EPEX Teams Up with an American Synth-Pop duo, joan, for the First Digital Single “so nice”

EPEX has officially kicked off their 2025 musical journey with the release of their first digital single of the year, “so nice,” a collaboration with the U.S. retro synth-pop duo, joan. This track is especially significant for the group as it marks their first-ever English song, showcasing a fresh direction for the group. Fans are eager to see what’s next as this release follows their highly successful 2024 collaboration with Japan’s FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE on the single “Peppermint Yum.”

The collaboration between EPEX and joan has been a long time in the making, with the two groups connecting over a shared passion for music. “It’s such a pleasure to finally share this collaboration! It’s been a meaningful experience for us. Working with joan brought a fresh perspective and a lot of inspiration, and we’re grateful for the musical connections we built along the way. ‘so nice’ captures that heart-fluttering feeling when you’re with someone special. We thought a lot about our fans, ZENITH, as we worked on it, and we’re so excited to finally release it worldwide!” – KEUM, member of EPEX.

“so nice” is a follow-up to joan’s 2021 hit “so good,” and it features heartfelt lyrics such as “When I hold your hand, stars align,” exploring the deep emotions of romantic connection. The collaboration blends both groups’ signature upbeat and vibrant styles, creating a feel-good anthem that’s sure to resonate with fans worldwide.

The connection between EPEX and joan began last fall when YEWANG from EPEX shared a video of himself singing one of joan’s tracks. At the time, joan was fully immersed in K-pop, having recently listened to EPEX’s “UNIVERSE.” The two groups bonded over their mutual admiration and quickly decided to create something together. “So nice” emerged from that collaboration. “It was such an incredible experience working on this song, and we’re honored that the EPEX guys invited us to be part of it. We hope you love it as much as we do!” – joan.

Beyond the release of “so nice,” EPEX is also making headlines with their upcoming concert in Fuzhou, China, on May 31st. This marks a historic moment as they will become the first all-Korean idol group to hold a concert in mainland China since the 2016 ban on Korean cultural exports, including K-pop. Their performance could represent a breakthrough in diplomatic and cultural relations between South Korea and China, opening doors for more Korean artists to perform in China.

As the year progresses, EPEX fans can look forward to even more exciting projects and releases. With the debut of “so nice,” the group is just getting started, and there’s much more to come in 2025.

About EPEX
EPEX (이펙스) is an eight-member boy group under C9 Entertainment, composed of WISH, KEUM, MU, A-MIN, BAEKSEUNG, AYDEN, YEWANG, and JEFF. Their name reflects their mission: to unite eight different individuals who each strive to reach their own “apex.” The group debuted on June 8, 2021, with their first EP BIPOLAR Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety.

EPEX’s debut was met with excitement, with their title track “Lock Down” earning them a nomination for 1st place on SBS MTV’s THE SHOW just 15 days after their debut. Their swift rise continued as they achieved No. 1 album sales among K-pop groups that debuted in 2021 and were named global super rookies in the Hanteo Global K-pop Report. Today, EPEX stands as a prominent representative of the fourth generation of K-pop.