연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2025-10-23 14:18:48
SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- Hybe’s new Latin boy group “Santos Bravos” officially debuted with a solo concert at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City on Tuesday (local time), the agency said Thursday.
During the concert, the group performed their debut single “0%” for the first time. The upbeat song carries a message of living life to the fullest, with lyrics such as “The sun rises, my phone battery is at 0%, but it doesn’t matter.”
As the members took the stage, fans stood and cheered, joining in the chorus for a massive singalong.
Santos Bravos is a multinational group composed of Drew (U.S./Mexico), Alejandro (Peru), Caue (Brazil), Gabi (Puerto Rico), and Kenneth (Mexico).
Fighting back tears, Kenneth said, “The past six months have been full of challenges, but we did it.” Drew added, “All of you are part of our journey,” expressing gratitude to fans.
All 10,000 tickets for the concert sold out quickly, and the event was livestreamed on Hybe Labels’ YouTube channel, drawing about 70,000 simultaneous viewers. The video has since surpassed 430,000 views.
The group was formed through the reality show of the same name, produced by Hybe Latin America. Contestants underwent six months of intensive K-pop-style training before debuting.
Each member was selected for their strong vocals, stage presence, and potential as global artists. Leader Drew is known for his charisma and performance skills, while Alejandro, a former tennis player who studied at the USC Thornton School of Music, is praised for his emotional tone. Gabi stands out for his striking visuals and dynamic performances, Caue blends Brazilian funk and pop vocals, and youngest member Kenneth has been immersed in music since the age of three.
Santos Bravos represents a major project under Hybe’s “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy, which adapts the K-pop production system to local cultures to discover new global stars.
Santiago Duque, vice president of Hybe Latin America’s Creative & A&R division, said, “Our challenge was to find a balance between the energy of K-pop and the rhythm of Latin music. We aimed to maintain K-pop’s vocal harmonies and choreography while infusing them with Latin grooves and emotion.”
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]