Smaller K-pop labels pack July and August with comebacks and debuts 

Smaller K-pop labels are looking at a very busy summer.

Several bands signed to lesser-known agencies are dropping new releases in July and August,  including girl group Rescene and boy bands Trendsz, NOWZ and 8TURN, while new K-pop acts Vayonn and Emoti:M will make their debut next month. 

NOWZ, the Cube Entertainment boy band formerly known as Nowadays, is preparing a new album for release in August, according to its agency on Thursday. The new album will be the band's first Korean release since their debut EP "Ignition," released last July, which sold over 150,000 units in its first week. 

Trendz will return first on July 8 with its sixth single, "On My Knees," according to the boy band's agency Global H Media on Thursday. The band pairs the title track with remastered versions of "Crime" and "Kart Racer." 

8TURN is set to return later in July.  Its third single, "8.X," is one that "symbolizes the start of a new release" according to its agency, MNH Entertainment. The upcoming single will be the band's first Korean release since the digital single "Bruise" released in January. The band previously dropped its second single, "Electric Heart," in August. 

Of course, brand-new K-pop acts are also making their debut in the meantime. 

Vayonn, a rookie group formed from contestants on Mnet's "Boys II Planet," will debut on July 6 with its EP "Youth Today." The band already prereleased on Tuesday the song "Watta Day," a song that shows the "refreshing nature" of the band, according to the agency Inkode Entertainment.

Emoti:M, a five-member group under DNA Entertainment, closes the run on July 31.

Rescene — perhaps the most trending K-pop act in recent months — will return with a special remake of KARA's 2008 single "Pretty Girl" on July 8. The girl group received immense attention, not necessarily because of its songs, but because of a spontaneous catchphrase. In a video on member Woni’s personal YouTube channel, Japanese member Minami exclaimed, “Geoje yaho!” which translates to “Yay, Geoje!" a line that quickly went viral across short-form video platforms and online communities. Woni is from Geoje, South Gyeongsang.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [[email protected]]