Nobody brightened up our yr fairly like NewJeans did with their debut this summer time. Shaped below ADOR, a brand new subsidiary of Hybe Company, the group introduced nostalgic but experimental and refreshing music, took Nineties and Y2K style to the subsequent stage, and gave us some really addicting choreography. Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein didn’t come to play with their first EP, and the NewJeans “hype,” for lack of a greater phrase, has no indicators of slowing down.
In case you’re not but accustomed to NewJeans, they’re really the group of the second in Ok-pop. They’ve set new data for first-week gross sales numbers within the trade, and the record of friends who’ve lined their songs or spoken about their admiration for the group is limitless. And now, 5 months after the discharge of their New Denims EP, which Rolling Stone ranked as among the best albums of 2022, the women are returning in 2023 with their first single album, OMG. “Ditto,” the pre-release single from the brand new album, already has greater than 10 million views on YouTube.
Regardless of all of this early success, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, with a mean age of simply 16, are regular ladies who’re taking their new superstardom day-to-day, making an attempt to take pleasure in every second. In a bubbly, but at occasions shy, dialog stuffed with laughter with Rolling Stone, NewJeans replicate on their success, dive into their new upcoming album OMG, and share perception into their signature model.
Congratulations on all the success you’ve had already. I don’t know in case you had an opportunity to see it, however we ranked “Hype Boy” because the Twenty fourth-best tune of the yr, and your debut EP as one of many 100 greatest albums of the yr.
Minji: In fact. After studying the Rolling Stone article, I believe all of us couldn’t consider it. It was so shocking and it made me really feel so grateful as soon as extra to everybody who loves our music.
So a lot of your seniors and friends within the trade are have lined and are nonetheless overlaying “Hype Boy” and “Consideration.” Are there any that you simply had been significantly shocked about?
Danielle: All of them, actually. Now we have our chatting room, and once we see a senior doing one other cowl we simply ship it to one another.
Hanni: We share all of them!
Danielle: And we’re like, “Oh my gosh! No approach!” It will all the time be such an enormous honor. And to have so many individuals take pleasure in our music and benefit from the dance as effectively. As a result of choreography is basically particular to us as effectively. It’s all the time an enormous honor.
The members of your group participated within the writing course of for “Ditto” and “OMG,” as you probably did to your first EP as effectively. Are you able to stroll via your writing course of a bit?
Hanni: So it was the identical scenario as once we all contributed in writing lyrics for our debut. We obtained songs after which all of us wrote lyrics after which with our label, we undergo a choosing course of and decide the great lyrics. Me and Minji’s lyrics acquired picked. I believe it was a fairly comparable course of. Listening to the demos, personally, I all the time attempt to think about a situation, and paint an image in my head, after which attempt to write lyrics that unpack that. I discover good, fairly phrases which can be good to take heed to — like, good to the ear — and attempt to match the melody. As a result of we had the expertise of doing it for our debut album, I believe it was just a bit bit simpler, coming to writing lyrics.
Danielle: It got here extra naturally.
Is there a selected line that you simply’re pleased with?
Danielle: I like your line, Hanni.
Hanni: [Laughs.] I actually just like the lyrics I wrote in “OMG.”
I like the tune! Are you able to describe what the album OMG is about?
Danielle: Nicely, the album OMG has two songs, “Ditto” and… “OMG.” [Laughs.] “Ditto” is a extra heartwarming tune, I assume. It actually goes effectively with the winter vibe and it has buzzing at first… the buzzing immerses you into the tune. And the members have mentioned, like for Hyein, she described it as a decent hug out of your mother. I believe that description is correct. “OMG” is a little more stylish. I hope that everybody loves it and I’m actually trying ahead to the response. Each songs are so distinctive.
You lately revealed that you simply had been working towards “Consideration ” for a very long time earlier than it was launched, however you by no means acquired bored with it, which felt like an indication that it will do effectively. What was your response to first listening to “Ditto” and “OMG”?
