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Mamamoo+
Mamamoo+ in April 2023
Background information
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop
Years active	2022–present
Labels	RBW
Spinoff of	Mamamoo
Members	Solar Moonbyul
Website	Official website

Mamamoo+ (Korean: 마마무+; RR: Mamamoo peulleoseu, stylized in all caps) is a South Korean duo formed by RBW. The first sub-unit of the girl group Mamamoo, the duo is composed of members Solar and Moonbyul. Their debut single "Better" was released on August 30, 2022. This was followed by their first single album Act 1, Scene 1, released in March 2023 to commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies on the Circle Chart in its first month. They released their first extended play Two Rabbits on August 3, 2023.

Name

Since their early years with Mamamoo, Solar and Moonbyul together have been well-known by the nickname MoonSun, affectionately coined by fans as a portmanteau of their names: "Moon" from Moonbyul and "Sun" from Kim Yong-sun (Solar).

When plans to form an official sub-unit began, they considered several other names including Two Rabbits, which would later go on to become the title of their first extended play. Ultimately they decided on Mamamoo+. The name is meant to denote that they will be exploring new concepts and music, continuing to expand the horizons of their activities without limits, in addition to the existing group, Mamamoo.

Additionally, the motifs of the moon and the sun that represent each of them were incorporated into the Mamamoo+ logo when it was first revealed.

History

Prior to their official debut as a sub-unit, Solar and Moonbyul had already performed and released songs together. As early as 2015, they appeared as a duo in the JTBC singing competition program Sugar Man. They performed a newly rearranged rendition of the nostalgic hit song "Like Yesterday" originally by J.ae, beating f(x)'s Luna and Amber to emerge as the final winners. The performance received attention for Solar's explosive vocals and Moonbyul's self-composed rap. The song also rose to the top of various music charts after the broadcast, sparking early requests for the two to form a sub-unit.

In 2021, Solar and Moonbyul were invited to partake in the South Korean band Vibe's 20th anniversary project REVIBE vol.1 which featured remakes of their hit songs by various artists. On July 28, 2021, the duo's remake and music video of the song "Promise U" was released.

Career

2022: Formation and debut with "Better"

In August 2022, it was announced that members Solar and Moonbyul would be forming the group's first official subunit, Mamamoo+, with an expected album release at the end of the month.

On August 22, 2022, a new YouTube channel was launched by surprise, uploading a video titled "Looking for a New Member of MAMAMOO". The channel was revealed to be created for the mockumentary series of the same name, which stars Solar and Moonbyul as they "search" for a new member to join them via auditions. In the following days, spoiler photos were released which teased another artist who would be joining them as part of their debut song. The duo's debut single "Better" featuring rapper Big Naughty, was released on August 30.

2023–present: Act 1 Scene 1, Two Rabbits and overseas performances

Mamamoo+ announced their first comeback in March 2023, set to consist of a single album, preceded by a digital single. On March 21, they released the digital single "Chico Malo", which blends Latin trap beats and traditional Korean instruments such as the gayageum (plucked string instrument) and daegeum (bamboo flute). The duo's first single album, Act 1, Scene 1, was released on March 29. Billboard described the music videos from the album as "fresh visual treats", highlighting the intricate fan choreography and modernized versions of classic Korean outfits, the hanbok. As commended in the review, "not only is MAMAMOO+ experimenting and expanding with their music but with their visual storytelling too." Within a month of release, the album Act 1, Scene 1 surpassed 100,000 copies sold on the Circle Chart.

On July 7, it was reported that Mamamoo+ would be releasing new music in August 2023. The pre-release single "Save Me" was released on July 18, along with a music video to accompany the pensive, lingering R&B track. Upon release, "Save Me" entered the Top 10 on the iTunes Top Song Chart in ten countries and regions around the world. It also achieved a peak chart position of 14th on the Worldwide iTunes Top Song Chart. Their debut extended play Two Rabbits was released on August 3.

From the summer of 2023 onwards and upon the conclusion of Mamamoo's My Con world tour, the duo have been invited to perform at multiple festivals and concerts overseas. Starting with the Kaohsiung Beer Rock Festival held in Taiwan on July 9, Mamamoo+ performed to a crowd of 28,000 people, followed by Waterbomb Japan held in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo on the 15th, 22nd and 29th of July respectively.

Their upcoming appearances include: The Super Stage By K-Pop held at the Mall of Asia Arena on August 11 in Manila, Philippines, RBW SUMMER FES ~Over the Rainbow~ at Tokyo Garden Theater from August 19 to 20 in Tokyo, Japan, KPOP BANG at the Veltins Arena on September 9 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and KPOP NATION at the PGE Narodowy Stadium on September 23 in Warsaw, Poland. This is expected to continue into the second half of the year, with the potential of a global tour as well.

Discography

Extended plays

Single albums

Singles

As lead artist

Soundtrack appearances

Other charted songs

Tours and concerts

• MAMAMOO+ 1st Fan Concert: TWO RABBITS CODE- ASIA TOUR (2023)

Notes

1. Also written as Korean: 마마무 플러스
2. "Save Me" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 25 on the component Circle Download Chart.
3. "DangDang" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 30 on the component Circle Download Chart.

