so much
competition and high stakes. In my case, sometimes you get an opportunity and
you're not sure if it's right for you. Eddie had been in a film done by
Anderson .Paak, and our entire team behind the scenes has extensive experience
in the K-pop industry. We all have this background in that industry, but we're
not currently in it. We all took a step back, but the best thing about RE:WIND
is that as we're getting our second chance, we get to do it on our own terms.
For us as artists, whether in the recording studio or dance studio, we have a
lot of creative input. That's something we value tremendously and it's unique
to us.
Eddie: In the industry, there are so
many things you cannot control except your own sense of security, sense of
self, and love for your art and performance. We give our mentors, companies,
and trainers so much trust - they really want people to work hard and make it
work, but things don't always end up the way you want. We all had a break and
have different relationships with performance and music. It had almost become
robotic. When I was training, I had to grind with the mentality of getting good
as quickly as possible because I didn't have time. We all had relatively late
starts, but with ALLELE, we've really nurtured what we wanted for ourselves.
With this second chance, we had creative input from start to finish. There's
nothing more special than that.
Each of you had previously given up on your
K-pop dreams. What was the moment that made you believe in this second chance
with ALLELE Entertainment?
Eddie: I was apprehensive about
coming back and auditioning. I had been connected with Audrey and Elaya through that movie opportunity. There was that small part of me, the little kid
who grew up with BTS and SHINee, that thought "why not?" During a
callback zoom with Elaya, I could see the amount of care and love they had for
this project. There was a set mission. We were all strangers united by the
common goal of wanting to make something new in an industry that's booming and
continuing to grow. The amount of care really assured and inspired me to work
with all of them.
Lei: When I last came back from
Korea after almost two years of being at a company and trying more auditions, I
was ready to put it behind me. I went back to school and graduated. I continued
doing songwriting, which I did a bit in Korea. I really enjoyed writing music
for K-pop pitching. Sometimes I'd watch clips of idol stage performances on
YouTube or Instagram and miss the chance to be on stage - not just writing for
someone else but being able to sing something of my own. When the audition
opportunity came, I thought "one last try." When I got in and met
everyone, it was exciting to see the plan going into motion, to record music
and start working on other aspects of the project.
Elaya: For me, it's a little
different because Audrey and I had started creating RE:WIND prior to ALLELE when I was still in Korea. I'd been given a chance I had worked so hard and
long for, but when I was there, I felt odd and wasn't happy. I didn't understand
why, after working toward my dream for so long, I wasn't happy. I started
thinking about my life and all the things I had to give up, along with the
flaws I saw in the industry. Previously, I knew about many flaws but decided to
ignore them because it was what I wanted. I disliked all the normalized
practices I saw. That's when I started thinking I wanted more - to be more
creative, express myself, and create an outlet for music and art. That idea led
me to meet Audrey, our CEO.
All of us being in the industry, we all had our
experiences. Even though we're all very different and experienced many
different things, we were able to create RE:WIND's story and values, which I'm
really happy to be part of. It's a place where individuals can express their
creativity and explore their art while having space for their own lives. For
example, I can pursue my education and be with my family. That's all I wanted
when I was in Korea as a trainee - to make music and show my creativity while keeping
my family and safety net, which I had to leave behind. In the industry, you
usually have to pick one or the other; there's usually no in-between. I'm
really happy to be part of RE:WIND and ALLELE, which gives that opportunity.
Lei: We've talked about the ups
and downs of the industry, the lessons and hardships we faced when auditioning.
Between our experiences, all three of us have many friends who are currently
active in the industry. Because we're keenly aware of these different aspects
of the music industry, what we're doing with ALLELE and RE:WIND isn't about
inserting ourselves in that sphere to compare ourselves to everyone else. We're
secure in whatever we're doing here in our own space. We're doing it in a way
that really means a lot to ourselves, and that's enough for us.
As Asian Americans pursuing K-pop, you've faced
unique struggles with identity and cultural differences. How has your heritage
shaped your music and your journey as artists?
Elaya: Growing up in the States, I
never really saw anyone who looked like me. Cultural identity is a very long,
hard, and confusing journey, but it can also be fulfilling and beautiful. I've
personally grappled with it a lot. I always felt this push and pull because I
was American but also grew up with Mexican and Japanese culture from my
parents. Sometimes I never felt accepted anywhere - I always felt like an
alien. Later, I realized I could appreciate and claim all cultures as myself
because they were different parts that made me who I am. My heritage and
culture have shaped everything I want to do in music. I really want to create
and celebrate my heritage, and one day release music fully in Japanese and
Spanish to connect with those parts of myself.
