MEOVV announced a hotter comeback than ever.
The group MEOVV (Miyao, Suin·Gawon·Anna·Narin·Ella) will release the digital single "BURNING UP" today (14th) at 6 p.m. and begin promotions. This comeback comes about five months after the release of their first EP "MY EYES OPEN VVIDE" in May, and fans will be able to see an even more glamorous transformation of MEOVV.
Known for boundary-pushing performances, solid live skills and overwhelming concept execution that broadened their musical spectrum, MEOVV shared various stories related to the new song "BURNING UP" in a Q&A ahead of their comeback.
Below: MEOVV new digital single "BURNING UP" Q&A.
Q. You returned about five months after the first EP "MY EYES OPEN VVIDE" released in May. How do you feel about the comeback?
Suin: Many people loved our first EP. Because we received so much love, we practiced very hard and took on many new challenges to come back quickly. I think fans will like this album as much, so I'm looking forward to the upcoming "BURNING UP" promotions.
Anna: I'm so happy to be back after five months! And I'm so excited thinking about showing another side of MEOVV with this song.
Narin: My feelings about this comeback are hotter and more earnest than ever. After finishing our last promotions, we spent five months reorganizing every aspect and reaffirming the team's goals and will. Through this "BURNING UP" that the five of us prepared together, talking, crying and laughing, we want to convey our sincerity to fans and the public. I'm really happy and excited to be back on stage with great music, performance and strengthened teamwork.
Q. You celebrated your first anniversary in the meantime, and junior groups have debuted so you are seniors now. How has MEOVV changed compared with a year ago?
Suin: Each of us has taken more responsibility for our work and tries to think about how to have a positive influence on ourselves and the team when we work!
Anna: I think we've become a bit more relaxed on stage. Another big change is that we understand each other better!
Ella: MEOVV a year ago was definitely more nervous and lacked experience. But now activities like music shows and filming feel more familiar, and I think we've found our rhythm. Of course there's still a lot to learn!
Q. If you had to describe the title track "BURNING UP" in one word? Also, what was your first impression when you heard the song?
Gawon: It's a crystallization of blazing energy. I heard all the songs on the first EP for the first time as a trainee, but this song was the first one I encountered after debuting. Hearing it while already on the path as MEOVV made me feel much more certain about the song. Every member fell for it as soon as we heard it, and we said, "Let's definitely make this our next promotions."
Anna: Above all, it's the "hottest" song! From the first listen it left a very strong impression, and it captures MEOVV's energy as is. I hope first-time listeners feel the most heat right now.
Narin: In one word it's "explosion." It feels like all passion and emotions burst out at once, so it's that hot and intense. From the first listen I felt relieved because "BURNING UP" is a new-feeling song completely unlike our previous tracks, and I was curious what reaction we'd get if MEOVV showed a performance we've never done before. I felt both the expectation of showing a new side and the strong desire to really burn it up this time. We've had hard moments over the past year, and we put those emotions into this song as if burning them away. We prepared with such earnestness, so I hope many people feel that passion.
Q. What are the highlights of the title track "BURNING UP" and the music video?
Suin: For "BURNING UP," I'll point to the low tones that start when the chorus begins as a highlight! In the music video, MEOVV lights fires wherever we pass, and eventually a heavy rain amusingly cools down our "hotness." I hope people enjoy that process. And you can also look forward to the performance!
Gawon: With the explosive energy in the song, a key point is how the members' personalities harmonize. There are fun elements where MEOVV is so hot the surroundings heat up and catch fire, and the story shows appliances or sprinklers appearing to cool the heat, which I think is a delightful highlight.
Ella: The music video's highlight is the scenes where we dance while being splashed with water! It gives a refreshing feeling and makes the video feel much more special.
Q. You've been noticed for standout performances since debut. After performing on music shows, festivals, events and award ceremonies, your performance execution must have improved. As experience accumulates, what aspects do you focus on more?
Gawon: Every time we perform we try to show as many charms and new sides as possible. Even with the same song, we convey freshness by changing gestures or giving different points. If before I felt I had to be perfect, now I place more importance on performances that convey sincerity. We try to express the flow of emotion naturally on stage.
Anna: While before I focused only on the performance itself, now I pay attention to clearly distinguishing the parts where we push energy and where we pull back. We want to keep showing performances that viewers won't find boring!
