NCT WISH Release First Full-Length Album, Ode To Love
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| K-pop rising stars fuse youthful energy with nostalgic new jack swing, UK garage, and ‘90s hip-hop sonics
K-pop rising stars NCT WISH release their first full-length album, Ode to Love, today via SM Entertainment. The 10-track collection fuses the Gen Z group’s effervescent style with modern takes on New jack swing, UK garage, ‘90s hip-hop, and more.
Since debuting in February 2024, NCT WISH has rapidly solidified their place as one of K-pop’s most promising rising groups in Japan and Korea, achieving two consecutive million-selling releases to date. The six-member unit has released three mini albums, one Japanese full-length album, and launched two Asia headline concert tours. Anticipation is high for their debut Korean full-length album, Ode to Love, as the fast-rising boy band soars into their new era.
YouTube SM TOWN and NCT WISH
Title track “Ode to Love” is a UK garage-inspired dance-pop track that reimagines the humming motif from The Cranberries’ 1994 hit “Ode to My Family.” Blending bright rhythms with a wistful melody, the track highlights NCT WISH’s signature sound while delivering a sincere message of warmth and kindness.
“The ‘du-dudu-du’ hook in the title track is really catchy—it’s something people can instantly sing along to. We hope this song becomes a defining track that represents NCT WISH as we move forward,” the group shared in a statement when asked about their goals for the comeback. “The song is about bringing warmth and kindness into a world that can often feel cold. That message really stayed with us, and we hope listeners feel that sincerity too.”
Ahead of the release, NCT WISH debuted “Ode to Love,” along with B-side “Sticky,” live for the first time during their NCT WISH 1st CONCERT TOUR ‘INTO THE WISH : Our WISH’ ENCORE IN SEOUL, held from April 17–19, offering fans an early glimpse of the new album.
Elsewhere on the album, opener “2.0 (TWO POINT O)” is a hybrid pop track blending new jack swing, hip-hop, and rock elements, with sweeping orchestral strings. “Sticky” fuses Bossa Nova-style guitars with a hip-hop dance track structure – the sonic palette almost as tantalizing as the metaphorical mango sticky rice they group sings about. The euphoric house-driven track “Feel The Beat” captures the liberating feeling of losing yourself to the music while “Crush” is a dance-pop banger that cinematically compares the suddenness of falling in love to being caught in a sunshower.
A pair of hip-hop dance tracks follow, “Street (2AM)” and “Glow Up” – the former blending jazzy harmonies with a classic hip-hop breakbeat while the latter merges nostalgic ‘90s boom-bap beats with futuristic electronic elements. True to NCT WISH’s signature optimistic message, “Glow Up” reflects a strong determination to stay true to one’s own path regardless of expectations. The life-affirming themes continue on “Everglow,” a dynamic dance-pop track about growing together and becoming each other’s light in the dark. The R&B-pop leaning “Don’t Say You Love Me” captures the nervous excitement of finally expressing one’s true feelings. Album closer, “Voyage” is a pop ballad with modern rock influences, delivering a message of hope and resilience.
Ode to Love - The First Full-Length Album track list:
2.0 (TWO POINT O)
Ode to Love
Sticky
Feel The Beat
Crush
Street (2AM)
Glow Up
Everglow
Don’t Say You Love Me
Voyage
About NCT WISH
NCT WISH is the final unit of SM Entertainment’s K-pop boy group and global brand NCT. Built around the message “WISH for Our WISH,” the group shares a vision of supporting and realizing dreams through music and connection. Comprised of six members—SION, RIKU, YUSHI, JAEHEE, RYO, and SAKUYA—NCT WISH is defined by its youthful energy, polished performance skills, and a bright, refreshing charm that resonates with fans worldwide.
Based in Japan while actively promoting across Korea and global markets, NCT WISH expands NCT’s signature “NEO” sound by infusing it with the group’s distinct sense of warmth and optimism, creating a unique musical identity of their own. This identity extends into a broader cultural aesthetic known as “WISH CORE,” inspired by recurring visual motifs such as wings, stars, and glitter. Blending dreamy, fairytale-like elements with Y2K influences and Gen Z sensibilities, WISH CORE has emerged as a recognizable style that reflects the group’s imaginative and aspirational worldview.
Named one of the “11 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Know in 2024” by GRAMMY.com, NCT WISH has demonstrated impressive growth since their debut. They recorded the highest album sales among rookie artists in 2024 and continued their momentum with back-to-back million-selling releases: their second mini album poppop (April 2025) marked their first million-seller, followed by their third mini album COLOR (September 2025), further solidifying their growing global impact.
NCT WISH
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