The group will launch its first Japanese comeback soon
Girl groups are certainly all the rage in K-pop circles, and around here we love them all! This time, Entretê interviewed UNICODE, the five-piece Japanese girl group that made their debut in the K-pop industry through the online audition program Project K, and caught the public’s attention even before their debut.
The quintet is managed by XX Entertainment and is made up of members Hana, Mio, Erin, Soo-Ah, and Yura. The title song Let Me Love, which marks UNICODE’s impactful debut, was produced by JinYoung, a former member of the boy group B1A4, responsible for several hits for the group and other big names in the music industry such as Oh My Girl and the popular survival reality show Produce 101, which formed the group I.O.I.
The girls told Entretetizei a little about their debut and what the group’s next steps are. Check it out:
Entretetizei: Hello, UNICODE, it’s a pleasure to interview you. Could you introduce yourselves to our readers, please?
UNICODE: Input your eyes! Hi, we’re Unicode! We’re a Japanese girl group, who debuted with the song Let Me Love in April!
E: We’d like to start the interview with a question from a fan, who wanted to know what it was like to find out that you had debuted as a K-pop group.
Erin: I can hardly believe that I was able to debut as part of a K-pop girl group, which has been my dream since I was young. And I still feel like it’s not real!
E: You’re a group made up of Japanese members who are active in the Korean market. Are there any barriers related to this that you’d like to break down?
Erin: We’re grateful that even though we’re Japanese, people like our music and style. So we want to keep improving. At the same time, we want to be recognized as a female K-pop group as we promote in the future.
E: You recently debuted with the mini-album HELLO WORLD: CODE J EP.1. How was the development of this album? Did it exceed your expectations?
Yura: We were always pretty hard at work, looking forward to the kind of concept and music we were going to release. It was an honor to hear that Jinyoung was going to produce our debut song and I remember we were all so happy. The songs on the album are so good that they exceeded my expectations.
E: How did you go about selecting the tracks for your debut album? Is there a specific message or theme that you hope to convey through your music?
Yura: I listened to every song, and they were all very good, so I wanted to express them well. I hope you can listen to our debut album and have good memories.
E: The lyrics of Let Me Love express many sincere wishes and feelings. Do you personally identify with this message?
Yura: For example, if you have a friend you want to become closer to, I wouldn’t be able to confess first. If you look at the lyrics of Let Me Love, there are similarities with that. So I guess it’s something I can relate to.
E: What’s your favorite track and why?
Erin: I chose Let Me Love, because I think the positive and bright lyrics really suit me. It’s a song that naturally makes you feel happy while dancing!
E: How does your concept of fun and light K-city pop differ from traditional K-pop concepts?
Soo-Ah: I think the characteristics of K-CITY POP is that the lyrics and melody make you feel that nostalgia and bring a bright, pop rhythm and atmosphere.
E: What was it like working with Jin Young and Shindong, both renowned in the K-pop scene?
Soo-Ah: When I heard that we could work together, I felt so honored and happy. But as the time came to work, I felt nervous and anxious about doing well.
However, they gave me strength by telling me that I could do it having fun instead of just working, so I think I did well!
E: How do you feel about the support and recognition you’ve received since the start of your career? Have you felt any extra pressure being in the spotlight since the announcement of your debut?
Hana: Famous veterans produced our debut song and directed our MV, so I’m very satisfied.
Of course, I felt pressured by being in the spotlight, but I want to be more active globally.
E: As members, what are your biggest expectations and goals for the future? Are there any specific goals you hope to achieve as a group?
Hana: We want to become a beloved group for a long time and win first place in the weekly music shows.
E: What is your biggest inspiration in music?
Hana: We get inspired by watching the performances of TWICE veterans.
E: Finally, please leave a message for the Brazilian fans who have been following and supporting your journey since your debut.
Mio: Hello (in Portuguese)! Hello fans from Brazil! Thank you so much for always supporting us with passionate messages and love through the comments! Please keep loving UNICODE and I hope we can perform in Brazil someday! Bye!
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