References

1. Morales, Ivana E. (April 14, 2023). "Solar and Moonbyul on the creation of MAMAMOO+: "It was a road we had to achieve at some point"". NME. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
2. Ye-eun, Jie (August 30, 2022). "Mamamoo's first subunit to release single 'Better'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
3. Yeo, Gladys (August 23, 2022). "MAMAMOO's Moonbyul and Solar unveil new subunit name MAMAMOO+". NME. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
4. Moon Byul & Solar '2015 어제처럼 (Like yesterday)' ♪ - Sugarman Ep. 6, retrieved July 22, 2023
5. Kim, Young-jin (November 25, 2015). "'슈가맨' 마마무 솔라·문별, 에프엑스 루나·엠버 체지고 최종 우승" [On JTBC's 'Sugar Man', Mamamoo's Solar and Moonbyul beat f(x)'s Luna and Amber to win the final championship]. 아시아투데이 Asia Today (in Korean). Retrieved July 22, 2023.
6. Gan, Shanne (July 23, 2021). "MAMAMOO's Solar and Moon Byul drop music video for Vibe's 'Promise U' remake - watch". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
7. Herrera, Kathleen (July 28, 2021). "Solar and Moonbyul celebrate Vibe's 20th anniversary with 'Promise U'". TheKMeal. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
8. Yeo, Gladys (August 22, 2022). "Moonbyul and Solar to form MAMAMOO's first official subunit". NME. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
9. 마마무, 새 멤버를 찾습니다. [Looking for a New Member of MAMAMOO🙏🏻✨], retrieved July 23, 2023
10. "마마무 솔라·문별, 첫 유닛 출격...새 멤버는 누구?" [Mamamoo Solar and Moonbyul's first unit takes off...Who is the new member?]. m.hankookilbo.com. Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
11. Ha, Na-young (August 24, 2022). "마마무 첫 유닛에 새 멤버 영입? 스포일러 포토 깜짝 공개" [Mamamoo's first unit to recruit new members? Spoiler photo surprise release]. 조선비즈 (in Korean). Chosun Biz. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
12. "It's only taken nine years, but Mamamoo finally has a subunit". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Korea JoongAng Daily. September 1, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
13. Lee, Min-ji (August 30, 2022). "마마무 첫 유닛 출격, 오늘(30일) 마마무+ 첫 싱글 'Better' 발매" [Mamamoo's first unit sortie, released Mamamoo+'s first single 'Better' today (30th)] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023 – via Naver.
14. Yeo, Gladys (February 21, 2023). "Mamamoo+ to return with new music in March". NME. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
15. "Mamamoo's Solar and Moonbyul drops fiery track for first subunit comeback". RepublicAsia. March 22, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
16. "Mamamoo+ drops music video of 'GGBB'". GMA Network. March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
17. Benjamin, Jeff (March 30, 2023). "MAMAMOO's Solar & Moonbyul Team Up for Duo Project: Watch 'GGBB' & 'Chico Malo'". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
18. ^ Cumulative sales of Act 1, Scene 1 in South Korea:
    • "Album Chart 2023 Weeks 13". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Album Chart 2023 Weeks 14". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Album Chart 2023 Weeks 15". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Album Chart 2023 Weeks 16". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
19. "All-female stars at 'The Super Stage by K-pop in Manila'". Daily Tribune. May 24, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023. In March this year, MAMAMOO+ made their comeback with their first single album "Act 1, Scene 1" with title track "GGBB". The single album surpassed 100,000 copies sold on Circle Chart.
20. "[단독] '솔라X문별' 마마무+, 8월 컴백 확정". Naver News. Naver. July 7, 2023. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
21. Yeo, Gladys (July 19, 2023). "MAMAMOO+ drop pensive music video for single 'Save Me'". NME. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
22. Baek, Ji-eun (July 19, 2023). "마마무+, 선공개곡 전세계 10개 국가·지역 아이튠즈 톱송 차트 톱10" [Mamamoo+, pre-released song enters the Top 10 iTunes Top Song Charts in 10 countries/regions worldwide]. 조선일보 (in Korean). Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
23. Hong, Yoo (July 12, 2023). "Mamamoo Plus to drop 1st EP 'Two Rabbits' next month". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
24. Mathew, Anoushka (July 15, 2023). "MAMAMOO+ (Moonbyul, Solar) exude a mature look in first concept photos for TWO RABBITS". Pinkvilla. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
25. ETtoday新聞雲 (July 9, 2023). "直擊／MAMAMOO+來了！ 突現場宣布1喜訊...2.8萬人當場暴動 | ETtoday星光雲 | ETtoday新聞雲". star.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved July 23, 2023.
26. "パク・ジェボムからATEEZ、STAYCまで！「WATERBOMB JAPAN 2023」第1弾ラインナップが公開". Kstyle. April 18, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
27. TDT (May 24, 2023). "All-female stars at 'The Super Stage by K-pop in Manila'". Daily Tribune. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
28. "MAMAMOO+からOH MY GIRLまで！RBW、初のファミリーコンサート日本公演の出演アーティストを発表". Kstyle. April 24, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
29. "KPOP BANG". Retrieved July 23, 2023.
30. "THE BOYZ, MAMAMOO+, Kep1er and CIX are the first starts of the KPOP NATION Festival in Warsaw". Exberliner. June 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
31. RBW. "2023년 기업설명회(IR) 자료 게시" [RBW's 2023 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders Report] (in Korean). Retrieved July 23, 2023.
32. "Two Rabbits (2023)". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023.
33. Cumulative Sales of Two Rabbits:
    • "Circle Album Chart – August 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 7, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 41, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 43, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 49, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 15, 2023.
34. "Circle Album Chart". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Act 1, Scene 1". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
35. "Circle Digital Chart". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Better". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Chico Malo". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "GGBB". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
36. "Download Chart 2023 Weeks 29". Circle Chart. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
37. "Download Chart 2023 Weeks 31". Circle Chart. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
38. "Circle Download Chart". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Super Gap". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
39. "Circle Download Chart". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "LLL". Circle Chart. Korean Music & Content Association. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    • "Songs from Two Rabbits". Circle Chart. Retrieved August 10, 2023.

• 2022 establishments in South Korea
• Musical groups established in 2022
• South Korean musical duos