The South Korean K-Pop band Mamamoo consists of four female members:
- Solar: (Kim Yong-sun, 솔라), born February 21, 1991 in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
- Moonbyul (Moon Byul-yi, 문별), born December 22, 1992 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
- Wheein (Jung Whee-in, 휘인) born April 17, 1995 in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.
- Hwa Sa (Ahn Hye-jin, 화사) born July 23, 1995 in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.
As is typical of K-Pop bands, each member contributes vocals (with Moonbyul in particular specializing in rap) and dance performance. Produced by RBG (initally known as WA Entertainment), they began recording and performing in 2014, and since then have become known as a group whose musical elements are more developed than most K-Pop groups (who frequently focus more on image and dance performance).
Early Years
Wheein and Hwa Sa first became friends in Jeonju during their middle school years. After graduating from Wonkwang Information Arts High School, they both moved to Seoul in order to pursue singing careers. In 2010, Moonbyul and Wheein (as trainees) both participated in a short-lived group (led by Bucheon native Moonbyul) under an unnamed agency in Seoul, after which Wheein soon moved on to join MBK Entertainment for a time.
During this period, Wheein’s hometown friend Hwa Sa had the opportunity to record “guide vocals” for the established band 4MINUTE.
Also around this time, Solar (a native of Seoul) graduated from Hanyang Women's University with a major in tourism (with the intention of becoming a flight attendant). This career was quickly diverted when her singing talent was discovered by an agent from the trainee company Rainbow Bridge Agency (after she participated in a sales contest in which gifts were distributed to customers willing to sing for them).
In 2011, producers Kim Jin-Woo and Kim Do-Hoon began developing plans to produce a girl group (initially intended to be a quintet). At the same time, future members of Mamamoo successfully auditioned for the idol trainee agency RBA (Rainbow Bridge Agency). During their trainee period, Wheein attended J Music Vocal Academy, Solar attended Modern K Music Academy University and Moonbyul attended Paekche Institute of the Arts.
Around 2012, Kim Do-Hoon joined RBA’s music division WA Entertainment, at which point Wheein and Hwa Sa were recommended to him by Rainbow Bridge Agency for his new girl group. Solar was soon added to Kim’s group, followed by Moonbyul one month later (during this time, Solar encouraged Moonbyul to take on the rapper role of the group).
In 2013, Kim Do-Hoon’s new girl quintet (including members of Mamamoo - but still without an official name) performed his new song (titled “Mamamoo”) for Quincy Jones at a concert after party. This song was later translated into Korean and retooled into “Mr Ambiguous”, while the band was given the original song title as its new name. In the following year (2014), Mamamoo was signed by WA Entertainment.
