[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] MIMIIROSE’s ‘REEBON’: A Celebration of Growth and New Beginnings

In this exclusive interview, MIMIIROSE discusses their latest single album, new members, and a message for Bloomies.

MIMIIROSE, the seven-member girl group that first blossomed onto the K-Pop scene in 2022, has been captivating hearts with their vibrant energy, undeniable talent, and a sound that’s as fresh as a bouquet of roses. From their debut single album ‘Awesome’ to their subsequent releases like “Live” in 2023, the group has firmly established themselves as rising stars in the industry, showcasing their growth and evolution as artists. Their journey has been marked by a series of exciting milestones, each one revealing a new layer of their musicality and charm.

This year has been particularly transformative for MIMIIROSE. After signing with a new agency (POCKET 7 Entertainment) and embracing a bold new identity with their capitalized name, the group welcomed two new members, Anna and Ye Rin, in August, adding fresh energy and dynamic. Now, with their expanded lineup and a renewed sense of purpose, they are ready to take the K-Pop world by storm once again.  Their third single album, ‘REEBON,’ released on August 16th, reflects their resilience and unwavering spirit, highlighting both their individual colors and their collective experiences and aspirations.

In this exclusive interview with Hellokpop, we catch up with MIMIIROSE to discuss their latest single album, ‘REEBON,’ get to know the new members, Anna and Ye Rin, and explore their experiences as a newly expanded group. Join us as we uncover the passion and dedication that fuels their musical journey and get a glimpse into their aspirations for the future.

Hellokpop: Hi MIMIIROSE! Thank you for speaking to Hellokpop. Could each member briefly introduce themselves and their role in the group?

Yeon Jae: Hello. I’m Yeon Jae, the leader and main dancer of MIMIIROSE. Nice to meet you!

Hyo Ri: Hello. I’m Hyo Ri, the lead vocalist of MIMIIROSE!

Ye Won: Hello! I’m Ye Won, the main vocalist of MIMIIROSE.

Jia: Hello. I’m Jia, the main rapper of MIMIIROSE!

Anna: Hello, I’m Anna, the only Japanese member of MIMIIROSE!

Yun Ju: Hello. I’m Yun Ju, the 20-year-old with a 4-dimensional charm in MIMIIROSE!

Ye Rin: Hello! I’m Ye Rin, the new youngest member with various charms and the sub-vocalist of MIMIIROSE!Congratulations on the release of your third single album, ‘REEBON!’

HKP: How would you describe the overall concept and mood of this album?

MIMIIROSE: The third single album, REEBON, has a double meaning, combining “reborn,” signifying a new birth, with “ribbon,” referring to a string or tie. It features lovely concepts we’ve never shown, a title track filled with our strong ambitions, and various other songs. The album conveys both innocence and strength, aiming to give courage to many people.

HKP: What message or feeling do you hope fans will take away from ‘REEBON’?

Yeon Jae: Just as MIMIIROSE has persevered through countless struggles and setbacks without giving up, I want to convey the message that our Bloomies should also overcome any difficulties that come their way, always together with MIMIIROSE. If any Bloomies are going through a tough time right now, I hope this album can bring them comfort!

Hyo Ri: While this song resonates with our own experiences, we know that difficult situations aren’t unique to us. Everyone carries their own worries and pains. So, when our fans face challenging times, I hope they find solace in remembering MIMIIROSE’s smiles that bloomed amidst hardship and gain the strength to move forward and smile again. We want to connect with Bloomies through these shared smiles, offering mutual comfort and courage. It’s about growing stronger together with Bloomies.

Ye Won: Just like the title of our title track and its lyrics, I hope you feel that MIMIIROSE has put in a lot of effort to finally bloom despite the difficult path we’ve walked.

Jia: I hope our title track, “The Flowers Swayed,” can serve as a catalyst for those experiencing hardships and pain to overcome those challenges and rise again.

Anna: When you feel so overwhelmed that you want to give up, or when you need encouragement or energy, I hope you can listen to our album and songs and gain strength!

Yun Ju: This album’s songs are very refreshing and innocent, so we can show you many new sides of MIMIIROSE. Also, since we’re together with the new MIMIIROSE members, we’ll show you the diverse charms of seven members, so please look forward to it!

Ye Rin: The first time I heard this title track, I felt comforted, as if it was telling me that someday I would bloom as a flower called ‘me.’ I hope that those who listen to our music can feel the same way and find the courage to rise again and start anew!

HKP: The title track, “The Flowers Swayed,” is quite intriguing. What’s the story behind this song, and what does the title mean?

MIMIIROSE: The title track, “The Flowers Swayed,” quotes a poem by poet Do Jong-hwan and contains messages that the youth of this generation can relate to. Just as all beautiful flowers in this world bloom while swaying, all growth comes with trials, and by overcoming those trials, we can grow and bloom even more beautifully. This song carries that hopeful message. There was a time when we worried if we could ever resume our activities, but now, overcoming those challenges has become an opportunity for us to show an even more mature and grown MIMIIROSE.

