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Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s hard to watch a K-pop music video and not realise that being an idol is no easy feat. Years of intense training, mastering vocals and choreography, maintaining visuals that meet South Korea’s demanding beauty standards, engaging with fans, and keeping up with packed tour schedules — it’s a lifestyle that can be quite demanding. Add to that the pressure of standing out in a global K-pop scene that’s more competitive than ever, and the pressure becomes even more intense.
However, for NOMAD, a five-member rookie group known for tracks like California Love and Call Me Back, “it’s a great ingredient for growth, if used positively.”
“Just like our first EP’s title track, No Pressure, it’s ‘no pressure, no diamonds.’ To become a diamond, you have to handle a certain amount of pressure,” says member JUNHO.
Led by leader DOY, and joined by members RIVR, ONE, JUNHO, and SANGHA, NOMAD is known for their unique genre-blending style of music, which comprises K-pop, hip-hop, and R&B. The five-member group recently performed in India at the All India K-Pop Contest 2025, organised by the Korean Culture Centre, in Delhi.
After the event, the members spoke with The WEEK about their journey, aspirations, and experience of performing in India for the first time:
Your group’s name is rather unique. Does NOMAD have a special meaning, and how does it reflect your music or philosophy?
DOY: Just like the meaning of the word itself, it signifies that wherever our feet touch, it becomes our stage. So, we’re creating our own path and moving freely, without being confined by any fixed forms, creating our own direction.
How did your journey as a K-pop group begin?
DOY: I am the leader and producer of the group. When I first planned this project, I searched for each member from across the country. It was like completing a puzzle, and once the five members came together, I felt certain that “Now we can begin.” That’s how our journey began.
Are there any artists who have especially influenced your music? If you could collaborate with any artist, Korean or international, who would it be?
DOY: It would be the K-pop boy band BigBang for me. And it wasn’t just about their music, but also their journey, how they personally created everything themselves across all aspects. It had a huge impact on me.
JUNHO: There are so many amazing artists I’d love to collaborate with, but if we ever got the chance to work with BigBang — the very group we learned from and looked up to — I don’t think anything could feel more like a dream.
While some K-pop groups have achieved massive global fame, there are those who, with their themes and music, connect deeply with dedicated fans. Where does NOMAD see itself on this spectrum, and what’s your ultimate goal?
RIVR: I think our spectrum is still taking shape. We’re still in the beginning stages, so we’ll have to gradually build and discover our own spectrum as we go.
DOY: Ultimately, we have one main goal. Of course, success is important, but more than that, we hope to deliver as many good messages and positive energy as possible through K-pop — one of the many influential fields around the world. We believe that if we can do that, even just a little, we might contribute to making the world a better place. That’s the kind of team we aspire to be.
How was it performing in India for the first time?
DOY: It feels like another unforgettable moment has been recorded in our journey. The moment we first faced our Indian fans on stage and shared that joyful moment together made us truly happy.
SANGHA: The passionate energy from our Indian fans allowed us to perform with even more passion.
ONE: Every moment was memorable, but since it was the final round of the All India K-pop Contest, the participants’ performances especially stood out for us. Seeing the participant’s love and passion for K-pop on stage, made us so happy and also gave us a strong sense of responsibility.
Looking ahead, is there a dream stage or country you’d love to perform in?
SANGHA: One of our goals is to go on a world tour after releasing more albums in the future.
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