Boy band xikers is starting again from zero — and stepping hard on the accelerator right away with its latest anthem “OKay.”

“When performing ‘OKay’ on stage, I feel like we’re all possessed with the same feverish energy,” said member Minjae during a press showcase for the group’s seventh EP, “Route Zero: The Ora,” at NOL Theater Tongyang Life Insurance Hall in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Tuesday — also the day of the album’s release.

True to his words, the group delivered “OKay,” the lead track of the latest EP, with a notably high-impact live performance marked by explosive choreography and raw energy. The fast-paced song builds toward a dance break, which begins with a shout and ends with all 10 members stomping their feet with a collective thump.

xikers, which debuted under KQ Entertainment in March 2023, consists of Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter and Yechan.

“Route Zero: The Ora” features five songs: “OKay,” “Ghost Rider,” “Graffiti,” “Trophy” and “Outsider.”

The dance-pop lead track, “OKay,” is marked by energetic chants in the chorus and rapid rap verses. Yechan described the song as “showing xikers’s unique energy as we boldly defy the world’s rules.”

The latest album comes about seven months after the group’s sixth EP, “House of Tricky: Wrecking the House” (2025), which concluded the boy band’s “House of Tricky” series that began with its debut EP, “House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing” (2023).

In other words, “Route Zero” is xikers’s first new series since its debut.

“The series’ title, ‘Route Zero,’ signifies us starting anew from the ashes after ‘Wrecking the House,’” said Jinsik. “The road ahead may be rough, but we hope that people look forward to seeing us grow as we pave our own new path forward.”

“I believe our sincerity, carried through our songs, sets us apart on stage,” Sumin said. “Some of our fans have told us that our performances give them motivation and comfort to keep going even when life is difficult, which made me feel lucky to have this job.”

With well-earned confidence in their live performance abilities, the members said that they dream of standing on bigger stages.

“We’d like to perform at major festivals, such as Lollapalooza or Coachella, one day,” said Seeun.

Leader Minjae noted that the members had many conversations while preparing for the album, for which they worked hard to complement one another’s strengths.

“We’re growing step by step,” he said. “One day, we’ll reach the highest stage like that. And when people look back at this moment in the future, we want them to think, ‘They were really giving their all when they were young — and they’re still doing that now.’”

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]