TRAX (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | SM Entertainment, Yoshiki (X Japan co-founder) |
| Defunct | 2019 (effective disbandment) |
| Fate | Members left SM Entertainment; regrouped in 2024 |
| Headquarters | Seoul , South Korea |
Area served | South Korea, Japan |
Key people | Typhoon Jay (vocals), Xmas Jungmo (guitar, bass), Ginjo (DJ, producer) |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
| Owner | SM Entertainment (until 2019) |
| Website | www |
TRAX (, previously known as The TRAX and TraxX) was a South Korean rock ensemble established in 2004 through a collaboration between SM Entertainment and X Japan co-founder Yoshiki. The initial members were Typhoon Jay (vocalist), Rose Minwoo (drummer), Attack Jungwoo (bassist), and Xmas Jungmo (guitarist and bassist). Their band name originated as an acronym derived from their individual nicknames.
Following the departures of No Min-woo and Jungwoo between 2006 and 2007, TRAX continued as a duo consisting of Jay and Jungmo, simultaneously shortening their name from The TRAX to simply TRAX. During this period, they released the EPs Cold-Hearted Man (2010), Oh! My Goddess (2010), and Blind (2011). Subsequently, Jay focused on acting projects while Jungmo engaged in collaborations with other musicians.
On March 26, 2018, the group underwent a rebranding to become TraxX, incorporating DJ/producer Ginjo and transitioning their musical style from rock to electronic dance music. In April 2019, Jay and Jungmo parted ways with SM Entertainment, casting doubt on the band's continuation. Nevertheless, they regrouped in anticipation of their 20th anniversary in 2024.
Pre-debut
Typhoon, Rose, and Attack initially appeared together on the program 2002 Survival Audition HeeJun vs. KangTa Battle of the Century. Originally formed as a three-member rock band, they officially debuted as The Trax after adding X-mas to the lineup. Prior to their debut, they featured on labelmate BoA's December 2003 single "Rock With You".
2004–2007: Debut and First Rain
The band launched their first single "Paradox" on July 20, 2004, followed by live performances later that month. Their second single "Scorpio" was simultaneously released in Japan and South Korea in November 2004.
Their subsequent Japanese single "Rhapsody" was issued in April 2005. The third Japanese single "Blaze Away" came out concurrently in both Japan and South Korea in September 2005.
Drummer Rose (No Min-woo) exited the group on May 10, 2006, to pursue other ventures. The trio that remained released their debut full-length album First Rain on July 20. They then released Japanese singles "Resolution" (August 3) and "Find The Way/Cold Rain" (January 24, 2007). The latter was the final release to feature Attack, who left quietly without an official statement.
2008–2012: Cold-Hearted Man, Oh! My Goddess, Blind and military services
Towards the end of 2008, Typhoon and X-Mas appeared regularly alongside Super Junior members Heechul and Kangin on Mnet's Band of Brothers. In 2009, X-Mas participated in the program Oppa Band with Super Junior's Sungmin.
They issued a digital single under the project name TRAX+Air for the drama Swallow the Sun.
On January 25, 2010, TRAX unveiled the EP Cold-Hearted Man, featuring the lead track "Let You Go", which included contributions from SHINee's Key, Wheesung, and T-MAX's Shin Min-chul.
In August of that year, they joined Super Junior's Asian tour Super Show 3 as special guests. September saw the release of their EP Oh! My Goddess, containing six songs with the title track as its lead single.
On November 8, 2010, they provided "Tell Me Your Love" for KBS's drama Mary Stayed Out All Night. Their third EP Blind was released on November 10, 2011, comprising six tracks including its eponymous lead single "Blind".
Typhoon (Jay) commenced his mandatory military service on March 26, 2012, serving as a public service worker following basic training. Seven months later, on October 25, X-Mas (Kim Jung-mo) enlisted after a health-related delay; he also fulfilled non-active duty as a public service worker. During this time frame of military service, the band entered a hiatus.
2015–2019: Transition to EDM trio and dissolution
After a three-year break, TRAX made their comeback performance at the SM Town Live World Tour IV in July 2015.
Their first release since Blind (2011) came on January 7, when they issued the digital single "Road" as part of SM Entertainment's SM Station initiative.
