I-DLE released their 8th mini album 'We are' on the 19th and have dived headfirst into their activities. Celebrating their 7th anniversary on the 2nd, the group transitioned from '(G)I-DLE' to simply 'I-DLE', shedding the '(G)' prefix and the limitations it implied, and are now charging full speed ahead towards the top.
'We are' is I-DLE's first album since all members renewed their contracts last December, drawing significant attention. In the K-pop industry, the "seven-year curse" refers to the common occurrence of groups disbanding or members going their separate ways after their contracts expire. However, I-DLE broke the mold by having all members continue their journey with Cube Entertainment, taking bold steps forward.
Following their contract renewal, I-DLE released 'We are' amidst a socially tumultuous time, garnering spotlight not only for being their "first group activity post-renewal" but also for the timing. Breaking expectations, they chose 'Good Thing', a track filled with autotune reminiscent of "second-generation" idol music, as their title song. This marks a daring move away from recent music trends, focusing instead on a retro sound.
SOYEON boldly transformed with a short haircut ahead of their activities. She explained, "While preparing the album, I thought it would be great if one of us had a short cut. It was hard to ask another member, so I decided to do it myself." MIYEON, MINNIE, YUQI, and SHUHUA also showcased their individuality through their outfits, hairstyles, and makeup in the 'Good Thing' music video, clearly conveying the group's unified yet diverse identity.
YUQI mentioned at a press conference on the day of 'We are's release, "I once said I'd shave my head if we hit number one on Billboard. When I asked SOYEON about it this time, she said it's looking like a 'Billboard number one.' I really hope it goes well." SOYEON added, "Renewing our contract made us ponder our direction. The answer was wanting to make music for a long time, unrestricted by genre, concept, or color, becoming artists without a sense of dissonance."
'Good Thing' is now aiming for both domestic and international music charts. I-DLE faces stiff competition as many artists make their comebacks around the same time. However, as expressed on MBC's 'Point of Omniscient Interfere', "All the members are the type to charge forward. When they speak, they're straightforward." Despite skeptical views, I-DLE is expected to carve out their own path once again.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)