[CELEB] STAYC breaks away from 'teen fresh' image with latest EP

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[CELEB] STAYC breaks away from 'teen fresh' image with latest EP

STAYC poses during a showcase event for its new EP "We Need Love" on Tuesday at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul. [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

STAYC poses during a showcase event for its new EP "We Need Love" on Tuesday at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul. [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

 
If Korea were to make its own version of a coming-of-age teen comedy film like “Clueless” (1995) or “Mean Girls” (2004), it would be reasonable to base it on STAYC.
 
The girl group has maintained a concept that is reminiscent of Y2K fashion, along with music and choreography that so easily steals the hearts of teenagers these days with songs like “So Bad” (2020), “ASAP” (2021), “Stereotype” (2021) and “RUN2U” (2022).
 
STAYC, which stands for “Star to a Young Culture,” returned with new EP “We Need Love” on Tuesday, five months after its last EP “Young-Luv.com” (2022). However, unlike past songs, the group said that it aims to “break away” from its “teen fresh” genre, a name coined by fans which refers to STAYC’s usual style and image.
 
STAYC performed “Beautiful Monster,” the lead track, during a showcase event a few hours before its release at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul.
 
A concept photo for STAYC's "We Need Love" [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

A concept photo for STAYC's "We Need Love" [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

 
The song is a bit more mature than STAYC’s previous songs, as the lyrics talk frankly about how one can feel scared about falling in love.
 
“It’s a pop dance track that likens someone who may be hurt but also healing to a ‘beautiful monster,’” Sumin said.
 
“While before, we focused on the beats for our songs, this time we went all in on the vocal aspects,” the group said. “We’re trying out something new and we look forward to what this album holds for us.”
 
“We Need Love” has three more songs — “I Like It,” “Love” and a remix version of “RUN2U.” While the entire EP is intended to explore various emotions love can elicit such as courage, hope and fear, the ultimate message of the EP is that “we need love.”
 
The six members, Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon and J, donned white outfits, with some also wearing crocheted knee-high socks and hats. The members explained that they chose white because it represents “beauty” and the glitter in their makeup or knitted accessories symbolized “a monster.”
 
A concept photo for STAYC's "We Need Love" [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

A concept photo for STAYC's "We Need Love" [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

 
All of the songs were produced by Black Eyed Pilseung, or B.E.P., who is also the founder of STAYC’s agency High Up Entertainment. B.E.P. is comprised of duo producers Rado and Choi Kyu-sung. It is famous for producing an impressive amount of hit K-pop songs over the years, including Twice’s “Like Ooh-Ahh” (2015) and “Cheer Up” (2016), Sistar’s “Touch My Body” (2014), Chungha’s “Roller Coaster” (2018) and “Gotta Go” (2019) and Apink’s “Dumhdurum” (2020).
 
Because B.E.P. is considered a prominent producer in the K-pop scene, when it was announced in 2020 that High Up Entertainment had plans to debut its first girl group, anticipation was high.
 
A concept photo for STAYC's "We Need Love" [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

A concept photo for STAYC's "We Need Love" [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

 
The group was created to emphasize "healthiness" with its music and has the goal of representing “teenage confidence.” 
 
Choreography for songs like "ASAP" and "Stereotype" went viral on social media with people all over the world posting covers or taking in part of dance challenges.
 
STAYC has succeeded in establishing itself as a popular fourth-generation K-pop group. It was chosen as one of five notable artists of 2022 by Apple Music and Shazam and made NME's 100 Emerging Artists of 2022 in January.
 
The girl group is set to hold a fan meet on Aug. 13, at Sejong University’s Daeyang Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul.
 
Sieun of STAYC [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

Sieun of STAYC [HIGH UP ENTERTAINMENT]

 
Sieun (Park Si-eun)
 
Date of birth: Aug. 1, 2001
Zodiac sign: Leo
Birthplace: Yongsan District, central Seoul
Debut: 2009 as a regular on SBS’s variety talk show “Star Junior Show Bungeoppang” (translated)
Agency: High Up Entertainment
 
Sieun has been in the spotlight ever since she was little, thanks to her father, singer Park Nam-jung, who was popular in the late 1980’s for his “L-dance.” Sieun, along with her father, appeared on numerous variety shows, starting with SBS’s “Star Junior Show Bungeoppang” (translated, 2009) and JTBC’s “Children, Life’s Greatest Blessing” (2013-16). She later launched her acting career as the lead in EBS’s drama series “Pluto Secret Society” (2014). Since then, she played minor roles as the child version of characters in shows like SBS’s “Six Flying Dragons” (2015), JTBC’s “Rain or Shine” (2017) and “Mystic Pop-up Bar” (2020). In November 2020, Sieun debuted as a member of girl group STAYC.
 
This information was confirmed by High Up Entertainment on July 18, 2022.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]
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