Ad Mare (Latin, “To The Sea”) is the debut single album by South Korean girl group Nmixx. The single album was released by JYP Entertainment on February 22, 2022, and contains four tracks, containing lead single "O.O", B-side "Tank" (占), and instrumentals for both songs.
Background and release
On July 9, 2021, JYP Entertainment announced it would be debuting a new girl group in February 2022, the first since Itzy in 2019. On February 2, 2022, it was announced that the group would debut on February 22 with the release of Ad Mare. Six days later, the track listing was released with "O.O" announced as the lead single. On February 17, the first music video teaser for "O.O" was released. Two days later, the highlight medley video teaser was released. On February 21, the second music video teaser for "O.O" was released. The single album alongside the music video for "O.O" was released on February 22.
Composition
The lead single "O.O" was described as a song with "mixture of baile funk and teen pop rock" genres with "intense captivating trap intro". "Tank" was described as a song with "groovy vocals and unique raps" that features member Lily's "timbre and explosive treble" with lyrics that "compares the confident and ambitious attitude to a tank".
Critical reception
Tanu I. Raj from NME gave Ad Mare 2 out of 5 stars, calling it "inconsistent" and "choppy" due to the uneven transitions from electropop to pop rock to hip hop in "O.O" Although he appreciated the simpler melodies in "Tank", he concluded that the latter was not able "to alleviate the damage that 'O.O' does".
Commercial performance
Ad Mare debuted at number three on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated February 20–26, 2022; on the monthly chart, the single album debuted at number three in the chart issue for February 2022 with 161,312 copies sold.
Promotion
On February 18, 2022, JYP Entertainment announced that the group debut showcase would be postponed to March 1 after member Bae was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Track listing
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Melon.
Studio
A Team Studio – recording
JYPE Studios – recording , vocal editing
Alawn Music Studios – mixing
Canton House Studios – mixing
821 Sound Mastering – mastering
Sterling Sound – mastering
Personnel
Dr.JO (153/Joombas) – lyrics
Oh Hyun-seon (Lalala Studio) – lyrics
Jung Jun-ho – lyrics
Oh Yu-won – lyrics
Dwayne Abernathy Jr. – composition
Ryan S. Jhun – composition, arrangement
Ericka J. Coulter – composition , background vocals
Deanna DellaCioppa – composition
Matthew Jaragin – composition
Brian U (The Hub) – composition, arrangement, drums, synths
Enan (The Hub) – composition, arrangement, drums, synths , MarkAlong (The Hub) – composition, arrangement, drums, synths Charlotte Wilson (The Hub) – composition , vocal directing Chanti (The Hub) – composition EJAE – composition , background vocals , vocal directing Awry (The Hub) – composition , background vocals Ayushy (The Hub) – composition Jan Baars (The Hub) – composition Rajan Muse (The Hub) – composition Dem Jointz – arrangement, keyboard, drums Jade – bass BananaGaraG – bass Paper Planet – guitar TRIAD – guitar Lily – background vocals Frankie Day – background vocals Ayushy – background vocals Brian U (The Hub) – vocal directing Enan (The Hub) – vocal directing MJ – recording Gun Hye-jin – recording Lee Kyung-won – digital editing Lee Sang-yeob – vocal editing Jiyoung Shin NYC – vocal editing Alawn – mixing Jaycen Joshua – mixing Jacob Richards – mixing (assistant) Mike Seaberg – mixing (assistant) DJ Riggins – mixing (assistant) Kwon Nam-woo – mastering Chris Gehringer – mastering