Earlier this month, video game developer and publisher Riot Games introduced their new virtual boy band HEARTSTEEL. The developer hopes to expand on its previous success in the music world with virtual groups K/DA and Pentakill with the new boy band.
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The band features reimagined versions of fan-favorite League of Legends champions voiced by up-and-coming artists. BAEKHYUN voices Ezreal (vocalist), ØZI voices Sett (co-leader/rapper), Tobi Lou voices K’Sante (co-leader/vocalist), and Cal Scruby voices Kayn (rapper/instrumentalist). The group also contains Aphelios (instrumentalist/songwriter) and Yone (producer). HEARTSTEEL’s debut single “PARANOIA” is out now. Check it out below.
BAEKHYUN is a member of K-pop group EXO and SuperM. Additionally, he is one of the top vocalists in the genre. He is also a successful solo artist with several mini-albums under his belt. Between his solo and group efforts, he has sold more than 9 million records.
Cal Scruby is a Los Angeles-based rapper. Fans know him for clever, relatable lyrics and off-the-wall visuals. He has previously partnered with the NFL and EA Sports.
ØZI is a Los Angeles-born, Taipei-based singer/songwriter. He made a name for himself in the Mandarin music scene. Additionally, his versatility as a singer/songwriter, producer, performer, and creative director has brought him accolades including several Golden Melody Awards nominations.
Tobi Lou was born in Nigeria and raised in Chicago and has carved out a unique musical niche for himself. The multi-instrumentalist’s sound fuses hip-hop, R&B, and pop.
Maria Egan, Global Head of Music and Events at Riot Games spoke about the new virtual band in a statement. “The idea of an all-male band has long been speculated on by fans and we’re so excited to bring this fantasy to life,” she said. “HEARTSTEEL is a deep collaboration between all our talented in-house creative teams and some incredibly new artists. The ethos of HEARTSTEEL is a supergroup of musical soulmates greater than the sum of its parts – a philosophy that our community embodies every day through their dedication to our games.”
HEARTSTEEL is just the latest in Riot’s virtual artist roster. They’ve also created the Platinum-selling K-pop group K/DA. Additionally, the company has produced the heavy metal band Pentakill and the hip-hop group True Damage.
Image credit: Riot Games via Games Press
