Girl group BABYMONSTER will make a flashy comeback today (4th) at 6 p.m. with their third mini album "춤 (CHOOM)".
This new release includes a total of four well-packed tracks led by the title track of the same name "춤 (CHOOM)", followed by "MOON", "I LIKE IT", and "LOCKED IN". Freely traversing hip-hop, dance and R&B, they perfectly digest a variety of genres with their own charm, and are expected to vividly imprint BABYMONSTER's uniquely deeper musical identity before the public.
As can be inferred from the straightforward album title and the title track name, they harbor a bold ambition to transform the world into a gigantic "dance floor" with this new song. BABYMONSTER members said, "This will be an album that draws admiration from everyone through nothing but overwhelming music and performance," showing extraordinary confidence and raising global fans' expectations to a peak.
The following is a question-and-answer session containing BABYMONSTER's comeback impressions.
Q. It has been about seven months since mini album 2 [WE GO UP]. How do you feel ahead of the release?
Parita: My first feeling is gratitude toward the fans. I want to let you hear the good songs on the new album soon, and I hope you look forward to a more grown BABYMONSTER.
Ahyeon: I wanted to come back soon and meet MONSTIES (the fandom name) who have been waiting for us. Above all, I'm very excited to be able to present an album full of new charms.
Chikita: I'm so happy to finally show fans the results we've prepared so hard. I did my best every day because I wanted to see the fans enjoying it.
Q. What charms are contained in the title track "춤 (CHOOM)"?
Chikita: The most attractive aspect is the energetic yet highly addictive sound. Until now, if we showed hip-hop-based music that flaunted our intense charisma, this time it's literally a song everyone can dance to together. Personally, I think the chorus part that starts with a sudden beat change is the killing part. I hope you pay close attention to it.
Q. After listening to "춤 (CHOOM)", what impressions would you like listeners to have?
Luca: I hope listeners naturally think, "I'm curious about the stage," while hearing the song. "춤 (CHOOM)" is a song whose energy is brought to life more when seen with the performance. And the song and choreography are hip while feeling deeper than before. I think we can show a charm different from the performances we've done previously.
Asa: Like we did, I hope people feel it's a song that makes the body react before they know it when they hear it. The melody is powerful, and our passion and confidence appear in the lyrics. If this part is well conveyed and everyone thinks, "I want to enjoy it too," and gets excited, we'd be truly happy.
Q. Perhaps because of the album and title track names, music fans' expectations for the performance are unusually high.
Chikita: This performance overall has more powerful and detailed choreography. The movement lines are freer than before, and with formations that change in various ways, there will be more visual enjoyment. The chorus has movements that are easy to follow yet impactful, so I hope many people dance along with us and enjoy it.
Q. You have been praised as a group that performs live well among music fans. You must have put more thought into the stages you will show during this comeback.
Asa: First, I'm really grateful that many people have viewed our stage positively. I think it's thanks to the steady effort with the members. We put a bit more work into the performance for this title track. I want to express it more vividly on stage and synchronize well with the members to present a high-quality performance.
Q. The music video for mini album 2's title track "WE GO UP" was praised for visuals like an SF movie. What kind of image will you show through this music video?
Asa: The mugshot image released as a teaser might be a hint. We attempted an image transformation through this music video, and each member has a character full of individuality and an exciting story, so you can look forward to it. In particular, paying attention to details like delicate facial expressions will make it even more fun.
Luca: There is a scene in the music video where we all dance outdoors. We performed a powerful routine on a wet surface; it was a new experience and fun throughout the shoot. Above all, I think that scene turned out stylishly, so I hope fans pay close attention to it.
Q. If there is a keyword you consider most important in this album?
Luca: "dance floor." [춤 (CHOOM)] contains a strong ambition to turn the world into one huge "dance floor" with music and performance made in our own colors. From the intense, hip title track that awakens your dance instinct to sensuous slow songs, it's diverse and will be a pleasant album to listen to anytime.
Asa: I would call it "variety." Because hip-hop, dance and R&B genres are evenly included, I want to say "diversity." While preparing this album, I felt more deeply that each genre has a different way of expression. We researched the tone and emotion that fit each song and focused on naturally unfolding them, so you can look forward to it.
Ahyeon: I think "coolness." Like the title [춤 (CHOOM)], I hope the album becomes one that makes anyone exclaim "cool" through the music and performance itself. You can feel our confident attitude and self-assurance throughout the tracks.
Q. How would you describe the tracks "MOON", "I LIKE IT" and "LOCKED IN"?
Laura: "MOON" is a dreamy and mysterious song as the title suggests. It's good to listen to in a calm atmosphere, like when you are getting ready to sleep or on an early morning drive. It's a track where our beloved vocal tones are particularly well showcased, so I expect a good response from fans.
Luca: "I LIKE IT" immediately made me picture jumping and playing with fans in a concert when I first heard it. It's such an upbeat song that it's truly exciting anytime and seems energizing just to listen to. I hope you listen to it when exercising.
Parita: "LOCKED IN" is a soft and sweet track. I feel the members' vocals and raps blend really well, so it's a track I want to recommend. Listening to it in the morning could help start a pleasant day.
Q. Do you have any plans or goals for this promotion?
Laura: I want to greet you with more active promotions. I want to show many people our new music and performances by appearing on various stages, and I want to capture BABYMONSTER's honest and cheerful side under the stage in many kinds of content. We appeared in various content before the comeback and were happy that many people liked it. There will be more to show in the future, so please look forward to it.
Q. You also have a second world tour coming up in June. The scale has expanded considerably compared with the previous tour. What are your ambitions or mindset going into the performances?
Parita: We are preparing hard. Having learned and felt a lot from the first world tour, we want to create an even better stage. Especially for this world tour, stages we have never shown before are waiting, so please look forward to them.
Ahyeon: I'm grateful to be able to visit fans in more regions directly. Through this promotion and the world tour, we want to create memories that are happy to look back on anytime. We will practice hard so that our sincerity can be conveyed on stage and wait for the fans.
Laura: During the first world tour, I strongly felt I had to show well what we had prepared, but now I can focus on how to make the audience enjoy the stage more. As fans are expecting a lot, I want to give them unforgettable memories.
Chikita: I want to show more growth than last year. This tour will let us meet fans in more diverse places, and the moment of meeting them in person is so precious to us that we prepare harder thinking only of that moment.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say to the MONSTIES around the world who have been waiting for this album?
Parita: Thanks to MONSTIES' support, we were able to prepare for our comeback with strength. Now we will return that feeling to you.
Ahyeon: At the end of all BABYMONSTER's goals are the fans, so we can keep going. We want to be loved by fans for a long time and repay that love even more. It was our official debut's second anniversary not long ago, and as always, we want to be a group that places fans first. Please give a lot of interest to [춤 (CHOOM)].
Laura: I spend my time thinking about fans being joyful, comforted and happy through our music. I want to deliver happiness to you through this comeback as well. Thank you for always being our greatest strength. We will not forget that feeling and will always show growth.
[Photo] YG Entertainment
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