Narin: During practice you always focus on choreography and staging, but after many performances I realized the importance of expression. I now think more about how to show the emotions felt in the moment and everything we've practiced through expression, even during practice. I want to perform stages where the emotion is felt.
Q. With signature point choreographies and MEOVV's dance break parts that strengthen performances, what are the points in "BURNING UP"?
Suin: This song has a total of three dance breaks, and the strong energy and wild tension MEOVV shows each time are the points. The chorus step performance is also a fun point because it's so exciting even while dancing. I hope our fans dance along in their own styles!
Gawon: Among MEOVV performances so far, "BURNING UP" is the most glamorous and it's my personal favorite. This choreography also has a dance break, and a handkerchief-used move is an impactful point. The overall performance is very three-dimensional, and the rhythm of the jet club genre blends naturally, which I think is really attractive.
Narin: It's really intense from the start. There are many moves that keep the feet moving, turn the neck and spread the arms to express unstoppable energy. When we first practiced, my whole body hurt. It's explosively energetic yet somehow fresh and lively. Because the choreography continuously connects dance breaks and point moves, when watching the stage I hope people focus on that unceasing energy.
Q. From "MEOW," "TOXIC," "BODY," "HANDS UP" to "DROP TOP," you have shown various colors through your tracks. Which song do you think is closest to MEOVV's identity?
Narin: I don't think a single song can completely define MEOVV. Each song shows a part of our different sides, and all those aspects together feel like MEOVV. Still, our debut track "MEOW," which even says MEOVV's name from the title, contains our unique charm and musical identity most clearly, so I think it's the most special and symbolic song.
Anna: I think "HANDS UP." We always gave our all, and looking back it was a period when we worked really hard and always enjoyed being on stage.
Ella: I also think "MEOW" fits MEOVV's identity best. It has a slightly funky charm. But we'll continue to show MEOVV's many charms through diverse songs.
Q. Then in what ways can the new song "BURNING UP" show MEOVV's new charms?
Anna: We'll show a strong yet sophisticated vibe! You will see a more mature MEOVV than before.
Narin: This time I wanted to show a rougher and freer MEOVV. If until now we focused on presenting highly polished performances and stages, with "BURNING UP" we want to express the passion we feel as it is rather than a perfectly refined image. I think "BURNING UP" is a song whose imperfect yet honest feelings and hot energy are truly attractive.
Ella: If we've shown a slightly chic side from debut until now, this "Burning Up" has many more fun and lively elements, so I think we can show our colorful palette!
Q. Any special episodes or memorable moments during comeback preparations?
Suin: In the music video there was a scene where we danced and played in rain like a waterfall, and it was really fun. I wanted to go to a water park and valley this summer, so the music video shoot gave me vicarious satisfaction; it was memorable and I loved it!
Narin: The music video shoot days are memorable. We filmed three days in a row and it felt like playing a game. On the first day we had salt and wind, the second day water, and the third day more water and fire to dance with. Moments like joking with members that the salt tasted salty while dancing, screaming and running when we were splashed, and the first time showing choreography we'd practiced thousands of times to the staff all became precious memories!
Q. You've become a standout icon in fashion as well and a wannabe for the alpha generation. Do you actively give opinions on styling?
Gawon: I'm personally very into fashion. So I spend a lot of time with the visual team and always discuss a lot. I actively give opinions during fittings, and I often wear casual clothes for stages or schedules. We try to maintain MEOVV's unity while letting each person's individuality shine.
Suin: During fittings we give each other feedback, and when someone has casual clothes they'd like to wear on stage they bring them and we use them as stage outfits! The visual team always asks what styles we want, so we match opinions and find pretty clothes to wear.
Ella: We participate a lot in styling! We always give opinions and prepare outfits while adjusting them to directions that suit us.
Q. Gawon and Narin participated in writing lyrics again this time. With what mindset or feeling did you take part in writing? And do you have a "killing part" you think is the best?
Gawon: I think I was more passionate than ever during the lyric writing. Throughout the preparation the passion was burning like the title, and that feeling flowed naturally into the lyrics. If I had to pick a killing part, it's the chanting part where we all chant together: "우린 끝까지 가 we gon let that fire burn." I think it well conveys MEOVV's energy where intensity and earnestness coexist.
Anna: Mine is the "we go to the end~" part too. It has power, so I think it's the killing part!
