Inside A2O MAY's Layover at hello82 NYC
- Angel Polito
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
December marked a pivotal month for the rising global girl group A2O MAY. On December 12th, the group touched down in New York for a headliner performance at Z100's annual All Access Lounge. Performing hits from their debut album, PAPARAZZI ARRIVE, the captivating quintet—CHENYU, SHIJIE, QUCHANG, MICHE and KAT—entranced attendees with their sharp choreography and stable live vocals.
Before leaving the Big Apple, A2O MAY had one other trick up their sleeve for their beloved fanbase, MAYnia. on December 13th, the starlets appeared at hello82's SoHo location for a surprise polaroid photo-op! The invitation, shared via hello82 NYC's Instagram, invited fans to attend on a first-come, first serve basis. The message clearly reached its intended audience, as hundreds of fans flocked to the location early, forming lines around the building.
By 12:30 PM, the doors opened and the room quickly filled with buzzing anticipation. Fans shared stories of how they found the group, ranging from pre-debut fans to newcomers who serendipitously stumbled across their social media content and stayed for the high-quality music.
When A2O MAY finally took the stage, the room broke out in cheers. The girls immediately greeted their adoring fans, beaming at familiar faces and warmly welcoming new ones. Every fan there was guaranteed a chance to meet their idols and take a polaroid picture with them. The room felt as if it brightened each time a fan joined the quintet on stage, exchanged a couple words and sat down to complete their photo.
There was no pushing or shoving to get to the front, but rather an air of camaraderie in the room. The fans befriended each other and worked in harmony to each line up and take their turn to be on stage. This calming and jubilant fan culture is a true testament to the way A2O MAY carry themselves. By appearing with such poise, lightheartedness and joy, A2O MAY lead their fans by example and perhaps unintentionally cultivate a culture of kindness.
With A2O MAY, the blessings continued to pour in. Fans were gifted with lenticular photocard sets including one random signed photo card by a member. In the K-Pop realm, such a free gift feels almost unimaginable. However, with A2O MAY, no gesture for fans is too grand. On the way out, fans each had a chance to say their goodbyes to each girl individually—-many posing for additional selfies as they were ushered out the door.
"LAYOVER at hello82 NYC with A2O MAY" is just one of many incredible artist events that hello82 has brought fans in 2025. One thing's for certain: both A2O MAY and hello82 are just getting started on their journey to creating memorable fan experiences, and onlookers should tune in to what both parties have in store for 2026.
Follow A2O May on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates on their upcoming music!
Follow hello82 NYC on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates on their latest events!
Acknowledgments: special thanks to the lovely A2O Entertainment and Hello 82 NYC for the invitation to this exciting artist-to-fan engagement.
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