The South Korean boy band Highlight are a mature, refreshed incarnation of Beast, an R&B-tinged, pop-focused act that enjoyed three number one albums in their home country between 2011 and 2016. In early 2017, following Beast's departure from Cube Entertainment, they formed their own agency, Around Us, simultaneously changing their name to Highlight. Daydream, their debut album under the new name, appeared in 2022. During this transition, they were essentially an all-vocal quintet comprising leader Yoon Doo-Joon, main vocalist Yang Yo-Seob, main dancer Lee Gi-Kwang, rapper Yong Jun-Hyung, and occasional lyricist Son Dong-Woon. Among this group, it was Yo-Seob, Gi-Kwang and Jun-Hyung who primarily took on songwriting duties. A sixth member, Jang Hyun-Seung, left the band in 2016, prior to the release of Highlight, the final Beast album and the record which ultimately lent its name to the band's new lease of life. In March 2017, Highlight debuted with "It's Still Beautiful," a piano-led ballad co-written by Jun-Hyung which appeared on that month's Can You Feel It? The mini-album also included "Plz Don't Be Sad" -- another Jun-Hyung co-write -- which ultimately hit South Korea's number one spot. Within two months of its release, Can You Feel It? was repackaged as Calling You, a moody black-and-white photo gracing its cover, eschewing the happy-go-lucky vibe of the original release's artwork. Before the year was out, Highlight released a second mini-album, Celebrate, which featured the Top Five single "Can Be Better." August 2018 marked the beginning of a period of instability for the band when Doo-Joon was called up for mandatory military service. Highlight initially pressed on as a quartet, promoting the Outro EP that November, a record which featured Doo-Joon's vocals. However, 2019 brought call-ups for the rest of the band, effectively enforcing a hiatus for Highlight, and it was December 2020 before all the members had completed their conscription. Along the way, in March 2019, Jun-Hyung left the band while Gi-Kwang released a solo EP, I, that same month. In July 2020, returning from his military service, Doo-Joon issued the Daybreak EP. After reconvening, May 2021 brought The Blowing, Highlight's first release in two-and-a-half years and their first as a quartet. In March 2022, the band finally released their debut full-length album, Daydream, which included a midtempo dance-pop title track. An EP, After Sunset, appeared later that year. ~ James Wilkinson, Rovi

HELLPRESS FEST 2015

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