MXM
Pre-debut and Debut
Apparently, JJ Project is not the only duo which later re-debuted with a larger group. Before debuting as AB6IX, its members Lim Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun had debuted as a duo called MXM under Brand New Music. Both of them previously represented the agency at Mnet’s survival program Produce 101 along with Lee Dae-hwi and Park Woo-jin. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to Wanna One as Youngmin finished at 15th place and Donghyun was eliminated before the final episode.
It was revealed that they had signed an exclusive contract with the agency before Produce 101 and had become Brand New Boys along with Daehwi and Woojin. However, due to Daehwi and Woojin’s results in Produce 101 which made them Wanna One members, they had to postpone the Brand New Boys debut. Instead, on July 12th, 2017, the agency announced that both Youngmin and Donghyun would debut in a project unit named MXM. The name MXM has dual meaning encompassing both “Mix & Match” and “More & More.” “Mix & Match” refers to the artists’ compatibility despite the different qualities and “More & More” refers to their determination to develop together.
Prior to their official debut, they released a promotional single consisting of two tracks, “Good Day” and “I Just Do” on July 27th. Donghyun and Youngmin wrote the lyrics for the second track as well as arranged and produced it with Kiggen (Brand New Music producer). On August 18th, the agency announced that MXM would debut and release a mini-album on September 6th. Days later, they dropped the jacket image of the album UNMIX on August 21st followed by teaser images for the album and a tracklist along with the producer’s commentary.
The album consists of seven tracks, including the previously-released promotional tracks and other five tracks like “I’m The One” (title track), “Objective Look,” “Just Come Out,” “Up to Here,” and “I’m The One” (Instrumental) (CD only). From August 31st until September 4th, they released individual as well as group teaser videos for the title track “I’m The One.”
Finally, on September 6th, they released the mini-album UNMIX and dropped the music video for the title track “I’m The One.”
Comebacks
It was revealed that MXM would make several comebacks and release an album following the “Mix-Match-More” series. At the end of December 2017 until early January 2018, they released teaser images and videos for their second mini-album Match Up with title track “Diamond Girl.”
On January 10th, 2018, they dropped the music video for the title track “Diamond Girl.”
Following the success of their second mini-album Match Up, they planned to drop a double-track single titled Rematch. From February 23rd until March 4th, they released the teaser images and videos for the album with the title track “Gone Cold” and another track “Love Me Now.”
On March 6th, they finally dropped the music video for “Gone Cold” which was written by Donghyun and produced by Primeboi.
To conclude the “Mix-Match-More” series, they made another comeback on August 14th by releasing their first studio album More Than Ever. The album consists of 14 tracks and it was revealed that the members were the overall producers of the album and participated in composing and writing lyrics for many tracks in the album. Prior to its release date, they dropped the teaser images and videos for the album and title tracks “YA YA YA” and “Checkmate.” They released the album in two versions: “More” and “Ever.”
On August 14th, they dropped the music video for their first title track “YA YA YA” which is a groovy and chill trap.
Later, on August 20th, they released another music video for their second title track “Checkmate.”
To wrap up 2018, MXM once again made a comeback by releasing a single album titled One More with the title track “Knock Knock” (TAK Remix). The album consists of three tracks including “You Look So Different” and “Serenade” (Donghyun Solo). The album was released on November 7th along with the music video for the title track.
Re-Debut as AB6IX
With the end of Wanna One’s contract on December 31st, 2019, Lee Dae-hwi and Park Woo-jin are expected to go back to their original group with Lim Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun in Brand New Boys. Previously, the agency CEO, Rhymer, mentioned about their upcoming debut in a four-member group in 2019. On March 26th, the agency revealed that the name of the upcoming boy group would be AB6IX which consists of former Wanna One members Lee Dae-hwi and Park Woo-jin, MXM members Lim Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun, as well as Jeon Woong who participated in Produce 101 too. They made their debut on May 22nd.
What about MXM? As mentioned before, MXM was meant to be a project unit for Youngmin and Donghyun while Daehwi and Woojin were promoting as Wanna One. There is no official statement whether the duo still exists or they have disbanded. Anyway, both the members have become members of AB6IX and have just made their debut so it is unlikely to hear about an MXM comeback in the meantime. Regardless, let’s support them both and their current group!
MINX
Debut
Do you know the girl group DreamCatcher? It is a group consisting of seven girls under Happy Face Entertainment. Before their official debut, five of the members were actually already debuted under a different name called MINX.