Narin: Like the title "BURNING UP," I tried to write directly and honestly. I kept thinking of hot energy while writing the lyrics. The killing part I like is my rap part. The lines starting with "Ya 비교 말아" are provocative and full of confidence, which I like. It's so honest it's almost aggressive, so when I spit the lyrics it feels like me and it's comfortable. "Ya 비교 말아" is my favorite part.
Q. You are known to consistently participate in lyric writing. Do you get musical ideas from everyday hobbies like reading?
Gawon: Of course. Having been a trainee for a long time, I spent more time in the practice room than having flashy experiences. So I inevitably drew inspiration from small everyday things. Subtle emotions or special experiences I haven't directly had were felt through books or movies, and I have diverse hobbies like visiting exhibitions, collecting LPs and taking photos, so there are many moments that give me ideas.
Narin: I get a lot of ideas from everyday life. I think every moment can be inspiration. Reading is a big inspiring hobby for me. Books have many scenes resembling life and many sentences that delicately express subtle emotions, so they stay in my head for a long time. Those things that stay in my heart become part of me and later become parts of lyrics.
Q. What kind of team do you think MEOVV is? What descriptors do you think you've earned over the past year?
Suin: Cats that devour the stage! Cats that are sincere on stage! And cats that love and enjoy music!
Gawon: I think MEOVV is a team that performs well on stage, and we've proven that through various stages over the past year, so I think we've earned that descriptor.
Anna: I think MEOVV is a team that has grown together while respecting each other. Having steadily developed our own colors over the past year, I think the descriptor "a confident team" suits us.
Narin: A team that constantly changes and challenges! Thank you for loving our strong performances and unique voices over the past year. There are many cat-related descriptors, and cats are always iconic beings. So I feel we should show even more three-dimensional charm. Each time we performed and heard we were becoming more "MEOVV-like," I was really proud. We want to keep showing new colors and grow into a team that doesn't need descriptors but is defined by our own music.
Ella: MEOVV truly is "one team." Everyone always consults together and tries to decide what's best for the team.
Q. Are there any concepts or genres you all want to challenge together in the future?
Suin: MEOVV wants to try every single music genre!
Gawon: I listen to a variety of music, so there are many genres I want to try. Lately I've been listening to a lot of rock, and I especially want to challenge psychedelic rock or alternative rock. I also really like jazz, so making a comfortable healing song with jazz elements would be fun and I think fans would like it. I want to do full EDM too. Honestly, I want to try everything! I think we can do it all!
Narin: I want to challenge experimental songs and concepts. We've already tried various genres, but going forward I want to make broader music that makes people say, "Was there such a genre?" or "What genre is this?" I like meditation music so I'd like to try that, and also genres we haven't tried yet like mumbaton, electropop and hyperpop. The goal is to be a team that can digest every genre in MEOVV's color.
Q. Before and after debut, is there any advice or feedback from producer Teddy you remember?
Suin: The PD always says this: "Just do it! Do it comfortably! Enjoy it!"
Gawon: I have a perfectionist tendency, so even as a trainee I pursued perfect stages. Even after debut I sometimes made calculated expressions instead of enjoying the stage, but the PD told me, "You can smile more on stage." That really resonated. A stage should be enjoyed so viewers can enjoy it too, and if I don't convey that I'm enjoying myself I can't share the energy. After hearing that, I truly enjoy the stage.
Anna: He tells us to keep going until we're satisfied. So the five of us redo things as many times as needed until everyone is satisfied!
Q. Finally, any message you want to send to fans?
Suin: Pompom! (PAWMPAWM: Miyao official fandom name) We prepared very hard, so you can look forward to it. Please support this promotion!
Gawon: Pompom! I'm truly grateful to Pompom who always lights our flame. We prepared "BURNING UP" with a burning desire to repay Pompom's love. We'll definitely convey that feeling on stage. See you soon, Pompom! We really missed you. Let's fly hot together this promotion!
Anna: Thanks to you, we could return with "BURNING UP." There were hard moments while preparing, but thinking of Pompom helped me overcome them. Please stay with us until the end this time too!
Narin: We've come back hot with "BURNING UP," so please enjoy it with us. Thank you for always making us stronger, and because of Pompom we can enjoy performing and promoting. We prepared "BURNING UP" thinking of fans, so we practiced with grit to bring out our best. Please look forward to MEOVV from now on!
Ella: Thank you so much for always supporting us! Your support gives us a lot of strength, and we're really happy! We wouldn't be who we are today without you!
[Photo] Provided by The Black Label
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