HKP: Among the songs in ‘REEBON,’ which track or specific lyrics resonate with you the most personally, and why?

Yeon Jae: I’m most drawn to our title track, “The Flowers Swayed.” There’s a part in our lyrics that changes from “I want to smile” in the first and second verses to “I am smiling” in the final chorus. That part resonates with me the most because it feels like it means that no matter what happens, all seven of us will be smiling in the end.

Hyo Ri: Personally, I love the song “ribbon” the most. The lyrics “Even if I try to run away, I’ll get tangled up again” are particularly striking. During a difficult time, the love from my members and Bloomies felt like a ribbon that tangled around me, but it also tied me together firmly. That’s why the keyword “tangled” felt inevitable to me. It made me think, “Sometimes there are knots you don’t want to untie. Tangled things are beautiful in their own way.”

Ye Won: In the title track, the part where my line changes from “I want to smile” to “I am smiling” in the final chorus resonates most with me. It’s impressive how it conveys that even though we initially struggled amidst the wind, we can now smile brightly even in those moments.

Jia: My favorite song is “ribbon.” It’s a cute and innocent love story, a style that MIMIIROSE hasn’t tried before, so I feel more attached to it and put more care into it.

Anna: In the title track “The Flowers Swayed,” I love the part that says, “When the dazzling sun shines on me, I will become the main character.” The strong lyrics about my life being my own resonate with me.

Yun Ju: The song that resonates with me the most is our title track, “The Flowers Swayed,” specifically the lyrics “I am smiling, even if I’m torn in the wind, where is the flower that blooms without swaying.” These lyrics seem to express our difficult times, so I think I’ll get emotional when I hear fan chants during music shows. Especially during our last music show, I think I’ll be overwhelmed and cry.

Ye Rin: The second track on our album, “ribbon,” is my favorite. I interpret the lyrics “Pretty and Tight” as “We won’t come undone because we’re pretty and strong. Even if the string gets tangled, we’ll untangle it, tie the ribbon tightly, and start anew.” That’s why it resonates with me the most. I think the song beautifully captures both the lovely, pretty, and beautiful image usually associated with ribbons and the story of strong girls who appear firm and unwavering. It’s a great song for lifting your mood.

HKP: Were there any memorable moments during the music video shoot that you can share?

Yeon Jae: We went to Jeju Island for the music video shoot during the hottest time of the year. All the locations were outdoors, and especially during the yacht scene, everyone got really seasick. The sunlight was so strong that we ended up filming with our eyes closed. I was worried, thinking, ‘I need to keep my eyes open to look pretty…’ but thankfully, it turned out beautifully in the end.

Hyo Ri: That’s right. Everyone was excited when we first got on the yacht, but after about 20 minutes, everyone was struggling with seasickness, and that’s the moment I remember the most. Not only the members but also the hair and makeup staff and even the music video director suffered a lot from seasickness. As soon as my filming was over, I lay down on a chair, but the waves were felt all over my body, and it was so agonizing that I kept chanting to myself, ‘I am a fish… I was born to ride the waves…’ I fell asleep like that. And I don’t remember well, but I remember having a dream about The Little Mermaid and waking up feeling refreshed. It might sound strange, but that chant definitely had a positive effect on me, one way or another.

Anna: Actually, every moment was memorable, but I think the yacht scene was the most impressive for me, too. Apart from the difficulty of seasickness, the sun and the sea were beautiful, and I was deeply moved by it.

Yun Ju: It was the first time I realized that all of MIMIIROSE members get seasick, and I remember that even though it was tough, the sea was so beautiful.

Ye Won: There was a scene where we filmed in a vast field. The moment that remains most in my memory is when I finished my individual shoot and saw a deer resting nearby.

Jia: The group dance shoot, which was the very last part of the filming, is the most memorable for me. I think I got emotional thinking that the comeback preparations were finally over with this shoot.

Ye Rin: Unlike the older members who have experience filming music videos, this was my first music video shoot, so I lacked confidence and was very worried. But I’m so grateful that I could film alongside the best seniors, my ‘sisters,’ right by my side. I learned a lot, and it was such a precious time.

HKP: What was the most challenging part of preparing for this comeback, and how did you overcome it?

Yeon Jae: Honestly, as the preparation period got longer, I felt anxious and exhausted. But by frequently communicating with Bloomies through live broadcasts, I regained my composure and worked hard, which led us to meet our Bloomies again.

Hyo Ri: Recording was the most challenging for me. I developed vocal cord nodules during the recording of this album, and the main cause was coughing. My cough was so severe that I had to sleep sitting up at night. After the nodules appeared, my other conditions recovered quickly, but my voice wouldn’t come out at all because of the continuous coughing. I managed to record somehow but had no control over my vocal cords. I needed to use falsetto, but even that was impossible. So, I remember recording separately and then re-recording depending on my condition. Despite my throat condition, the recordings turned out well, but I can’t help but wonder how it would have been if I had recorded in full health.