Lei: Growing up, watching shows
like High School Musical or Glee, it could be a struggle to find
Asian American representation. These shows were about art, music, and
expressing yourself. Going through high school, I always loved music, but there
was a reluctance to put yourself out there because you never saw representation
in the media. I got really excited when Glee had two main Asian
characters - one who was really good at dancing. That was refreshing to see.
For us as artists, being able to do this and create opportunities for
representation is huge. We can be part of this wave of bringing new
representation to media and music.
Eddie: There are two instances of me
being ashamed and then proud of my Korean American heritage. In elementary
school, my mom picked me up while blasting a K-drama OST in her car, and I was
so embarrassed. I remember being scolded - I think for her, growing up in Korea
and coming here to take care of me, there was that moment of realizing her son
was ashamed of being Korean. I grew up in a not very diverse part of California.
Then there was the emergence of BTS - I'd always enjoyed K-pop throughout my
life. There was this period of owning it. Even though people thought it was odd
that I liked BTS and didn't get it, I saw myself in people who worked so hard
and loved to sing and dance. As an only child, seeing these boy groups where
guys were like brothers dancing on stage together - I wanted to be part of that
so badly.
When I finally got to Korea and trained, there was this
understanding that having a diverse K-pop group to speak different languages
and reach different parts of the world had benefits. But I would also be told
things like "can you be more American like Justin Bieber?" just by
the way I gestured. I didn't know what I was or what they wanted. It was again
that push and pull - do I have to be myself or pretend to be this persona in a
particular culture? With ALLELE, we're embracing that unique Asian American experience.
Your pre-release single, 'RE:SET,' is
about resilience and hope. How does this song reflect your personal stories and
the message you want to share with the world?
Elaya: I see it as a very emotional
song that we all connect to deeply. I want listeners to take away the hope
aspect - that even through dark times, they should never give up on anything
they want or dream about. Sometimes you might find an unexpected path or door
that could work even better for you.
Eddie: The conception of RE:SET was
an incredibly long journey. We had many different concepts and stories we
wanted to tell, but it all centered around what RE:SET is about. The song may
seem like a happy, bright love song at first - it has that K-pop sound but also
a 2000s American pop sound, which is honestly very experimental. I've never
heard anything like it, so I'm really grateful we get to sing this song. It may
be about love and taking it back and going the distance with your loved one,
but it's also about taking a risk, going for it not knowing where it's going to
go, and letting go of your pride. It's about dreams. When I heard it for the
first time - we weren't picky, but we had a direct vision for the song - it was
a combination of different elements that don't belong together. We wanted this
bright but also dark side to it, and that's what we got. I think it's
beautiful.
Lei: The song is uniquely special
to me. I want to give a quick shout out to our producers ENIJAE - they're a duo
from Australia and they're amazing. I actually worked with them on my first
official songwriting project as a professional. By some coincidence, I worked
with them on a pitching project in 2022. Fast forward two years later, RE:WIND
is starting up, and we're planning different aspects of the project. Elaya and
Audrey had this really clear vision for the track - they knew exactly what
sound they wanted. At some point, they had watched these producers' video on
Instagram and wanted that style. I recognized it was ENIJAE, who I'd worked
with before. We contacted them and started the project. Now that the song has
come out, it's special because these are the producers who gave me my first
chances as a guide vocalist and songwriter - getting my reset moment after this
song.
Your sound blends Western and K-pop influences.
Who are some of the artists or groups that inspired you while growing up, and
how do they influence your music today?
Eddie: I think I can speak for all
of us that *NSYNC has been a big inspiration for us as artists and as a group.
During the era of Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, they were revamping boy band pop
culture. The standards of that era for performance, concepts, and visual
mise-en-scène were great, but at the heart of it was music, dance, and live
performance. These guys were in the practice room in a hot arena with no air
conditioning, singing live and dancing for hours. One artist I look up to is
SHINee's Taemin for his performance ability. I personally hold in high regard
those who can give a live performance and show who they are as icons.
Lei: Someone I think about a lot
as an artist and whose music I've always come back to is Tori Kelly. She's one
of those artists whose skills are just undeniable. I remember reading somewhere
that she had auditioned for American Idol or X Factor but didn't make it to a
certain round. I thought that was absolutely crazy that someone like her didn’t
make it. But that's how the industry works, and I feel like she was really
unfazed by that in the grand scheme of things. She's an artist that people
really respect, and she's just so good at what she does. To succeed as an
artist would be to work so hard that you get that kind of respect in the
industry and from listeners. For that reason, she's a really big role model to
me.
Elaya: Growing up, I was definitely
inspired by artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Girls'
Generation. Their power vocals and performances inspired me to want to do the
same as a singer.
