Okay-pop woman group NMIXX thrives on change.
Consisting of members Haewon, Lily, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo and Kyujin, NMIXX debuted in 2022 as Korean leisure large JYP Leisure’s newest woman group. Within the practically 4 years since their arrival on the scene, NMIXX has stood out in a extremely saturated music ecosystem. As a substitute of following developments, the group has dabbled in a wide range of genres, usually merging a number of into one tune to type their distinctive sound, dubbed MIXX Pop.
On their first full-length album, Blue Valentine, the group is taking a cue from a few of their extra common B-sides. The melancholic pop-rock of the title observe showcases the group’s sturdy vocals and has already earned some long-overdue home success. It’s steadily climbing the Korean charts, at present sitting at No. 51 on the Melon prime 100 chart on the time of publication.
The album is all about love, the group explains. “On this album, we put in a number of love tales that perhaps persons are going by, have already went by or perhaps can be going by,” Haewon tells The Hollywood Reporter. The 22-year-old, the group’s chief and foremost vocalist, is gathered amongst her fellow group members for a late-night Zoom dialog from their headquarters in Seoul.
NMIXX spoke with THR about why they’re suited to attempt totally different genres and the pressures that include bringing their music to the world.
That is your first full-length album. Are you able to inform me about it?
HAEWON Blue Valentine is about so many various feelings that you simply really feel whenever you undergo love. All of the tracks on the album speak about love, however we determined to make use of totally different genres, in order that when someone hears it they are saying, Oh, it’s all about love. However there could be so many various methods to precise that by totally different music genres and performances.
What does it imply to you to lastly put the album out, and what are you most trying ahead to?
LILY I feel it’s a really massive deal in Okay-pop. Once I have a look at our sunbaenims [Korean word for a senior in the same field], all of their first full albums have been very iconic. I actually hope that our first full album, Blue Valentine, can find yourself as a really iconic album in NMIXX’s discography. Our followers have been trying ahead to it for thus lengthy, so we actually need to present them the absolute best album that we are able to provide you with.
Lily, 23, and Haewon, 22, of NMIXX for his or her newest album, ‘Blue Valentine.’
JYP Leisure
You’ve executed a terrific job at attempting new sounds whereas nonetheless preserving true to your id as a gaggle. Are you able to inform me concerning the lead single?
LILY I feel this title tune was very new for us in a means. We’ve executed a number of totally different genres, however each single time we have now a comeback, I feel it’s so new to us. This time was no totally different. To start with, for me, once I first heard the tune, I used to be so shocked. I couldn’t even think about a dance. I assumed it was very, very new for us, and I used to be form of nervous if we might pull it off. However I do assume we actually did work laborious on the efficiency and the recording course of. I feel it got here out actually good ultimately.
What makes it the fitting single for NMIXX?
LILY NMIXX’s signature sound is that we are able to do any sound. With our style MIXX Pop, we have now tried all several types of music each time we come again. We clearly nonetheless maintain the soul of NMIXX inside all of our songs. However we — to not toot our personal horn — however I feel we have now the talents to again up any style that we do. I feel we are able to do it as a result of we’ve labored laborious in an effort to attempt various things.
As a gaggle, you might be very centered on vocals. You appear to place your vocal efficiency first, however you might be additionally doing very intense choreography. You are attempting totally different sorts of choreography — your dance for the tune “Excessive Horse” involves thoughts — than folks may affiliate with a Okay-pop group. Are you able to inform me extra about your course of?
KYUJIN Since my trainee years, we’ve educated in many various genres, choreography smart and dance smart. Now we’ve educated each vocal and dance, however we follow quite a bit as a gaggle, so we study quite a bit from one another.
LILY You talked about the tune “Excessive Horse.” That was one of many hardest dances that we’ve executed, and on the time we have been all actually nervous [about] if we have been going to have the ability to sing [it] stay. On the finish of the day, we pulled by with laborious [work and] perseverance. I used to be very happy with us in that second, and I feel it’s positively a proud second for our followers.
Sullyhoon, 21, and Jiwoo, 20, of NMIXX.
JYP Leisure
Are you able to inform me concerning the “Blue Valentine” choreography and music video?
SULLYOON There are two very particular issues [about this music video]. We filmed the video in a really particular location [Los Angeles]. The second is that we additionally used a really distinctive filming approach. However all of those [fans can] see once they watch the music video.
BAE In case you really watch the behind the scenes video, you’ll even be extra stunned, so take a look at each of them.
JIWOO There’s additionally an easter egg, when it comes to the choreography, as a result of it straight translated the idea of the album.
On this album, you revisit your debut tune, “O.O,” breaking it up into two songs based mostly on the sonic adjustments. That feels very full circle on your first full-length album. What was it like to return to that?
LILY It’s positively a really particular second on the album. We’ve carried out it throughout our concert events. Our followers know of the existence of those two totally different components, however after we carried out it, our followers have been at all times asking us to launch it as an precise album observe. I’m actually completely satisfied that we might give that to them. You’re proper, it’s actually full circle as a result of that is our first full album. The truth that we bought to launch different variations of our debut tune may be very particular, they usually come on the finish of the album.
Do you assume having these tracks included on the album made you mirror on the time since your debut in 2022?
ALL Completely.
BAE We not too long ago had a shoot that made us mirror on our debut, in order that positively introduced up a number of recollections. To place our debut tune on our first full size album positively means quite a bit.
JIWOO It was our debut tune. We’re presenting the tune with a extra grownup [approach]. We’ve positively advanced, and the perspective or the way in which we current the tune can be totally different.
LILY We have been infants when “O.O” got here out. Now have a look at us, we’re all grown up.
Kyujin, 19, and Bae, 20, of NMIXX.
JYP Leisure
You’re at a brand new level as a gaggle. You’re releasing a full-length album. You’re arising on 4 years as group. Do you discover any new challenges or strain that may come together with that?
BAE NMIXX’s path, the place we’re headed, is creating this universe or world the place variety is revered. At first I felt strain. Can music actually make that potential? I additionally felt strain about doing so many various challenges and attempting so many various genres. However now — due to all of the members and seeing how they so superbly and splendidly execute tough genres — I now have belief. That belief creates extra pleasure as a substitute of strain. In fact, our followers, NSWER, are on the forefront of remodeling that strain to pleasure as effectively as a result of they offer us the help and braveness.
Haewon and Lily, you contributed to writing lyrics on the album. What was that like?
HAEWON I’ve at all times needed to do it, and now, lastly the chance got here, so I jumped on it.
LILY There was additionally just a little little bit of concern, for me no less than. It’s a really, crucial factor. I didn’t need to simply do it calmly. I needed to guarantee that it was one thing that I used to be happy with. It was additionally very tough. However on the identical time, it was value it as a result of I’m actually proud that I get to listen to the members seeing the lyrics that I wrote.
HAEWON One of many challenges, for me character, was that it’s laborious for [me] to vary one thing when my thoughts is ready. However lyrics are one thing for the followers, [for the] the general public, so I positively went by a number of revisions to truly get them to that time the place it could be for the folks which are listening to it.
