In 2011, a five-member group called Sexy Zone debuted in Japan with an average age of 14.2 years old, the youngest group to debut in the company. Fast forward to 2024, and the newly named Timelesz had only three original members left: Kikuchi Fuma, Sato Shori, and Matsushima. So, they went on a search to find new additions to the team through the reality show Timelesz Project, which recently aired globally on Netflix.

The show saw over 18,000 applications, and only 350 were invited to in-person auditions. Through a series of gruelling challenges and intense idol training, the contestants were whittled down until the final episode saw the members of Timelesz choose five new members to join.

Alongside the original three, fellow Starto Entertainment artists Teranishi Takuto and Hara Yoshitaka joined, bringing experience and knowledge of the way the company works. Inomata Shuto and Hashimoto Masaki brought their own idol knowledge after being members of their own idol groups. The final member is Shinozuka Taiki, who came in with no experience but wowed the members with his passion and improvement.

Considering it was one of the final songs performed to decide the members, it seemed fitting that “Rock This Party” was the first official release from the group with eight members. As the name suggests, the track is an upbeat dance track that oozes summer vibes from the lyrics, melody, and heavy drum beat in the instrumental. The line “Gotta rock this party” is repeated several times throughout and makes it even catchier, with the combination of distinct voices and the move from vocal to rap verses.

The video perfectly suits the vibes, having been filmed in Hawaii and giving off a youthful and summery aura to fit with the melody. It also takes into consideration the idea of introducing all of the members to fans, with each holding a piece of card with their name, fitting the style of song but also allowing fans to identify each person.

Following the release of “Rock This Party,” Timelesz treated fans to another song from their upcoming album, with the release of the music video for “One and Only.”

While still essentially pure J-Pop, it has a lot more of a classier and sophisticated feel. It shows off the members’ vocals and combinations of members, seeing how the textures and tones can combine flawlessly like they’ve been performing together for years. Even the video seems different, with a more simplistic set, mimicking a line drawing, and all the members wearing suits for the large bulk of the video, only changing to show a more casual side with the same set. Yet, it continues the trend from the first track, repeating the phrase “Because I love you” to give it a catchy hook, and the chorus mainly contains “ooh” sounds for global listeners.

Recently, the group’s the full album, FAM, was released.

“Baby What’s Your Name” has distinct disco vibes with the tune and use of synths, but by starting with a rap verse followed by vocals, it creates a track with multiple layers and has a lot of fun with the melody. The slower bridge emphasizes diversity and is something that Sexy Zone is known for, combining genres and tempos. The upbeat tracks have different flavours, with tracks like “Do Me Do Me” and “Scent of No.9” having a sexier feeling, harking back to the OG vibes of the group. While “Do Me Do Me” has similar disco vibes, the title and lyrics show that it’s anything but PG, using both Japanese and English lyrics throughout. While still more standard pop, “Scent of No.9” has a slower pace that uses the members’ lower register to emphasize the sexiness through unique production techniques.

While “Honey Almond” has a slower tempo, the lightness of the members’ vocals, mixed with Fuma’s distinct rapping tone, gives it a classic J-Pop vibe. “Popcoooooooorn!” and “手をたたけ愛ならせ” are just fun and upbeat, with the strong guitar and drum beat giving it a “rock” feeling, similar to pop punk bands from the 2000s, that makes you want to get up and dance. All three tracks will undoubtedly be perfect when performed live, allowing the group to be playful.

The album also contains ballads, contrasting with the other songs but still with a distinct J-Pop flavour. “Heads Up” is the first song with a slower and more emotional feel, but the use of synths and drum beat adds another dimension, showing just how diverse the “ballad” genre can be, and this is the same for “Flavor” that goes against the standard for the genre, but still keeps that sentimental vibe. Like the name show, “I’m Home” is more traditional, ending the album on a nostalgic and poignant point.

Along with the group songs, there are two tracks that saw the OG and new members split into units.

The track “because” was released in October by the three original members, showcasing a gentler side to the group with a movie-like video to go alongside it. The soft voices of Matsushima and Sato blend perfectly together in harmony, and with the addition of Kikuchi’s more rugged tone, creates something melodic and easy on the ear. The five new members also had their own track called “君へ.” The track is even more emotional and probably the most meaningful track in the album as the members speak about their dreams, seemingly capturing the hardships and determination it took to debut in the group. The different textures of the members work well, balancing the veteran voices like those of Teranishi and Hara to Shinozuka, who might have the least experience but shone.

It was a risky decision to not have the album on streaming sites, which could impact the global reach, but the physical album has already seen huge success on the charts in Japan. While the lineup of group is still young, the members are slowly making a new identity, figuring out who suits what roles, allowing everyone to shine but in a way that benefits the group.

FAM is out now. Timelesz can be found on Instagram here.