Lei, you mentioned struggling with your deep
voice in the industry. How did you find confidence in your unique sound, and
how does it contribute to RE:WIND's music?
Lei: It's definitely a
double-edged sword - there are pros and cons with any type of voice. When I was
in Korea doing auditions or singing in lessons or evaluations, I'd hear things
like "you're not a bad singer, but why can't you hit higher notes?"
Frankly, that's just not how the human body works. It was difficult to hear
because I knew I could still sing, but it was a downer that they always wanted
me to do something I felt I couldn't physically do. On the other hand, K-pop
songs often have moments where a deep voice enhances the sound. Seeing that -
like Felix from Stray Kids, who's been a role model because he really embraces
that sound - has been inspiring. When we're in the studio recording rap parts
or vocal layers where you need that low resonance, having a unique approach
makes me feel validated. I wouldn't even say I have a very deep voice - my
range is just low - but I've really learned to love the voice I have. From
various aspects of my life, like being an a cappella geek, you need low voices
for that too. With RE:WIND, I've definitely become more comfortable with my
voice.
Eddie, you've worked as an actor before
pursuing music. How has your acting experience influenced your approach to
performing as an idol?
Eddie: A valuable skill I've been
able to transfer into becoming an idol is being able to take direction. It's
not the easiest thing to switch up and take in notes, but I always try my best
to listen to what a director has to say. No one's a meat puppet - you can't
control exactly what you do, but I always try my best.
Elaya: If I can add - Eddie's
presence on set and his direct advice about how to look on camera or act out
certain scenes in music videos has helped us tremendously. We all look to Eddie
for guidance on these things.
Eddie: Thank you. As an actor, you
learn to know all your angles and how you look from afar - how big or small you
need to be, even down to the slightest eyebrow movement or the way your eyes
are glaring or how you smile. I study directing as a student as well, so you
really think about how the smallest things go a long way. Performing as an
actor in theater or dramas built this hunger for live performance. Instead of
having to adopt a character, I get to portray myself and be who I want to be.
There are many benefits on the creative side from my film background and
storytelling experience. Our concept of storytelling in our group is crucial to
us - it's what's really going to help us reach and touch people. As an actor, I
hope I can take care of that realm and help people feel seen by the way we
perform.
Elaya, you've shared that your past trainee
experience brought you to a dark place. How did you overcome that, and how does
it shape your mindset now as part of RE:WIND?
Elaya: It definitely took a lot out
of me physically and mentally, but through all those experiences and hardships,
I learned a lot that I've implemented in my life and who I've become as a
person. Currently in RE:WIND, I'm really happy to have discovered there wasn't
only one path forward. Many people in the industry think you have to join a
company, become a trainee, work hard and debut - and if not, try again. That
was the route I was obsessed with for a long time; it was what I thought about
every second of every day. My advice is to look around and see where you can go
- there are different paths and doors you can take, and who knows where they
might lead. Starting and creating RE:WIND with Audrey and pouring my identity
into it brought me out of that dark space. I was able to express everything I'd
held in for so long. Now I feel like I can pursue my dream and have an outlet
without sacrificing the things that are important to me.
What's one thing you've learned from each other
since coming together as RE:WIND?
Elaya: So much! Everyone here is
incredibly talented with different experiences - Eddie with acting and dance,
Lei with a cappella and recording experience. I've learned so much throughout
our time together. Being with everyone has taught me to be less critical of
myself. Being a team has taught me to celebrate even the smallest
accomplishments and wins. It's all part of the process, and I've really learned
that through everyone's support. I'm really thankful to everyone here.
Eddie: These two older brothers of
mine have so much talent and humility. We're all so different - that's what
makes us work. We're in these different worlds, but somehow in a Venn diagram,
it all crosses together. The way we sound and act is so different, and that's
what contributes to our unique sound. Lei is an amazing vocal instructor for
me. He says he has a low voice, but he has such an incredible range, not to
mention his genius perfect pitch ability. He can replicate anything on the
piano and come up with ten different vocal layers of harmonies for one line of
a song. He's taught me that I can always be curious and ask questions. People
have talent they're born with, but that's only half of it - he's worked so hard
to get where he is.
With Elaya, his upper range is insane - you'll get to hear
it soon. Despite the way he treats other people, it's almost parent-like. I've
learned a lot about how to treat others from him, and he makes a great example.
His fashion sense is also great. I pick up on it and think "I wish I could
pull that off." He has this aura of excellence that I don't even know how
to describe. He's also taught me how to sing higher because I'm in this weird
baritone-tenor range that I've been struggling with. He's a very comforting
figure for all of us. I really depend on these two and I've grown so much as an
artist because of them.
