“I believe this work has no end. I try not to be sensitive about music chart performance. What’s important is the direction we are heading, and I hope the STAYC team lasts long, so we are communicating (among team members).”
The goal of the five-year debut group STAYC (Soo-bin, Isa, Yoon, Sieun, Sumin, Jae-yoon) was to become a long-lasting idol group. While immediate results are important, they hoped to stay in the public eye for a long time.
Recently, STAYC released their fifth single 'S' and met with Maeil Business Star Today to share their thoughts on the album and future activities. First, Isa said, “This album is one that I want to give meaning to as we have reached our fifth year. It’s been quite some time, and we have returned with changed music, so I have high expectations,” adding, “It contains bold challenges and changes that are quite different from before. We have included what we want to express, and in some ways, it seems there are many serious aspects. I’m curious about what the fans will think.”
Sieun added, “Rather than a new direction in music, we aimed to show our honest selves. STAYC has worked hard to express that with pride.”
The title track 'BEBE', composed and arranged by STAYC's general producer Rado, carries a message of wanting to reveal one's true self rather than the prejudiced image that others may have.
Sieun explained, “I tend to doubt myself a lot. Producer Rado told me to trust my instincts. He encouraged me to try things my way, which gave me more courage and strength to work confidently.”
Additionally, Sumin emphasized, “The producer stressed that we shouldn’t do what we’ve done before and should show boldness that surprises people,” highlighting their focus on concept changes and challenges.
STAYC's new release comes five months after their digital single released last October and about eight months after their first full album released last July. The members have dedicated a considerable amount of time to this project. Yoon said, “As we approach 2025, we thought it was time to try something new. We aimed to show a clear transformation both musically and visually.”
The members' determination and voices during the interview reflected their confidence in the new release. They also maintained authenticity regarding their activities as idol singers, including music.
Sieun reflected, “After every activity, we have many discussions. We talk about what we should do next and what new things we should try. I think we have been constantly contemplating to find the (musical) clothes that fit us. We have thought a lot about the members' vocal tones and have been looking for music that suits us and that we can do well.” She also mentioned, “I referenced the vocals of senior artist Jennie. It’s a style I don’t have. I tried to perform with a solid yet different feeling, almost like acting.”
Sieun's contemplation continued for quite a while. He stated, “There’s fun in trying various genres and new things. I want to show our identity well without falling behind other fourth-generation girl groups as we move forward. I don’t want to set limits.” In response, Sumin expressed, “Our members are my greatest pride. I believe we are here because of the members, and I think we can perform on this stage because of them. They are precious beings who always inspire me.”
The current K-pop market is filled with music from numerous idol singers. Every year, excellent performances and songs emerge, and the global influence of K-pop continues to grow. Isa predicted, “There are many comebacks from other artists, but I believe this album will definitely attract attention with our unique characteristics. I think those who watch us will receive energy from us.”
Yoon mentioned, “In fact, there are people who say negative things about us, but I believe we don’t need to be swayed by such comments. However, we acknowledge and learn from constructive criticism,” adding, “Surprisingly, many people still view us positively. I think I haven’t seen many negative comments. The reason is that our fans are fighting those battles for us.”
Yoon then stated, “We are determined to become better and higher-level singers so that our fans won’t have to fight with anyone,” drawing attention.
Finally, STAYC expressed, “We hope that after listening to this album, people will react with surprise, saying ‘Is this really STAYC?’ or ‘Is this STAYC?’ We want to hear that we are versatile and can handle any concept,” and added, “We hope you will join us in welcoming the moment when STAYC's second act begins.”
STAYC will hold their Seoul concert, kicking off the 2025 STAYC Tour 'Stay Tuned', at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, on April 12-13.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
