Summer Queens fromis_9 Dish on New Summer Album Supersonic and Sisterhood
by Sofia Sayson
The K-pop princesses are back yet again to emanate chill summer vibes: HYBE and Pledis Entertainment's fromis_9 has dropped a new anthem for the season, "Supersonic."
Following the release of their first-ever full-length album, Unlock My World, LEE SAE ROM, SONG HA YOUNG, PARK JI WON, ROH JI SUN, LEE SEO YEON, LEE CHAE YOUNG, LEE NA GYUNG and BAEK JI HEON are here to "beat the heat." Over the years, the octet has proved again and again that they're worthy of the title "Summer Heroines"—and the launch of Supersonic is yet another testament to it.
With their third single album, Supersonic, fromis_9 exudes both energetic and refreshing feels throughout the album, perfectly embodying the theme of warm, sunny weather. "We hope listeners can recharge their energy and enjoy a refreshing summer with our new single," they said. Alongside fast-tempo track "Supersonic," the project is accompanied by the B-sides "Beat the Heat" and "Take a Chance."
To commemorate fromis_9's highly anticipated return, Sweety High chatted with the girls about Supersonic, their sixth anniversary and more.
Sweety High: Congratulations on your awaited comeback! Tell us how you feel about coming back with a single album since Unlock My World. How does it feel to be returning to your fans with a new look?
SAE ROM: Thank you for the kind words! Preparing for this comeback was incredibly exciting, especially at the thought of spending another summer with our fans. We're thrilled to finally share : 400;">Supersonic with the world.
NA GYUNG: I'm feeling a bit nervous but mostly excited about the comeback. Since this concept is a bit different from what we've done before, we put in a lot of energy and effort in preparation.
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SH: Your new project Supersonic is just a single album, but how satisfied do you think you are with it? How do you think this fusion of the three tracks fills the gap needed to make Supersonic a short yet cohesive record?
HA YOUNG: I believe this single album embodies the theme of summer perfectly. It's filled with tracks that capture the range of emotions we experience during the season.
JI WON: Both tracks, "Beat the Heat" and "Take a Chance," deliver positive messages. I think this album will help everyone enjoy the hot summer in a fun and uplifting way.
SH: SAE ROM, JI WON and SEO YEON participated in writing the lyrics for "Beat the Heat" and "Take a Chance." Could you please walk us through the process of penning the tracks? And how does it feel seeing your names on the track list?
JI WON: For "Beat the Heat," we worked on the lyrics separately, but for "Take a Chance," we compiled the lyrics written by different members and worked on them together. Seeing our names in the credits brings such a fulfilling sense of accomplishment. It definitely makes us feel more connected to the tracks.
SAE ROM: After completing the lyric writing, we came together to discuss which ones to keep or how to refine them. Seeing our names in the credits made me proud, as it brought back memories of us brainstorming late into the night. I'm thrilled that we can now share these heartfelt lyrics with our fans, flovers.
SEO YEON: I recall enjoying the cool air from the air conditioner while working on the lyrics for "Take a Chance." (Laughs.) That refreshing atmosphere is well reflected in the song, so I'm very pleased with the outcome.
(Photo credit: Pledis Entertainment)
SH: Your previous title tracks did well. All of them are good songs! How confident are you for "Supersonic" and the B-sides? What was your reaction when you first heard them? Which aspect were you attracted to from this comeback, be it musically, lyrically or visually?
JI SUN: We all instantly fell in love with "Supersonic" the moment we heard it! Its energetic yet refreshing vibe is captivating. The message of coming to rescue listeners from the heat, combined with the vibrant colors in the music video and performance, really elevates the single album's overall quality.
CHAE YOUNG: I agree! "Supersonic" is incredibly catchy and makes you want to hum along as soon as you hear it.
SH: Are there any memorable or fun behind-the-scenes moments from this comeback? Tell us about your experience shooting the music video as well.
JI SUN: I remember the music video features some fun dystopian elements. Since a desolate city was one of the concepts,we used wires and earphones as accessories to add a playful touch, reflecting the idea.
JI HEON: The atmosphere during the music video shoot was so positive and energizing. We usually get pretty tired and end up falling asleep on the way home, but this time, we couldn't stop talking about how much fun we had on set!
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SH: We read in an interview in 2022 that you've become more at ease in the recording studio. How would you describe the recording process for Supersonic? Were there any particular parts that seemed hard to record, or was the process smoother overall?
SAE ROM: Since it was a new genre for us, it felt unfamiliar but also very interesting. The process of expressing a certain feeling was enjoyable, thanks to BUMZU, who guided us well.
HA YOUNG: There's a part where I had to break and hit a high note. At first, I was worried because my voice felt strained, and I was concerned about whether I could really pull it off. But thankfully, with continued practice, I made it. Practice really does matter.
(Photo credit: Pledis Entertainment)
SH: There are eight members in the group, and we heard that most of you are introverts. What do you do to keep that chemistry going and strengthen the relationship amongst yourselves, off and on the camera? How would you describe your sisterhood now?
JI WON: I think the key to our formidable teamwork is that the closer we are, the more we try to be considerate and careful with each other. We couldn't have reached this point without everyone's effort, so I'm always grateful to the members.
NA GYUNG: Actually, when we're together, we're far from being introverted. Since we've spent almost all our time together since debut, I think we've grown closer and stronger as a group.
SH: You commemorated your group's sixth debut anniversary earlier this year. Could you describe the past six years of being a member of fromis_9?
HA YOUNG: Being together as fromis_9 is such a precious experience. Through the members, I've learned more about interacting with people and what brings them joy. I've also tried to emulate their good qualities, like their sense of fashion, and enjoyed sharing everything from delicious meals to the feeling of exhaustion from practicing through the night. We've shared so many moments together, making it all the more meaningful and special. Also, we all practiced vocals a lot, so I feel we've all improved significantly since debut.
SEO YEON: Over the past six years, we've grown a lot, but I'm proud that we've never forgotten where we started and continued moving forward. I especially think everyone's vocal improvement is impressive. We'll keep striving to grow further as artists.
CHAE YOUNG: Though I'm still far from perfect, I feel I've become more generous and my heart has truly grown. Because of that, I think I'm now more flexible in handling various situations compared to before.
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