ARrC spreads positivity with third mini-album HOPE, blending music, myth, and message

July 17, 2025 - 2:10 PM IST

Multinational K-pop boy group ARrC, under MYSTIC STORY, has returned with their highly anticipated third mini-album HOPE, delivering a fresh musical chapter aimed at inspiring optimism, connection, and resilience. Released five months after nu kidz: out the box, the new album stays true to the ethos behind ARrC’s name—Always Remember the real Connection—by diving deep into the emotional complexities of youth and offering solace through sound.

ARrC spreads positivity with third mini-album HOPE, blending music, myth, and message

“HOPE conveys the youth’s complicated emotions with honesty and depth,” shared member HYUNMIN, who took on lyric-writing duties for the first time on this album. “We’ve worked hard to express ARrC’s unique color more vividly and hope the album sends positive energy to many.”

The title track, “Awesome,” reimagines early 2000s hip-hop through a modern lens. It tells the story of a frustrating day peppered with small misfortunes and flips the script by encouraging listeners to declare the day ‘awesome’ anyway—a mantra for positive transformation. The visually rich music video takes inspiration from multiple cultures including Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Portugal. Featuring mythical Dokkaebi—a nod to Korean folklore—as well as masks influenced by Indonesia’s Barong, Portugal’s Careto, and Korea’s Hahoetal, the video creatively reframes chaos as an opportunity for imagination and growth.

The mini-album also includes four additional tracks:

“Dawns”: A genre-blending mix of nu jazz, soul, and funk that captures the relief and anticipation of daybreak after a restless, digitally saturated night. Members HYUNMIN and CHOI HAN co-wrote the lyrics.

“Kick Back”: A powerful anthem about unity and resilience, anchored by the line “We’re flowers blooming on asphalt.”

“Vitamin I”: A bold mash-up of hip-hop, hyperpop, and electro-punk that centers self-worth, asserting that the most important supplement in life is “I”—representing imagination, identity, and infinity.

“Night Life”: A lo-fi neo-soul track that romanticizes the silent, dream-chasing hours of early morning youth.

“We had many conversations about how to convey emotions through music,” said member DOHA. “This album captures what we’re really feeling these days. We hope listeners can relate to our message and sincerity.”

Further expanding their message of hope beyond music, ARrC has partnered with Karafuru, a global character entity, in a unique collaboration. The joint project will