[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] Meet UNICODE: The Fresh Faces Bringing Unique Kitsch to K-Pop

2 weeks ago 35

Get to know UNICODE, the rookie all-Japanese K-Pop girl group.

Introducing UNICODE, the newest girl group in the K-pop landscape, poised to redefine the genre with their unique blend of retro charm while highlighting the group’s kitschiness – a blend of hipness with a strong yet lovely and feminine personality. Comprising five talented members—Erin, Yura, Hana, Mio, and Soo-Ah, this dynamic all-Japanese quintet is under the management of DOUBLE X ENTERTAINMENT. Their debut 1st mini album, “HELLO WORLD: CODE J EP. 1,” dropped on April 17th, marking the beginning of what promises to be an electrifying journey in the world of music. UNICODE’s name is a compound word of ‘unity’ and ‘code’. This means that their music is understood like a shared code all over the world.

Musically, UNICODE’s title track captures the essence of city pop, effortlessly blending retro vibes with a contemporary edge, showcasing the group’s kitschiness and feminine allure. Lyrically, the song delves into the heartfelt wishes of the members as they express their sincere emotions to the object of their affection. With singer-songwriter and actor Jinyoung lending his expertise to the title track and Shindong of SUPER JUNIOR at the helm as director for the title track music video, UNICODE’s debut is nothing short of spectacular.

For Erin, Yura, Hana, Mio, and Soo-Ah, the road to debut has been filled with challenges and setbacks. Despite initially facing postponements after being selected through the competitive Japanese online audition Project K, the members remained steadfast in their determination. Fueled by their passion and unwavering dedication, they convinced the CEO of DOUBLE X ENTERTAINMENT to give them a chance to pursue their dreams. With their multicultural background, undeniable drive, and impressive skills, UNICODE is ready to take the K-Pop industry by storm.

In this exclusive interview, we dive deeper into the aspirations and journey of this extraordinary group.

Hellokpop: Hi UNICODE, it’s nice to meet you. Please introduce yourself to our readers.

UNICODE: Input your eyes! Hi, We’re UNICODE!

Erin: Hello! I’m the leader of UNICODE. It’s nice to meet you, and I’ll do my best!

Yura: Hello! I’m Yura, the all-rounder of UNICODE.

Hana: Hi, I’m Hana! I’m in charge of happiness, smiles, and vitamins!

Soo-Ah: Hello! I’m Soo-Ah, who has a weird charm!

Mio: Hello! I’m Mio, the youngest of UNICODE’s unexpected charms.

ERIN

HKP: Congratulations on your debut! How does it feel to finally have your first mini-album, “HELLO WORLD : CODE J EP. 1,” out in the world?

UNICODE: It still feels like a dream! We are so excited and happy. I think we achieved our debut as singers, something that we dreamt of since we were young. I want to keep this overwhelming feeling forever.

HKP: What message or emotions do you hope listeners will take away from your debut album?

UNICODE: We hope you can always think of exciting and happy moments while listening to our songs and enjoy our bright and energetic performances. We’ll continue to sing songs that give hope and remind you of beautiful memories of the past, so please look forward to them!

HKP: The lyrics of your title track express heartfelt wishes and sincere feelings. How do you personally connect to the message of the song?

UNICODE: Our title song, “Let Me love,” produced by Jinyoung, is a city-pop song that contains a fresh and exciting confession of unrequited love. It shows UNICODE’s identity and kitsch charm well!

Mio: I couldn’t empathize with “Let Me love” at first because I had no experience with one-sided love. I was impressed by the Korean drama My Love from the Star, and I really loved Kim Soo-hyun’s character. But even now, I don’t know what unrequited love feels like.

YURA

HKP: Can you share any behind-the-scenes or TMI moments from creating the music video for the title track? How was it working with the director, Shindong, from SUPER JUNIOR?

UNICODE: We filmed the music video at an elementary school, and every time we went out to the playground, elementary school students cheered us on, saying, “UNICODE is the best!” It was so cute and fun! We think our music video turned out great because Shindong seonbaenim served as the video director and captured all the details so well.

HKP: What was it like working with producer Jinyoung on the title track, and how did his input influence the final outcome of the song?

UNICODE: We were so excited to receive our debut song from producer Jinyoung, who has been our role model. We were able to see why he became a successful star while working together and observing his thoughtfulness, musical knowledge, and know-how.

HKP: As the leader, Erin, how do you navigate leading the group and ensuring everyone’s voices are heard?

Erin: As a leader, I tend to listen to the members a lot so that they can lean on me. I wanted to become a reliable person so that when members have concerns, they can comfortably talk about their stories. I often hear that I am more mature than my age, but I think I am a good fit for the role of a leader, and it would be perfect if the members came to me whenever they were having a hard time.

