Awich, ONE OK ROCK, CHICO CARLITO, Paledusk Form YAO

The artists Awich, ONE OK ROCK, CHICO CARLITO, and Paledusk have officially formed a cross-genre music collective named YAO. The announcement was made in late June through coordinated Instagram posts, revealing the new group and their Instagram handle. Shortly after, YAO premiered a collaborative performance video for the Red Bull IN-YO! series on the Red Bull MIC channel.

YAO's official debut as a group followed just one week later with the release of their first single and music video, titled "777." This collaboration builds on prior artistic connections between the members. CHICO CARLITO and Paledusk had previously collaborated with ONE OK ROCK on the track "C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y." from ONE OK ROCK's DETOX album. These artists, along with Awich, also performed together as special guests during ONE OK ROCK's DETOX Japan Tour later that year.

Further solidifying their collective bond, Paledusk served as the supporting act for ONE OK ROCK's European Tour. The foundational moments for YAO can be traced back to a joint performance between ONE OK ROCK and Awich at the SUPER DRY SPECIAL LIVE concert at Saitama's Belluna Dome in 2024. This performance reportedly sparked a significant on-stage chemistry and mutual artistic respect, laying the groundwork for the formation of YAO.