MINX consisted of five members: JiU, SuA, Siyeon, Dami, and Yoohyeon under Happy Face Entertainment. On August 9th, 2014, MINX performed for the first time at Oak Valley Summertime Festival and brought their two original songs “Action” and “Why Did You Come To My Home.” Later, the agency introduced their new girl group on September 15th and released a teaser of their debut single the next day.
The group made their debut on September 18th by releasing the digital single “Why Did You Come To My Home” and made their debut stage on Mnet M! Countdown on the same day.
Comeback
Nine months after their debut, they made a comeback and released their first EP Love Shake which consists of five tracks including the title track “Love Shake” which is a remake version of their fellow group under the same agency Dal Shabet’s track “Love Shake.” The other tracks are “Superstar Superman,” “I Just Like You,” “Shut Up,” “Love Shake” (DJ Stereo Club Mix), and “Love Shake” (Instrumental). The teaser video was released at the end of June 2015.
Meanwhile, the music video was dropped on July 2nd. They bring out their youthful and energetic yet bubbly theme.
Re-Debut as Dreamcatcher
On November 26th, 2016, after a year of inactivity, Happy Face announced that MINX would be re-debuting as DreamCatcher and would add two members. Moreover, as cited by Soompi, the agency stated that the new group would be different than before, not only with the changed line-up and group name, the concept and music style would be a game-changer. DreamCatcher made their debut on January 13th, 2017, and released their first single album Nightmare with the title track “Chase Me.”
Back in 2007, there once existed a boy group called XING under XING Entertainment. The group originally consisted of four members but went through a lot of line-up changes along the way. Many of its former members re-debuted in other boy groups under different agencies.
Debut and Line-Up Changes
Xing debuted in December 2006 with four members: Kevin Woo, Marumir (now known as Kibum), Yume, and Chung Hye-sung. They released their debut single “In Your Hands.”
After seven months, Marumir decided to leave the group and he was replaced by two new members Poppin’ Dragon (now known as Yoon Jun-hyung) and Zen. They released their second single “My Girl” in August 2007 with five members.
In December 2007, Chung Hye-sung decided to leave and was replaced by Husky (now known as Hyunmin). Later, in January 2008, Poppin’ Dragon also decided to leave along with Yume. In the same month, three new members were added: White (now known as Mika), Yoon, and Gun; along with Kipalang (now known as Jay) who joined in February. The group released a repackaged edition of “My Girl” and a digital single “T Express” with seven members.
In April 2008, Kevin, the only original member left, finally decided to leave the group and was replaced by two new members: Rising (now known as Karam) and Soul (now known as Injun). Due to its frequent line-up changes, the agency decided to make the group as a rotatory group and the eight-member line-up would be occasionally divided into subunits.
In October, they released the single “Memorize” as XING OPERA featuring all the members. In December, they released a new version of “In Your Hands” as XING HARMONY featuring Soul, Rising, White, and Husky. In January 2009, they released the single “Sarang” as XING ARIA featuring White, Yoon, and Husky. There were actually two upcoming XING subunits but never finally made their debut. In June, they released another single “2009 HI-FIVE” as XING OPERA except for Zen who was studying abroad at the time.
Disbandment?
In December, a teaser video was dropped with a completely new line-up, including Hyunjin (now known as Zin, member of X-5 and Lu:kus), Jinwan (now known as Sulhu, member of X-5 and Lu:kus), Wanchul, and Duhwan. Later, they added Dong Geun who did not appear in the group’s promotional photos because of the later addition. However, the new line-up never debuted and XING is considered disbanded unofficially due to inactivity.
Re-Debut Again
Months after leaving the group, Yoon Jun-hyung re-debuted as a BEAST member in October 2009 under Cube Entertainment. Meanwhile, Kevin joined Kibum who left earlier and debuted as U-Kiss members in August 2008 under NH Media. Karam, Hyunmin, Injun, Jay, and Mika were debuted in a group named The Boss (also known as Dae Guk Nam Ah) in March 2010 under Open World Entertainment. Wanchul and Duhwan debuted in a large boy group named Double B 21 or Double B (which was later renamed to Apeace) in October 2010 under Golden Goose Entertainment. Zin and Sulhu debuted in a group called Xenos-5 or X-5 in April 2011 under Open World Entertainment. Later, after inactivity of X-5, Sulhu changed his stage name back to Jinwan and re-debuted as a Lu:kus member in July 2014 under PAN Entertainment.