On February 23, 2018, TRAX debuted their initial EDM track "Notorious," collaborating with LIP2SHOT and featuring Sophiya, also under the SM Station project. Subsequently, on March 26, 2018, the group underwent a rebranding to TraxX with the addition of DJ and producer Ginjo, shifting their musical style from rock to electronic dance music. Later that year, on December 12, TraxX released "Escape," an English-language single that marked their official debut as an EDM trio.
The group effectively disbanded on April 30, 2019, when Jay and Jungmo chose not to renew their contracts with SM Entertainment.
2024: Commemorating 20 years
On July 15, SM Entertainment revealed plans for TRAX's return as a band through the release of a new single titled "To Be Continued" on July 17 in honor of their 20th anniversary since debut.
Last known lineup
Previous members
- Rose — drums and percussion
- Attack — bass guitar
- Ginjo — DJ
Studio albums
| Album title | Release details | Highest chart positions | Sales figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | |||
| Cold Rain (초우) |
|
19 |
|
Extended plays
| EP title | Release information | Top chart rankings | Sales data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | |||
| Let You Go (가슴이 차가운 남자) |
|
6 | rowspan="2" Template:N/A |
| Oh! My Goddess (오! 나의 여신님) |
|
5 | |
| Blind (창문) |
|
8 |
|
Singles
| Title | Year of release | Peak chart positions |
Sales numbers | Associated album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | Japan | ||||
| Korean releases | |||||
| "Paradox" | 2004 | 37 | — |
|
Paradox single album |
| "Scorpio" (Korean version) | 26 | — |
|
Scorpio single album | |
| "Cold Rain" (초우) | 2006 | Template:N/A | — | rowspan="6" Template:N/A | Cold Rain |
| "Let You Go" (가슴이 차가운 남자) | 2010 | 20 | — | Let You Go | |
| "Oh! My Goddess" (오! 나의 여신님) | 30 | — | Oh! My Goddess | ||
| "Blind" (창문) | 2011 | 115 | — | Blind | |
| "Road" | 2017 | — | — | SM Station Season 1 | |
| "Notorious" (with LIP2SHOT feat. Sophiya) |
2018 | — | — | SM Station Season 2 | |
| "To Be Continued" (계속될 이야기) | 2024 | colspan="4" Template:TBA | |||
| Japanese releases | |||||
| "Scorpio" (Japanese version) | 2004 | — | 28 | rowspan="5" Template:N/A | Scorpio single album |
| "Rhapsody" | 2005 | — | 95 | Rhapsody single album | |
| "Blaze Away" | — | 129 | Blaze Away single album | ||
| "Resolution" | 2006 | — | — | Resolution single album | |
| "Find The Way / Cold Rain (初雨)" | 2007 | — | 189 | Non-album single | |
|-
| "—": indicates the track did not chart or was not released in that territory. "N/A": data unavailable. |
Featured Collaborations
| Song Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Ranking |
Sales Figures | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | ||||
| "Tri-Angle" (TVXQ featuring BoA and TRAX) |
2004 | rowspan="2" Template:N/A | rowspan="2" Template:N/A | Tri-Angle |
| "Free Your Mind" (TVXQ featuring TRAX) |
2005 | Rising Sun | ||
| "—" indicates the track did not enter the charts. "N/A" signifies unavailable data. | ||||
Soundtrack Contributions
| Track Title | Year Released | Peak Chart Position | Sales Data | Soundtrack Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | ||||
| "Fate" (운명) | 2009 | Template:N/A | rowspan="2" Template:N/A | Swallow the Sun OST |
| "Heaven" (하늘아) | 2012 | — | God of War OST | |
| "—" denotes no chart entry. "N/A" indicates data not available. | ||||
Solo Tours
- TRAX First Concert (July 24, 2004)
- TRAX Second Concert (July 31, 2004)
Festival and Joint Appearances
- SM Summer Town Festival (2006)
- SM Town Summer Concert (2007)
- SM Town Live '08 (2008–2009)
- SM Town Live '10 World Tour (2010–2011)
- SM Town Live World Tour III (2012)
- SM Town Live World Tour IV (2015)
- SM Town Live World Tour V (2016)
- SM Town Live World Tour VI (2017)
Published Works
- First Story Book - BLAST (December 1, 2004)
Honors and Recognitions
| Year | Awarding Body | Category | Work Nominated | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Rock Video | "Paradox" | Template:Nom |