Haerin: After listening to them every as soon as, the primary thought I had was “Ah, I wish to take heed to them once more.” Fairly than considering of what components of the songs I preferred, the sensation I had proper once I heard the songs was so good, and I wished to really feel that once more. I believe even with these two songs, regardless of how a lot I take heed to them, I received’t get bored with them. With every pay attention, I really feel totally different feelings and and every pay attention feels new.
Are you all Group “Ditto” or Group “OMG”?
Danielle: That’s like asking to decide on between your mother and pop! [Laughs.]
Hanni: I really feel like I change between them every day!
Danielle: I believe it actually adjustments on daily basis.
Which tune are you feeling as we speak?
Minji: At present? For me as we speak is “Ditto.”
Hanni: “Ditto” for me too.
Haerin: Me too
Minji: It’s snowing exterior proper now.
Danielle: I’ll select “Ditto” too.
Hyein: “Ditto.”
Minji: Ditto. [Smiles.]
Two movies had been revealed for “Ditto” thus far. So a lot of your followers are decoding the movies and their plots in several methods, with numerous totally different theories. How do you interpret the movies?
Minji: Actually, I don’t suppose there’s a set plot or reply. We’re additionally trying up how our followers are decoding the video, and that’s been so enjoyable for us. I discover the truth that you will be imaginative with the movies to be actually cute, and quite than having a transparent reply, I believe leaving it open is a part of the attract of the video.
Are you able to share any enjoyable moments from the manufacturing strategy of the OMG album?
Hyein: Once we follow dancing, we follow again and again to get the perfect outcomes. To be trustworthy, there are occasions when it’s robust. Now and again, there are onerous moments, however once I take heed to the songs when dancing, I get extra power and attempt to transfer alongside.
Hanni: Once we first practiced the brand new songs, our our bodies weren’t used to the dances, and we felt like we had been dropping energy [laughs]. However now we’ve practiced it rather a lot and it’s develop into actually good now, so I’m proud.
Danielle: Additionally for the vocals, we tried to problem ourselves extra. We actually wished to deliver the songs to life. We thought lengthy and onerous about it and had been in a position to attempt various things when recording.
Is there something you’re trying ahead to with this spherical of promotions? You lately made your first selection present look… Anything you’re excited to check out?
Minji: For me, I all the time stay up for performing essentially the most. We put in plenty of power into our choreography and vocals, as she talked about, so I believe we will present everybody new sides of ourselves.
I do know you all are so busy proper now, however if you do have some down time or private time, what do you love to do?
Hyein: I wish to name my mother.
Danielle: Cute! [Smiles.]
Haerin: For me, I have a tendency to love to take heed to music or go away movies on.
Any tune or exhibits you’ve been into these days?
Haerin: I don’t suppose there’s a selected video…
Danielle: She’s actually into “Ditto” proper now. [Laughs.]
Haerin: There’s no specific tune or video, however on the whole, I like songs and movies that assist me calm down and that I can take heed to or watch comfortably.
Your fandom title was not too long ago unveiled to be Bunnies. How did you all resolve on that title?
Danielle: Oh yeah! Nicely, I believe it’s such a cute title. All of us adore bunnies. And I believe it’s simply the right title for them as a result of it mirrors our relationship with our followers and, like, an in depth friendship, that sort of feeling. We actually cherish that friendship feeling. So we selected the title bunnies, and I really feel now much more, it fits with the winter climate, a fluffy bunny. It’s so cute.
Hyein: It’s additionally like a friendship… like a cute nickname you’ll use with your folks. Additionally, since we write out the letters NJ within the form of a rabbit, we wished our followers to even be rabbits, so generally we can even name them “Tokki” in Korean. It’s so cute. We’re all the time sharing issues and speaking with one another. Though we’re not bodily close by, we really feel near them, so we gave them a nickname as if they’re our pals.
Trend is a giant factor in Ok-Pop. NewJeans’ model is the highest development proper now, proper? For me, too, I all the time curl my hair, however not too long ago, I acquired it completely straightened.
