The rookie woman group, hailing from iconic Okay-Pop producer Teddy Park’s The Black Label imprint, have been exhausting at work establishing themselves on the worldwide stage: “We actually love what we do.”
In August, a social media account for a brand new Okay-Pop group posted “MEOVV” with 5 black cat emojis and an animated graphic of a cat’s paw. The not-so-cryptic submit was the primary for the extremely anticipated woman group MEOVV — a quintet from iconic Korean producer Teddy Park’s YG Leisure sub-label, The Black Label.
Pleasure for MEOVV — comprised of members Sooin, Gawon, Anna, Narin and Ella — inbuilt Okay-Pop areas on-line because the group’s September debut approached. The woman group is The Black Label’s first, nonetheless, Park is not any stranger to shaping hit teams, having produced a lot of Blackpink’s discography, together with a number of hits for Okay-Pop megastars like BigBang and 2NE1.
“Meow,” the group’s first single, launched in Sept., had a quintessential woman crush sound (woman crush is a well-liked Okay-Pop idea that showcases heavier music, buying and selling within the bubblegum pop woman teams have typically been categorized by for highly effective anthems stuffed with self-confidence). MEOVV’s newest pair of songs — “Poisonous” and “Physique” — successfully encapsulate the duality of the group.
“Poisonous,” an all-English “unhappy woman” music, as 16-year-old Ella places it, exhibits the group’s softer facet. It’s, as Ella says, a somber music a couple of troubled relationship: “Collectively, we’re so poisonous / However my life is nothing with out you,” the women belt out within the refrain.
The place “Poisonous” is all about feeling one’s emotions, “Physique” is an undeniably catchy, energetic anthem, stuffed with the boldness Okay-Pop followers have come to count on from a Park-produced group. “Add it the way you need 4 plus 4, why you gotta ask? Yeah, I ate / Tag, it ladies, MEOVV, babe,” Narin raps on the music.
Under, MEOVV shares with The Hollywood Reporter how they keep shut as a bunch, which artists encourage them and what they hope for the longer term.
What was the expertise like making your two new singles “Physique” and “Poisonous and your debut, “Meow,” since that’s fairly latest as nicely?
ELLA I feel one of many largest issues for us was making the “Poisonous” music video. We had been speaking with the director on the path we had been going to go in with taking pictures the music video, it was all actually natural and simply our chemistry with one another caught on digicam. We had loads of enjoyable taking pictures it. We had been simply sort of messing round. That was the vibe. It was actually memorable.
GAWON Not too long ago, it’s been loads of moments of our “firsts.” Our first time going to an enormous stage, first time performing right here, performing there. I feel on this interval of getting so many firsts, it’s simply actually thrilling and we’re excited for what’s to return.
Has there been a second in all these firsts that stands out to you as probably the most “pinch me” second for you?
NARIN I feel it was undoubtedly a surreal second for us to carry out at MAMA [Awards] on such an enormous stage. We even obtained the favourite rising artist award, which implies a lot us. We had been genuinely having fun with performing there. I feel that was our pinch me second.
Have been you anticipating to get a lot love even earlier than you debuted? Lots of people had been actually excited to see your debut. How has that been for you?
NARIN I feel earlier than we obtained to debut, we had been all centered on enhancing and getting higher at every thing. So, we didn’t actually have that precise view of our future and we didn’t count on this a lot love. After we had been in a position to carry out on these sort of levels and had been honored with these awards, we had been really realizing that sort of love and help from followers. I feel it was actually memorable. Actually glad moments.
ELLA [It’s] as a result of I feel we had been so centered on working actually exhausting to make the most effective product for individuals to observe and only for us. All of us wish to do our greatest, so after we obtained that award, and after we’re seeing all of the love from everybody — I feel it makes us proud, and it’s a rewarding feeling.
I do know It’s most likely exhausting to decide on a favourite, however do any of you have got a favourite music you’ve launched thus far?
GAWON For me, Lyn [Narin] and I co-wrote “Poisonous,” so I feel I’ve a extra particular connection. I’ve an emotional connection to the lyrics and the music, and it’s additionally the kind of music that I take pleasure in listening to every day, so I feel I would select “Poisonous.”
ELLA It all the time modifications, however proper now, I’m in my “Physique” period as a result of typically I simply wish to be a baddie. [Group laughs]. A baddie listening to “Physique,” very hip hop. However typically after I’m in my feels or having a “Poisonous” woman, like a tragic woman winter, I’ll take heed to “Poisonous.” However proper now, I’m a baddie.
