Big Ocean’s Inspiring Journey: Music for Everyone to Feel and Enjoy [Interview]
Big Ocean’s Inspiring Journey: Music for Everyone to Feel and Enjoy [Interview]
Every music group and artist has a unique story and message, but we rarely come across stories as unique, valuable, and exceptional as that of Big Ocean, one of the newest groups making waves on the K-pop stage.
With their distinctive qualities and powerful message, Big Ocean is continuing to break new ground in K-pop. That’s why I’m honored to share this interview with you, where I talked with them about their debut, future dreams, collaborations, and so much more.
Creating Music Everyone Can Feel and Enjoy
As the first K-pop group with members facing varying degrees of hearing challenges, Big Ocean is breaking new ground in both K-pop and the global music scene. Group members Chanyeon, Hyunjin, and Jiseok, united by a shared passion and purpose, are working to make music accessible to everyone.
The group centers their message of inclusivity within their music, stressing that music is a universal experience meant for everyone, regardless of language or ability.
To break these barriers, they thoughtfully incorporate sign language into their music videos and performances, making it a defining feature that sets Big Ocean apart.
Hyunjin, reflects on how music serves as a powerful tool for communication and healing, sharing how they've overcome the challenges of hearing loss: “Using sign language in our performances has allowed us to bridge the gap between those who hear and those who don’t, creating a deeper connection with our Pados.”
Big Ocean, created by Parastar Entertainment—the first entertainment company in Korea with a mission to break physical barriers—made their debut on April 20, 2024, with their first digital single Glow.
The group’s name represents hope, drawing inspiration from the ocean, and their official color, blue, symbolizes the same. Fittingly, their debut date coincides with South Korea’s Persons with Disabilities Day.
Big Achievements in Little Time
From their name to their color, song titles, debut date, and even how they greet their fans in sign language, the group reflects their important mission of inclusivity. Despite debuting only a short time ago, Big Ocean has already touched the hearts of many fans worldwide and achieved notable success in this brief period.
In September 2024, Big Ocean was named K-pop Rookie of the Month by Billboard, and the group also won the Hallyu Special Award at the 2024 K-pop Newsis Awards.
With nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, each of their comebacks is met with great enthusiasm from a wide and growing audience.
Big Ocean Songs and Beautiful Collaborations
So far, they’ve released three digital singles, with their latest song, Slow, featuring an exciting collaboration with Day6’s Young K, much to the delight of their fans.
Recently, the group hosted a live viewing event for the Paralympics on JJAANN and continues to participate in numerous interviews and engaging collaborations.
Stray Kids' Felix is just one of the artists they’ve teamed up with for their social media, and it appears that many more collaborations are on the horizon.
While Big Ocean aims to unite everyone through music by demonstrating that physical challenges, including hearing challenges, are not obstacles, their message extends beyond physical challenges; they also convey hope and strength to fans facing various obstacles in life.
Their latest song, Slow, along with their previous singles Glow and Blow, encapsulates this empowering message.
As Chanyeon explains: “The titles reflect a progression of energy and emotion. Glow was about hope and the light we bring to each other. Blow was a powerful burst of energy and resilience, and Slow is about patience and trusting the process, no matter how long it takes.”
I believe that art is not just about aesthetics; it holds the power to touch hearts and transform lives and that is why I value Big Ocean's story so much.
They create music that is not only enjoyable to listen to but also touches the hearts of many fans with their passion, and they will continue to do so.
In my interview with the talented members of Big Ocean—Chanyeon, Hyunjin, and Jiseok—we discussed their journey, aspirations, and the impact they hope to make through their music
If you want to get to know Big Ocean better and be part of this beautiful journey, you can read the full interview here: Big Ocean Interview.
Before you go, let’s meet in the comments! What’s your favorite Big Ocean song? Or what do you think about the power of music?