Fan Chant: NewJeans on Starting 2023 Strong with OMG
The post Fan Chant: NewJeans on Starting 2023 Strong with OMG appeared first on Consequence.
Welcome to Fan Chant, a weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies alike. Each week, I’ll be rolling out interviews, lists, and all kinds of content to keep you in the loop on the latest and greatest from our friends in Seoul and beyond. Also, make sure to subscribe to my companion newsletter!
This past fall in Seoul, the song “Hype Boy” by NewJeans was nothing short of ubiquitous.
The song was playing in the market in Insadong, shopping malls in Myeondeong, restaurants and convenience stores along the Han River, and even pulsing from the brightly colored bars in Hongdae at night, hoping to attract customers like me. It seemed like people across demographics were listening to NewJeans, the freshly debuted group out of ADOR, subsidiary of HYBE, but the hype didn’t stay contained to South Korea.
In just a few months since their July 2022 debut, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein have already started to go global, their string of absurdly catchy, hopeful, and youthful singles pulling in listeners with varying levels of interest in K-pop. Ariana Grande hasn’t given us new music in a while; in the meantime, considering queuing up NewJean’s “Cookie.” Nostalgic for girl groups of the early 2000s? “Attention” is the way to go. For film buffs with a keen eye, their music videos are a treasure trove; the latest, “OMG,” deftly references director Park Chan Wook’s 2006 I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OK.
“OMG” is the focus track for a single album of the same name, which was released on January 2nd and preceded by the equally refreshing “Ditto.” The two tracks, “OMG,” with its irresistibly bouncy vibe and “Ditto” with its deconstructed club beat, manage to provide high-energy sounds and choreography while keeping the quintet planted comfortably in an appropriately youthful space. The girls, whose ages range from 14 to 18, recall stateside showstoppers like The Cheetah Girls and Miley Cyrus, acts that defined coming-of-age for so many millennials; while plenty of K-pop girl groups offer high-octane spectacle, NewJeans are the classic, grounded return to form we didn’t know we needed.
I linked up with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein to discuss the new single album, OMG, their budding team dynamic, their favorite winter soundtracks, and much more. Read the full interview with the group below.
Congrats on your first single album release! As we head into winter, what was your main goal with this pair of songs?
Hanni: It’s our first comeback, and in contrast to our summer debut, heading into winter. We wanted to kind of provide a mood of comfort and warmth and also a butterfly-type of excitement whilst also showing new good music that we’re sure a lot of people will enjoy!
Minji: As much as our debut album New Jeans received a lot of love, we didn’t want to disappoint our fans. We tried to show a different, new side of NewJeans through this album.
What are you all most interested in exploring in the future when it comes to lyric writing and production?
Minji: If there is a chance, I want to continue to participate!
Hanni: Being able to participate in the production process is such a great opportunity to understand the song more deeply, so I want to continue doing it in the future!
Danielle: Definitely! I think it’s a really good opportunity to unfold our own story, character and creativity in the album! I want to keep participating in and learning through the process.
Haerin: I’ve been practicing and trying it out even with our debut album. Being able to participate even a little bit in our song production is a great opportunity and valuable experience, so I’ll keep doing it.
Hyein: It would be nice to be able to write good lyrics with steady practice!
Do any of you play instruments?
Hanni: I play the guitar, ukulele, and piano. Although I’m not very skilled at it, I can enjoy playing them.
Danielle: I enjoyed playing the piano and guitar, too! I would love to learn more if given the chance!
Are there any books, films, television shows, or albums that have inspired or energized you creatively lately?
Danielle: I often get inspired by various songs, but recently I got inspiration from watching a TV show about nature that I really liked!
Haerin: I recently watched a program about space, and I remember getting a sense of new and fresh feeling from it. I think it would work as a good source of inspiration going forward.
What are some of your favorite things to do together when not in the studio or rehearsing?
Haerin: We love to share, listen to, and chat about songs together! It’s so much fun just spending time together with the members, but I enjoy it most when we can share the things we like together.
Hyein: Personally, I feel so happy when we eat together! And I think it’s so much fun watching NewJeans’ content with the members as well!
Which do you each prefer: recording, or dance practice?
Hanni: I can’t pick one because I love both so much! As the performances we show on stage are completed through both recording and choreography practice, I always try my best to present what I’m satisfied with.
Hyein: On stage, of course, you have to digest both at the same time, but the charms of the two are so different that I can’t pick just one. I just always try to prepare my best and try hard!
What are some of your go-to ways to unwind on busy days?
Haerin: I like listening to my favorite songs. Even on busy days, I tend to spend some time listening to my favorite songs to unwind and relax. You feel a sense of familiarity and it puts me at ease, which allows me to expand my breadth of thinking.
Following this release, what else are you all excited about in the coming months?
Minji: I look forward to performing on stage in front of many people. I think I get a lot of energy and confidence through the stage.
Danielle: To be honest, I’m really looking forward to all the new experiences to come! I feel that there are a lot of really precious moments waiting in the future!
What are some of your favorite songs to listen to through the winter?
Minji: NewJeans’ “Ditto” and Alec Benjamin’s “Let Me Down Slowly.”
Hanni: Before You Exit’s “The Butterfly Effect,” Umi’s “Remember Me,” and Kehlani’s “Again.”
Danielle: Libera’s “Carol of the Bells,” “Let Her Go” by Passenger, and NewJeans’ “Hurt.”
Haerin: NewJeans’ “Ditto” and Justin Bieber’s “Ghost.”
Hyein: NewJeans’ “Ditto” and “Last Christmas” by Wham!
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Fan Chant: NewJeans on Starting 2023 Strong with OMG
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