Lei: I feel like the three of us
are like separate puzzle pieces with really weird shapes and edges that somehow
fit together perfectly. It's like this one moment where we were experimenting
with harmonies, just doing some fun stuff, singing together. There was this
moment when it clicked when we were in the studio - that's like our voices. We
have a low range, a middle, and a high that creates our dynamic, and it really
works.
Eddie: It's like we're still
different, but we sound good together.
Elaya: Our different tones and voices, especially when we
sing - you wouldn't really expect how it's going to sound on one track
together, but listening to all of us together is perfect.
Eddie: In units, we all have
intersecting talents. Even just the three of us can really fill up the space
and make up for everything in between.
What advice would you give to someone who feels
like giving up on their own dreams?
Lei: There's a lot of "never
stop, never quit" advice out there. While it's important not to give up on
something you're passionate about, people can also learn from taking a step
back from their dream. When I say take a step back, I mean you're still moving
forward with your life, not quitting. Understanding that moving forward or
sideways, away from your main goal, doesn't mean you're not progressing. By
moving sideways and forward, there might be an opportunity to come back to your
main goal. Life works in mysterious ways and so many doors can open from other
doors. I wish people pursuing a dream could know there's never just one
straight route. By taking chances on other things and knowing your strengths,
you might find other doors that open. If you don't go completely straight the
whole way and deviate a little bit, sometimes you might find your way back to
your main goal.
Elaya: Never giving up on your dream
doesn't mean taking just one path. I've been there a few times, and
specifically the moment I was about to give up was when I got the opportunity
to go back to create and train. There are always different paths you can take
and unexpected paths. Sometimes it might seem like you have to go one way
because that's what everyone else is doing. Two years ago, I would have never
imagined being here with RE:WIND. Back then, I was obsessed with getting back
into a company - it was what I thought about every second of every day. My
advice, like Lei's, is to look around you and see where you can go. There are
different paths and doors you can take, and who knows where they might lead
you.
Eddie: Chasing a dream - there are a
lot of things you cannot control. That's the unfortunate reality, and not a lot
of people get to live their dreams. If you work hard and do your best, you can
achieve your goals sometimes, but it doesn't always work out. That is okay too.
From my experiences, there's always going to be burnout. There will be rises,
dips, and plateau phases. After training, there was a period where I had a
completely different relationship with song and dance - I just wanted to run
away from it. But then in my time back with family and meeting new friends and
opportunities, I developed a new relationship with music and dance, one about
appreciation, friendship, history, and culture. I would encourage people to
create a new relationship with what they love, and that will keep you going
even longer. Most importantly, always be genuine and humble. Even if you can't
make your dream come true, there are people that can help you. You have to be
kind for people to help you and support you. They'll remember you, especially
in this industry - being humble goes an incredibly long way.
Looking ahead, what kind of legacy do you want
RE:WIND to leave in the music industry and in the hearts of your fans?
Elaya: I want RE:WIND to have a
positive impact on the industry, even if it's a small effect. I want to connect
with many different people around the world, regardless of language. I hope
everyone can connect to our music and really feel what we're trying to say.
Lei: Whether it's from how we
shoot an MV or create content or make songs in the future, I think there's
going to be a lot that's relatable to other Asian Americans since we're based
in America. That's going to be very unique. If we're talking about legacy, I
just hope we're remembered positively by people who listen to us or see us. If
people can relate to aspects of either the music or our journey when they find
out more about us, that's what matters. As long as we make a positive impact, I
think we'll be content.
Eddie: We're not necessarily trying
to transform or criticize whatever music industry exists. As RE:WIND and ALLELE, we're just trying to do something for ourselves. Even though we want to
make this as real as possible - it's near and dear to our hearts and we want to
be more than just a passion project - we really see the potential reach now. We
want to pioneer this new format of everything that's been working. We're very
proud that K-pop and honestly a lot of other music from different cultures have
been exploding beyond Korea and giving other cultures a chance to live the
dream. We see this emergence of a new generation of pop groups. We're just
trying to do our own thing because you can have it all. Yes, there are some
unfortunate aspects that are part of every music industry, so we want to show
people what it could be and that everyone can have second chances. We want to
embrace that middle ground of not knowing who you are culturally.
Lei: RE:WIND has a lot of elements
and is definitely inspired by existing things, but you will definitely find
something new. RE:WIND will bring something new to the table, and we're excited
to see how people react to that.
Eddie: We may be singing in Korean
and English, not because we're trying to be K-pop, but because that K-pop dream
was part of our journey and experience. We wanted to bring that in and take
ownership of the journey we had. We hope to make music in many different
languages in the future. I don't even know what to call our kind of pop - maybe
just Asian pop.
Elaya: We can't wait for everyone to
hear our song. We're super excited, so please let us know what you think!