KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — After amassing over 100 million streams on all digital music platforms, local M-pop group Alpha has finally released their long-awaited debut album The First Wave.
Born from the stage of Astro’s reality singing competition Big Stage Alpha in 2025, the seven-member boy group Alpha brings together established individual vocalists to form one of the most dynamic and synchronised forces in modern M-pop.
Consisting of members Daniel, Izat, Rizal, Ariel, Araff, Ray-D and Sky, Alpha broke into the scene with several chart-topping hits such as Mona Lisa (Bang Bang) and P Ramlee Saloma and in celebration of their first-year anniversary, the group is showcasing their evolution and growth via The First Wave.
Released under the banner of local label Rocketfuel Entertainment, The First Wave consists of 12 tracks blending a multitude of modern pop sounds and genres, and also boasts a slew of star‑studded collaborations.
For example, their track Burn It Down was produced by award‑winning Swedish singer‑producer Daniel Caesar — not to be confused with the Canadian R&B artist with the same name — alongside Candace Sosa, the acclaimed American songwriter and producer behind major anthems for K‑pop heavyweights BTS, Twice and Enhyphen.
The track was also recorded in South Korea, during the group’s intensive training there last year.
Meanwhile, the album also features collaborations with several local stars, including the track Dia, which features AG Coco — the guitarist of the acclaimed local rock band Hujan — as well as Haru Biru, which sees actress and singer Daiyan Trisha lending her vocals.
Aside from that, The First Wave also features several other hit tracks by the group that have been released previously such as Bujang, Tiada Pengganti and Gelato.
“It feels like just yesterday we began this journey together,” Daniel said.
“Within a year, we have learned so much, faced various challenges, and created countless memories.
“The First Wave is a symbol of all the effort and sacrifice we have poured into this journey, and we want to share this special moment with all the fans who have supported us since day one,” he said.
Meanwhile, Izat stated that the album showcases a more mature side of Alpha, as well as a greater diversity in terms of music.
“This album is incredibly special to us because each song carries a distinct identity and emotion — we experimented with various genres and are presenting a side of Alpha that might have never been heard before.
“We truly cannot wait to hear the fans’ reactions when they experience the full album for the first time,” Izat said.
The group marked their debut album launch yesterday with a fan-meeting event at Pavilion Damansara Heights which saw enthusiastic fans flocking to the Concourse level of the shopping mall.
They also treated fans to several live renditions of their songs including Gelato, Bujang and Mahkota Cinta.
Where to start with Alpha?
For those interested in discovering Alpha’s discography, here are some suggestions worth checking out:
For those who want to dive into the full album, The First Wave is available on Spotify.