Because you’re fairly early into your profession, are there any artists that you simply’ve actually regarded as much as or hope to have careers just like as you’re working and pushing forward?
GAWON Even after I wasn’t conscious of what Okay-Pop was, as a result of I grew up within the States — I used to be all the time surrounded by Teddy [Park]-produced music [while growing up], in order that was my first impression of Okay-Pop. I used to be rising up listening to Teddy-produced music, and now being right here working tremendous shut with Teddy and having him as our principal producer is so surreal. Typically I’ve these moments, I’m like, “Oh my God, How did I get right here?” It’s tremendous cool. I’m simply actually grateful in these moments, and I feel we’re all simply tremendous blessed to have the chance to work with him and simply proceed his line of music and his legacy within the music business as MEOVV.
ELLA The artist’s at our label, like Taeyang-sunbaenim [from the group BigBang], Rosé-sunbaenim [from Blackpink], Somi-sunbaenim — all of them are such good influences for us. If we see them, they all the time give us good recommendation.
NARIN They’re so supportive.
ELLA It’s cool to be in the identical setting as them, and it helps us develop quite a bit as artists.
How do you guys take time to bond with one another whenever you’re busy on a regular basis?
GAWON Us, we’re working collectively 24/7, and we additionally stay collectively, so we’re all the time collectively. However even when we have now our days off we’ll nonetheless wish to have enjoyable with one another. We’re one another’s greatest buddies, and we have now loads of enjoyable collectively.
ELLA And now we have now our YouTube actuality present, Catch MEOVV, so it truly is simply us sort of hanging out and enjoying video games. I feel that’s additionally a means that we bond.
GAWON We additionally discover loads of enjoyable within the work that we do, so even taking pictures, we’ll all the time be having enjoyable and simply being ourselves and goofing round.
As you proceed to launch new music, already, you’ve been in a position to present totally different sides of your self. However is there something you’re actually hoping to attempt sooner or later that you simply suppose is likely to be good for you?
GAWON Even earlier than, we’ve been recording loads of totally different songs. Since our trainee days, we’ve preferred to experiment with loads of totally different genres and totally different languages and kinds of music. We’ve been experimenting with loads of genres within the studio as nicely. I feel we have now quite a bit that individuals won’t count on, however I feel we’re simply actually excited to launch all of these songs.
Do you guys have any objectives you’re trying to work in direction of within the close to future? Say you hit a 12 months out of your debut, what are you hoping to attain by then? Additionally, what are you hoping to attain as a bunch long-term?
ANNA I wish to meet followers everywhere in the world as quickly as potential, so undoubtedly that’s an enormous purpose.
SOOIN As a result of we’re all from totally different components of the world, hoping to carry out in every of our hometowns could be an enormous purpose in our profession.
What has the connection along with your followers been like thus far? Such as you stated, you have got followers all world wide. How have you ever been in a position to construct that relationship as you get began?
ELLA After we first met them, it was our M Countdown [Korean weekly music show] stage. However after we first met them, it was sort of awkward as a result of we had been so shy. It was the day of our debut, so we had been very contemporary, very new. After I first noticed everybody I used to be like, “Oh my gosh.” I used to be so excited that they’re considering MEOVV, they usually’re listening to our songs. I used to be like, I simply wish to present you the most effective of us.
GAWON Since then, I feel our relationship with the followers has developed, undoubtedly, as a result of we had been tremendous awkward and shy with one another, however now we even have our fan communication app known as Churrrrr. Even after we’re not selling, we’re all the time on that app. It’s like our obsession. We all the time like to speak to them, give them stuff that they won’t be capable to see on stage.
When the world hears the title MEOVV, what would you like them to suppose? How would you like individuals to see you as a bunch?
ELLA I simply need them to recollect sturdy and charismatic performances. I need that to only persist with individuals once they watch our performances and even simply content material on TikTok or small apps. I simply need individuals to suppose that we’re enjoyable and pull them in, get them . I desire a sturdy first impression, particularly because it hasn’t been that lengthy since our debut.
Is there something you wish to say to your followers or somebody who is likely to be checking you out for the primary time?
ELLA I hope you have got as a lot enjoyable as we do as a result of we actually do take pleasure in what we do. We put loads of thought and work into every thing — the songs we put out and even our dances. I hope that vitality bounces off.
GAWON We put a lot love within the work that we do, so we simply hope that will get throughout — and everybody can really feel that.