The new unit Junijini has set a goal of becoming a "public pick."
On the 4th, an interview was held to commemorate the release of ASTRO's new unit Junijini's debut album "DICE" at the Fantagio headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul. Junijini is a new unit consisting of ASTRO members MJ and Jinjin, and the unit name combines the names of MJ (real name Kim Myung-jun) and Jinjin (real name Park Jin-woo).
Junijini conveyed its determination to become a "public pick" through its unit activities. Regarding this desire, Jinjin said, "While meeting many fans and engaging in various activities, we have talked about new units like musicals and acting. We've been running for 10 years, and we love satisfying our existing core fans, but I wonder if we can sustain our success without new influxes, and those discussions have occurred."
He added, "Individually, if our solos focus on style, when we're together, I thought we should become a public pick to attract new audiences. I think we've expressed 90% of what we think, so I hope this album will be one that both our existing fans, known as Aroha, and new fans will be interested in."
So, is there anything else Junijini is preparing to appeal to the public? Jinjin responded, "This is a unit debut, and no matter how long we've been with ASTRO for 9 years, many people still don't know our chemistry. Work has to come in, so I think if we work hard on our activities and later create content, people will like us. I have the ambition to show the real Junijini while filming around 3 to 4 pieces of content."
To become a public pick, it's crucial for the members to feel acquainted with the audience. What could be the indicators of a public pick? MJ said, "Many people actually confuse Jinjin and me. The first thing I hope is that people can recognize who we are. That awareness is the first step, and elderly people might recognize our names or songs. It's important to have that level of awareness, and famous songs that last long often come with nicknames, like 'exam ban songs.' That's the goal, and I will work hard."
Previously, in an interview celebrating member Yoon San-ha's solo comeback conducted last month, he revealed that the members provide candid feedback. It can be assumed that Junijini's album also received frank evaluations from the members.
Jinjin shared, "Initially, Eun-woo and San-ha reacted, 'Are we really doing this?' Everyone said they couldn't picture it and expressed concerns about it being difficult to pull off. I thought of it as a task I had to solve. As someone who composes, I also thought about arrangements, and the members provide very realistic discussions. I think the advantage is that they tell it like it is."
Jinjin noted, "The members' realistic feedback is rooted in the wish for it to succeed, so I try to reflect as much feedback as possible. As soon as they said they couldn't visualize it, I felt motivated to say, 'I'll make this happen.' I created the pre-chorus this way and picked about 6 to 7 melody lines to provide structure. After filming the music video and listening to the mastered song, the members said, 'Oh, it can be interpreted this way,' and 'It's simple and cute,' so I personally feel it's successful."
Meanwhile, MJ appeared on the web entertainment show "Bangabangga Chaeyeon," hosted by Lee Chae-yeon, in February, showcasing his entertainment skills and receiving a warm response. The title that appeared on YouTube at that time was "This video has been confirmed by the agency," highlighting MJ's unexpected side.
When asked what the response was from the agency and members after seeing the video, MJ stated, "Initially, Jin and San-ha thought it was great as it seemed to show a true side of me. The company was concerned, asking, 'Will it be okay?' However, they liked the response, so I felt it reflected my true self."
A month later, MJ was selected as the main host for the web entertainment show "God Seonbi." He shared, "Web entertainment was a continuation for me. As the video came out, I had the opportunity to engage in new YouTube content, which turned out to be a good chance for me."
Meanwhile, Junijini's debut album "DICE" will be released today (13th) at 6 p.m.
[Photo] Provided by Fantagio, captured from YouTube.
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