INTERVIEW GFriend returns to show more mature side

GFriend / Courtesy of Source Music

By Kim Jae-heun

Popular K-pop girl group GFriend are showing a more mature side on their fourth mini-album, “The Awakening, released Monday.

The group, previously known for their wholesome image, enjoyed wide popularity the last two years with hit songs like “Rough,” “Me Gustas Tu” and “Glass Bead.” However, it was mainly the band member Yuju who bought GFriend into the spotlight, when she fell eight times on a slippery stage last September but got right up to continue performing. The footage of her show went viral online and Time magazine reported on the incident.

Their attempt to adopt a new concept came as a surprise as GFriend had built their empire on their innocent good looks and powerful choreography.

“We wanted to prove GFriend can fit into various concepts,” said Yerin during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. “We’ve all become adults, legally, this year and we wanted to show our feminine side rather than being just cute schoolgirls.”

However, her bandmate Sowon, added that this doesn’t mean they’re discarding their previous innocent and energetic concept, which the group can always go back to.

GFriend’s new album comprises six tracks including the single “Fingertip,” which instantly topped major online music charts like Bugs, Genie, Olleh Music and Naver Music after it its midnight release Monday. Its YouTube music video recorded over 2 million views in just 14 hours.

“Fingertip” is a funky disco song with a rock sound. The song is about six girls who gain the upper hand in romance.

Q. It has been two years since GFriend’s original debut. How do you feel about revealing your new concept?

A. Yuju: We were very nervous. We felt like we were debuting all over again because we returned with a lot of changes. It was particularly different this time.

Q. You topped the online music charts. How do you feel about this achievement?

A. Umji: We were mainly fishing for compliments with the concept. Good results followed. It was a new attempt for us adopting the girl crush theme. We monitor our fans’ responses online in real time and I think half of them like the change and the other half don’t. We expected that. But I think people can re-evaluate us again after our first live performance this week.

Q. You got rid of the school uniforms as stage costumes. How does that feel?

A. Sowon: Not only our costumes have changed along with that concept, but we dyed our hair for the first time. I felt awkward at first and also excited at the same time.

Q. You are all legally adults. What do you want to do now?

A. Umji: I want to go to the Han River with our members and have chicken and beer.

Q. How has your musical style changed?

A. The lyrics of our new music all express our feelings more directly. We have become more straightforward. There have been changes in our roles in singing. I am now singing more verses than being in the chorus.

Q. This is your fifth time working with music producer Iggy. Is there a reason you’ve been working with him for so long?

A. Eunha: He knows us well and he makes song that suits us. We don’t particularly go to Iggy but when we choose a title track among many candidates, it always turns out to be one of Iggy’s songs.

Q. What do you want to achieve ultimately with your new album?

A. Sowon: When we think back to last year, I cannot forget our fans singing along with us while we performed at a music award ceremony. Our songs from last year were not hook songs or fast, which means they were not hard to sing along with. But they sang along with us from the verses. We would like to see that again as we made our new tracks easier to sing along with.