Following the release of their first full-length album, STAYC opens up about their new era, lessons learned, how their bond has changed, and more.
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Ever since K-pop girl group STAYC smashed onto the scene with their iconic debut, SO BAD, the six-member girl group has never been one to rest on their laurels. With every new comeback and mini-album comes not just new bops, but also new sides to the group and members. Three and a half years together as a group has given STAYC the room to grow and hone themselves as artists. With the release of their first-ever full-length studio album, Metamorphic, STAYC signals a new era filled with change and exciting releases that have seats reserved in the playlist.
THE METAMORPHOSIS
Metamorphic, which is the group’s first new music in nearly a year, is a beefy body of work that clocks in at 14 brand new songs consisting of group and unit tracks. Led by the playfully titled title track Cheeky Icy Thang, which sounds like a baddie’s go-to anthem to strut down the sidewalk, the album captures the story of their evolution and musical development.
Understandably, the members had a bit of an adjustment period when it came to working on the LP given how different it was from their past releases. “In the previous albums, we didn’t have that many songs so I think we finished recording quickly, but this time there were so many songs so even if we finish one song, it was like, ‘Oh? We have more?’ More?’” admits Seeun to NYLON Manila.
But it didn’t deter them as the members expanded their “TEENFRESH” genre for a distinctly confident and cool attitude that welcomed this new side of themselves. As Sieun puts it, “This time, of course, through this album, it’s true that we want to give you positive energy, but more than healing, positive messages, we wanted to show our honest and confident selves.”
We recently had the chance to speak to Sumin, Sieun, ISA, Seeun, Yoon, and J as they opened up about embracing what’s new, feeling the love of SWITHs, and more. Read on below for what they had to say.
Your new comeback is all about metamorphosis and transformation. For each member, what do you think is different about you now compared to when you first started on your journey with STAYC?
SIEUN: First of all, I think I found all my colors much more than debut. Not only did I find my color but I also got to expand my spectrum a lot. I feel that way a lot, so I’m not just showing one side of myself but in a very diverse way, even if there’s a vocal theme I got to show different colors in it. That seems like a big change.
SUMIN: I think it’s naturalness. In the beginning, everything was new to me and I was awkward and clumsy so I was rough in a way but now I can naturally enjoy the promotions or performances. So I think that’s the biggest change.
What is each member’s favorite track from the album and why?
YOON: First of all, my favorite song is I’m sure it’s the same for everyone, but it’s so hard to choose one song. If I choose my favorite song of the day, for today, Gummy Bear is my favorite song of the day. That song is very hip and cool so I think it fits well with today’s attitude
SUMIN: My favorite song is always changing too but today I will go with Fakin’. These days I’m into Fakin’ so I’m only listening to Fakin’. I’m listening to everything but I listen to Fakin’ a lot.
ISA: I like all of them too but I can’t wait to meet SWITH today so I choose Stay WITH me.
SEEUN: The title song of this album is Cheeky Icy Thang and it’s always good to listen to and it keeps lingering in my head. I think it’s’ Cheeky Icy Thang today.
SIEUN: I will choose Twenty today. I was going to choose Cheeky Icy Thang, I was thinking between the two but Twenty definitely has a reason why it’s the first track. It gives off a peculiar and very attractive vibe so it’s very good, you can’t stop listening.
J: I suddenly thought of Beauty Bomb, which is perfect for summer. I think it’s a song perfect for the season.
What was new about preparing for your first studio album compared to other previous releases?
ISA: Because there were so many songs there was a lot to record. Also, there are 4 choreographed songs. We filmed a lot of performance videos to show you the choreographies. Everyone worked really hard with the staff. We talked a lot and prepared a lot.
SEEUN: In the previous albums, we didn’t have that many songs so I think we finished recording quickly, but this time there were so many songs so even if we finish one song, it was like, ‘Oh? We have more?’ More?’ The recording was scheduled longer. It was scheduled longer than usual. Other than that, I think everything else was prepared the same way as usual.
YOON: In this album, we have a fan song where the members participated in writing the lyrics. I think that’s most new about it.
What is a moment you remember from when you were younger that reminds you of why you are pursuing your dreams?
SUMIN: I think it’s the fans. Since I was a trainee, I thought ‘’What would it feel like when I see the fans after I debut?’ I had these expectations and hopes so when I’m going through a hard day or need strength, I gain energy looking at the fans and I always think I should keep working hard in the future.
YOON: That’s right, I think most of the singers feel the same way too. I think our fans are our driving force. I always feel grateful for that. What I wanted to do when I become a singer was Just like I actually received from many singers, I wanted to give comfort and inspiration to the fans. So the fans who felt that told me ‘I was very comforted by you’ and I feel like it reminds me of my dream more.
J: I always go up on stage, look at SWITH and think that I love singing itself. I want to keep doing this for a long time.
Metamorphic marks a new chapter for STAYC given that it is your first studio album. What are some of the lessons you’ve learned over the years as artists that you’re applying to this new era of yours?
SIEUN: In my opinion, technically, experience performing on stage. Having a lot of experience recording. How detailed should you be when recording for the recording to come out successfully. How well the details of the overall performance have to be adjusted so the level of completion can increase. How can the stage be presented better. Such know-hows were accumulated naturally by experience.
Rather than saying that it was helpful to express the new concept, I was glad that I was able to literally make a change this time. Previously, we had tried to convey a lot of positive messages. This time, of course, through this album, it’s true that we want to give you positive energy, but more than healing, positive messages, we wanted to show our honest and confident selves. We wanted to show our greed and desire STAYC had as it is in the studio album. As if we’re finally becoming very mature, we can finally be honest. We’re finally ready to show you. Yes, that’s the difference of the concept
ISA: We have fellow artists and the fellow artists attempt changes too. We learn a lot from them too. ‘This concept suited them very well.’, ‘How did they get to do this so well?’ ‘How did they pull this off so well?’ I think we prepared for this album thinking about this.
Also, while we are on tour, we meet a lot of overseas fans. Thinking about both the energy of our overseas fans and our Korean fans and thinking about how hard we worked on the tour, we tried to express that energy in it.
If someone close to you is changing in a bad way, or developing bad habits or characteristics, how would you address it?
SEEUN: I think I’ll try not to talk emotionallY. I won’t talk emotionally and I think I’ll try to understand that person somehow.
YOON: I feel so sad just thinking about it. I think I’ll be honest about what I think. If that person is a close friend of mine, I’m not sure which direction it is but if it’s a bad direction in my opinion, I think I’ll cry and stop it. If it’s a very precious friend of mine because, it will be great if a person very close to me always develops positively but there may be times when that isn’t the case. So I’ve never imagined it before. I just did and it makes me so sad. I think I will speak honestly while crying.
You have been growing up together as a group for a while now. How do you encourage each other to improve and grow?
SUMIN: I guess now we don’t have to say it. We just looked at each other and think, ‘Something is going on with her’. We all spend time talking about things. We talk about things we weren’t able to talk about eating delicious food. We take time to do that and I feel like those times are very precious
ISA: In my case, I found this new side of this person recently which made me think, ‘She had this in her?’ I told her about the good things again like, ‘The fans will love it if you show them’. I try to tell them about the good sides.
YOON: It’s a way of growth but there are times when we feel down during the promotions. There are tough times. At that time, the members don’t just be impressive and encourage each other going, ‘Are you okay?’. We just give each other a pat on the shoulder for a moment or just hug each other for a second and that gives a lot of encouragement for each other. By doing so, I get to feel, ‘Yeah, I’m not alone, I have the girls, let’s keep going!’
Photos courtesy of Highup Entertainment
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