Japanese boy-group ONE OR EIGHT has been slowly building a name for themselves in the music industry, releasing addictive tracks left, right and center. Over the past year, the group’s momentum has really hit its stride. With so many hit singles, it was about time that they bought out an album – and they finally delivered this January with the release of their first mini album ‘GATHER’.
ONE OR EIGHT: BET ON YOURSELF
ONE OR EIGHT is an eight-member Global-Based Japanese boy-group from Avex Trax. The group consists of members Souma, Mizuki, Tsubasa, Reia, Ryota, Takeru, Yuga and Neo. The group was formed through WARPs DIG – Battle Audition in April 2023. They then trained for another year, before officially debuting on Aug. 16, 2024 with their debut single “Don’t Tell Nobody”. Prior to their official debut, they released a pre-debut song titled “KAWASAKI”. In May 2025, the group signed with US label Atlantic Music Group.
Their highly anticipated debut mini album ‘GATHER’ was released on Jan. 28, 2026. The album is a jam-packed, high energy accumulation of the group’s key discography from their career thus far. It blends their signature futuristic quality, with undeniable hip-hop, pop and R&B influences. The group’s message of unity, ambition and self-belief shines through the album, with their motto “BET ON YOURSELF” strongly represented throughout. Their youthful defiance and feel-good style radiates from each track.
“TOKYO DRIFT”
“TOKYO DRIFTER” is the latest new release from the powerhouse group, and the lead track of this mini-album. The track explodes from the get go, starting the album off with the unmissable sense of the group’s fierce identity. It samples the theme from Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drifter, layering this alongside intense electronic beats and intense rap. The changes of groove within the song keep listeners on their toes, and showcases the different vocal styles of the members. The music video matches the energy and intensity of the track, oozing with confidence and youthful abandon.
“Don’t Tell Nobody”
As their debut single, it was obvious that “Don’t Tell Nobody” was going to make an appearance on their debut mini-album. Since the beginning, this track has aptly showcased the signature electronic and energetic sound that the group does best. It has a futurist (almost sci-fi-like) sound, showing the group as unafraid of pushing boundaries and throwing everything into their artistry with their “all or nothing” attitude. The lyrics are a mixture of Japanese and English – as most of their tracks are – making it incredibly catchy, along with its real dance-pop feel.
“DSTM”
“DSTM” is the track that well and truly put ONE OR EIGHT on the map globally. The track was released on March 19, 2025. It is a modern remix of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music”, infused with the group’s signature futuristic hip-hop sound. It is completely addictive and rocketed the group to a wider audience in both the US and also branched them out into Korea. After this release, the group found themselves making appearances on multiple Korean music shows, and it truly brought them into the Korean music sphere. They even recorded with popular Korean performance channel Studio Choom, which is known for creating high quality, aesthetic videos of K-pop idols and performance crews.
“POWER”
“POWER” was released as a teaser before the full mini-album dropped. The song focuses on the power of resilience and the ability to move past the negative, as opposed to just raw physical strength. It has an anthemic quality that also shares the message of overcoming internal darkness through unity and collective support. The members have said that the track strongly represents their bond as a group, with their ability to always lifting each other up throughout everything.
“KAWASAKI”
As their pre-debut track, “KAWASAKI” was truly where it all started for ONE OR EIGHT. The song features heavy trap basslines and fast-paced rap from the members. It was famously remixed with a feature from American rapper Big Sean, with the aim of bridging the Tokyo and global industries. They also went on to release collaborations on this track with pH-1, Felip and thủy. The original video got over 10 million views in just 10 days of release, and the song went on to reach #5 on the US iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap chart.
“Young & Reckless”
Originally released back in August 2025, “Young and Reckless” focuses on the group’s rebellious youth and their fearless attitude to life. It has a hybrid sound blending trap-style raps with soulful vocals and electronic scales. It embodies the group’s intention to break boundaries and take ownership of their desired chaos. The group has marked this song as a representation of their successful break into the international market.
“BET YOUR LIFE”
“BET YOUR LIFE” carries on the self-belief theme of the group, emphasising the importance of risking everything for your dreams. It was released following the group’s appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards, and represented a more mature and intense version of the group’s key “all or nothing” message. It features more rapid rap and industrial trap, alongside notes of 90s rock-influence guitars.
“365”
The final track on the album is a more emotional and melodic song. “365” acts as a love song dedicated to their fans (1DERZ). It promises to stand by the fans every day through its soaring melody. The group has also shared how it represents the year long journey they went on through the WARPs DIG process. It rounds the mini-album off with love and gratitude, showing the group’s heart in everything they do.
Are you a ONE OR EIGHT fan? What’s your favourite track from their debut mini album? Let us know on Instagram and Twitter/X!
FOLLOW ONE OR EIGHT ON THEIR SOCIALS
INSTAGRAM • TWITTER/X • YOUTUBE • TIKTOK • FACEBOOK • OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Featured Image Credit: ONE OR EIGHT Official X
