(Following Interview 1)
The 'all-around leader' Hello, who created all tracks of the regular album; the 'versatile talent' Nine, who handles both the main dancer and main vocalist roles; the hidden powerhouse 'unexpected charm' Benny; and the 'secret weapon' youngest member Rookie, who exudes endless positive energy. The four-member girl group Candice sublimates the stories of girls living in the present era, grappling with dreams, futures, and love, through various music-based content.
Having the audacity to release their debut album as a 16-track regular album and the confidence to gift fans with a 40-minute one-take unedited live content of all tracks. Their flawless hand-dive performance, which is hard to believe for a newcomer, showcased their talent brilliantly. There are many reasons to pay attention to Candice.
Hello: Groups like god that have been active for a long time are role models for us. The essence is that if you love music, you can last a long time. I want to share good music for a long time. The adjective I want to attach to Candice is 'mutt.' We grew up roughly enough to call ourselves from the streets (laughs). I admired and watched the refined, beautiful groups on music shows, thinking, 'They are really pretty.' On the other hand, we are a group like a Shih Tzu mixed breed, a mutt. We have an irresistible rustic charm!
The birth of Candice is fateful
Candice has a defined and solid weapon in their singing ability and strong musical taste. However, it is not just the talent but also the relationships and narratives among the members that are impressive. Hello, born in 1999, has a youthful appearance but also takes on the roles of music producer and video editor within the team. Benny, a year younger than Hello, is a long-time friend; Nine, four years younger than Hello, comes from Mystic; and Rookie, born in 2006, dramatically joined from the United States. The destiny that brought these four together to form Candice is quite remarkable.
Hello met Benny at the company where she was a trainee over ten years ago. Even after leaving the company, the two kept in touch and became lifelong friends. Benny, who quit being a trainee to prepare to become a flight attendant, worked at a luxury car dealership but continually received offers. Eventually, he prepared for a solo career, thinking it would be his last chance, but that fell through. It was the opportunity handed by Hello that led him to join Candice.
Hello and Nine met eight years ago and became close due to their similar musical taste in hip-hop. They lived together in a one-room apartment for three years. The songs they received during this time were not to their liking, prompting Hello to start studying on her own. However, there was a lack of suitable workspaces. Hello would sneak into the practical music academy's practice room late at night after it closed and write songs until morning. The songs she created during that time have been steadily included in this regular album. It is said that while Hello worked on music, Nine danced by her side. They practiced every day until sunrise for three years.
The joining of the youngest member Rookie was even more dramatic. A video featuring only Rookie's voice appeared on the social media algorithm of CEO Noh Young-chae, and it was instantly recognized as the right fit. Overcoming the time difference, the members conducted Zoom meetings, and as soon as the sisters saw the youngest, they exclaimed, 'It's her!' To build rapport with Rookie in the U.S. over video calls, the sisters in Korea practiced late into the night. The environment ensured that the members of Candice could only improve their skills.
Hello: On our way home from music broadcasts, other fandom members would say, 'It's Candice.' It was the first time someone referred to us as Candice, and it was touching. It was cold, yet our fans waited on their way home too. They said things like, 'You did well,' 'Let's meet often,' 'We've waited a long time,' and 'If we don't see you now, when will we see you again?' I felt a sense of inevitability that we would do well. It was rewarding. I appreciated that our fans were confident we would succeed. We will definitely make it to Billboard!
/comet568@osen.co.kr
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