Minji: [Gasps.] Oh!
Hanni: It fits you effectively!
As trendsetters, do you guys have style objectives or inspirations to share?
Hanni: I believe there’s plenty of locations to get impressed from. All of us actually like making an attempt a wide selection of garments and kinds. We actually wish to problem that issue. Inspiration comes from wherever, to be trustworthy. Even simply strolling on the road, once we went abroad, and we had been strolling on the road. Everybody round us was so well-dressed. We saved individuals watching and would suppose, ‘Wow, they gown so effectively, I wish to attempt that sort of favor once we return to Korea. I wish to replicate that model.’
Danielle: I really feel like I get plenty of inspiration from our music, what we put on and our style, ’trigger we’re all the time making an attempt to have that free however pure vibe. And we additionally wish to showcase our personal distinctive charms. So we wish to attempt issues out in a enjoyable approach.
Is there a must have merchandise or a staple in your on a regular basis style?
Hyein: I wish to attempt various things on a regular basis, so I don’t suppose I’ve a staple. Like with the adjustments within the climate, perhaps it’s sun shades in the summertime and now that it’s winter, perhaps gloves, a hat, and a shawl. Issues like that? …Oh! Really I believe I’ve a must have merchandise.
Hanni: [Laughs.] What?
Hyein: I like to hold keychains on my baggage.
That’s proper, you lately talked about you spent roughly 90,000 KRW [about $70 USD] on keychains, proper?
Hanni: [Claps and laughs.]
Danielle: Ah, you noticed the video!
Was that one keychain or 9 keychains?
Danielle: It was a range.
Hanni: What number of did you purchase?
Hyein: I purchased round 5, nevertheless it got here out to that quantity. It’s as a result of they’re hand-stitched!
It’s year-end present and award present season in Korea and also you’ve placed on some particular performances for these exhibits. Do any of them stand out to you as significantly particular or memorable?
Haerin: I believe all of the performances had totally different vibes and key moments. I don’t suppose any of them stood out over one other as a result of each had its personal tales and reminiscences. I really feel proud and pleased with the performances. And it was our first time taking part in these occasions, so I used to be nervous, however I used to be additionally so grateful to have the ability to placed on performances with so many cool individuals.
Is there any recommendation that you simply’ve gotten, from a peer or senior, from earlier than your debut or much more not too long ago?
Hyein: I don’t know if there was any particular recommendation from a senior, however our CEO all the time tells us to take pleasure in what we do and have enjoyable. I believe I’m all the time making an attempt to take pleasure in what I’m doing.
Danielle: At all times.
Hyein: We’re all the time making an attempt.
What sort of group would you like NewJeans to be referred to as?
Minji: Simply as NewJeans.
Hyein: New. Denims.
Danielle: A gaggle that’s all the time trustworthy, and, all the time placing in effort. [Laughs.] I hope individuals can consider us as their pals. Somebody shut who you possibly can relate to.
Minji: Sure, that sort of NewJeans.
It’s now the tip of 2022. Do you will have a New Yr’s decision?
Hanni: We truly talked about this quite a bit. As a result of we debuted within the final half of this yr, although we did quite a bit in a really quick period of time, we had like 5, six months of 2022. However subsequent yr, now we have the complete 12 months.
Minji: Sure.
Hanni: I believe that offers us the time and alternative to discover much more as NewJeans and as ourselves as individuals. And offers us the chance to carry out much more, launch extra content material and music, as a purpose, only for us to actually take pleasure in ourselves and present the world extra of NewJeans. There’s much more that we haven’t shared.
I’m hoping that within the new yr, you possibly can come to the U.S. too and take part in exhibits or occasions in particular person.
Hanni: Sure!
Anything you’d wish to share?
Minji: I believe that was every part!
Danielle: Oh!
Minji: Anything?
Danielle: I actually wish to thank our Bunnies who’re over there [Laughs.]
Hyein: We wish to inform them!
Hanni: We’ll meet them for certain!