HKP: Yura, as the main vocal, what aspects of your debut album are you most excited for fans to hear?

Yura: Our debut album [HELLO WORLD: CODE J EP.1], which has a total of six songs, is an album full of our charm and city pop mood! We’d appreciate it if you could enjoy our bright, energetic, and lovely performances with us!

HANA

HKP: Hana, Mio, and Soo-Ah, as vocalists, how do you approach expressing emotions through your singing in songs like your title track?

Hana: I tried to sing with a fluttering and trembling heart. I tried to express my shyness by practicing and singing in different ways with the mindset of “I’m ashamed but I’ll confess my honest heart!”

Mio: I haven’t experienced the feeling of unrequited love yet, so when I first heard “Let Me love,” it was hard to empathize with. I was impressed by the Korean drama, “My Love from the Star,” and I liked Kim Soo-hyun’s character. However, I don’t know the feeling of unrequited love yet.

Soo-Ah: I’m usually not very good at expressing myself when I talk to others, but, just like the lyrics suggest, I tried to sing as if I were bravely confessing my feelings. I sang with excitement, hoping that my feelings would reach the other person.

HKP: Could each member share their favorite song from the debut album “HELLO WORLD: CODE J EP. 1” and explain why it holds significance to them?

Erin: For me, it’s ‘Let me love!’ The biggest reason is that it’s our first title song, but I chose this song because the lyrics and melody are so nice!

Yura: It’s ‘Spring in my 20th!’ I like the intro because it has a refreshing and sentimental feeling, and the lyrics and melody are really good. When I listen to this song, it reminds me of spring. This is why I chose this song!

Hana: My favorite song is ‘Drizzle!’ The melody is great and it feels the most city pop among the other songs on our debut. I also chose this song because it has a Japanese vibe, and I thought it would be great to try a Japanese version of it someday!

Soo-Ah: My favorite song is ‘Blur!’ I chose this song because when you dance to it, it makes you feel happy and automatically puts a smile on your face!

Mio: For me, it’s ‘Blur’ too! I chose this song because the dreamy and cute lyrics, combined with the joyful and beautiful melody, make me feel like I’m the protagonist of an animation!

SOO-AH

HKP: How do you think your multicultural background influences your music and performance style as a group?

UNICODE: Our album’s concept is K-city pop, and since we know Japanese culture well, we were able to provide some advice on the city pop-inspired styling. In the future, we plan to showcase K-city pop with our own unique and diverse concepts.

HKP: Each member of UNICODE brings something unique to the group. Can you tell us a bit about your individual strengths and roles within the group dynamic?

Erin: I think my charm lies in my considerate nature! As the leader, I make an effort to listen carefully to the concerns and stories of the other members. Also, to improve my Korean, I write a diary in Korean every day.

Yura: As the main vocalist, I always take care of my voice to improve my live performance. I also have a habit of studying and practicing while watching videos of Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation.

Hana: I try to give the members bright energy to cheer them up whenever they practice and feel tired. We often talk about small but happy things while taking a walk together.

Soo-Ah: I often make the members laugh unintentionally. I’m happy when my words or actions make the members laugh.

Mio: I’m originally the oldest in my family, but I’m the youngest in the group, so my sisters think I’m cute. Unlike Hana, who is the youngest, I’m calm, so my sisters think I’m cute with a different charm.

MIO

HKP: Despite the postponement of your debut, you remained determined and eventually convinced your CEO to give you a chance. What motivated you to keep pursuing your dreams during that time?

UNICODE: Our strong desire to debut with our own songs on stage was the driving force behind our hard work. We really wanted to sing and dance, and we wanted to follow in the footsteps of our amazing seniors and show our unique K-city pop style. Whenever we were tired or discouraged, we found strength in watching and listening to the songs and works of our seniors, and we practiced even harder.

HKP: What sets UNICODE apart from other girl groups in terms of their music and concept?

UNICODE: Our group, UNICODE, is entirely composed of Japanese members! We plan to showcase our unique music through the genre of K-city pop. Although we still have a lot to learn and improve upon, we will do our best to present a cool and impressive image through various concepts.

HKP: Now that you’ve debuted, what are some goals or aspirations you have for the future as a group?

UNICODE: In the future, we want to perform on various stages together with the five members. Furthermore, we hope that our songs will bring happiness to many people as we perform on many stages around the world.

HKP: Lastly, please leave a message to your fans who have been supporting you throughout your journey.

UNICODE: We believe that the reason UNICODE exists is because of the fans who truly love and support us. We will do our best not to disappoint our fans and will repay their love with good music and performances. We love you. Thank you so much.