Ye Won: The vocal style was new to me, so it was a bit challenging, but the producers gave such great direction during recording that I could overcome it quickly.

Jia: Since this is our first time performing as seven members, we put extra effort into synchronizing our choreography. Also, this choreography was incredibly difficult, so it was challenging to perfect the details.

Yun Ju: It was a bit difficult to match the timing with the new members for the first time, but we, MIMIIROSE, always have a saying we chant together: ‘In the end, MIMIIROSE overcomes difficulties!’ We practiced hard with that mindset. Since the new members had a short preparation time, we focused on getting close and helping each other to overcome the challenges.

Anna: As this is my debut, the anxiety was the hardest part. Whenever I felt that way, I would write down my goals and plans in a notebook again to motivate myself.

Ye Rin: I was so grateful and happy for this sudden opportunity, but I was also overwhelmed by self-doubt, anxiety, and fear. Overcoming these feelings was the most difficult part. However, through various experiences, I’m becoming stronger, and thanks to the six older sisters I can rely on, I feel more stable. Whenever I listen to our title track, “The Flowers Swayed,” I gain the strength to rise again and overcome the difficulties I face.

HKP: If you could switch parts with another member for any song on the album, who would you choose, and for which part?

Yeon Jae: I’d like to try a part change in the title track, specifically Yunju’s part, “Where is the flower that blooms without swaying.”

Hyo Ri: I also like Ye Won’s part in ‘ribbon’, “Scream all you want ’cause loving is hard but Venus is dead, you who trusted me are so dumb.” The lyrics and melody of this part are totally my style. Ye Won already sang it beautifully, but I’d love to try reinterpreting it in my own way.

Ye Won: I envy Hyo Ri’s part in the bridge of “ribbon,” the “Clearly more” part!

Jia: I want to try Yeon Jae’s part in the title track. I really like the lyrics “I try to smile” in the bridge, so I want to sing it.

Anna: In the title track, during Yun Ju’s last chorus part, when everyone lines up, I want to try stepping forward from the center! (laughs)

Ye Rin: I’m interested in Yeon Jae’s part in the second verse of the second track that goes, “Choose love or lie, the secret distance, thrilling gaming time”! The beat that repeats in the hook quiets down in this part, changing the mood and highlighting the attractive voice, so I wanted to try it, too!

Yun Ju: Me too! I really like Yeon Jae’s part in ‘ribbon’. It’s addictive, and the melody keeps playing in my head.

HKP: How would you describe the visual aesthetics of this comeback, and how do they differ from your previous releases?

Yeon Jae: While our second album captivated your hearts with a dark and powerful image, this album offers easy-listening music that you can enjoy without getting tired of, with lovely and pink “ribbon”-like songs.

Hyo Ri: Keywords like refreshing, cool, lovely, and innocent come to mind. We did showcase a refreshing vibe in our debut song, “Rose,” but this is the first time we’re showing a lovely and innocent side. And since our previous album had a particularly strong and intense concept, some might find this change a bit unfamiliar. However, I believe this more girlish and lively energy, shedding the mature image, blends well with us.

Ye Won: Compared to the previous album, this one has a completely different, bright atmosphere. Just looking at our album cover, I think there’s also a ‘kitschy’ vibe.

Jia: I want to describe this album with the keyword “flowers in full bloom.” In our first album, which also had a refreshing concept, we were like buds gradually blooming. This time, as the song title suggests, we’re showing that we are “flowers that have bloomed despite swaying.”

Anna: If MIMIIROSE’s second album had a cool atmosphere, this one has a clean and beautiful feeling. Please look forward to our new look!

Yun Ju: The biggest change is that we’ve welcomed new members and are trying innocent, sentimental, and cute concepts that we’ve never done before. I hope people will see it and say, “Wow, MIMIIROSE can pull off these concepts too!”

Ye Rin: Unlike the styles MIMIIROSE has shown before, I think this one highlights loveliness even more! Just like our album cover features characters that seem like they’d be in an animation, we visualized our determination and excitement for a fresh start through a retro aesthetic.

HKP: Who do you think fits the ‘REEBON’ concept the best, and why?

Yeon Jae: I think Yun Ju suits it well. Personally, I thought Yun Ju’s voice fits this album’s songs really well, and she has a princess-like aura. That clear and pretty atmosphere seems to match this album the best.

Hyo Ri: Honestly, it’s me. (laughs). It’s because I struggled a lot with the last album. It was very different from the image I had, so I had to work really hard on my mindset. But the energetic and lovely vibe we’re showcasing in this album feels closer to my original image. So, I didn’t feel the need to pretend. I realized, ‘Ah, I’m comfortable with this concept,’ so I chose myself.

Ye Won: It’s Yun Ju. She fits well with “ribbon” and expresses the young and fresh emotions well.

Jia: I think it’s Yun Ju. I remember her portraying the atmosphere of the song well during the title track’s music video shoot, so I chose her.

Anna: Everyone suits it well, but I think number one is me! (laughs). Aside from the visual concept, I felt that my experiences of overcoming many setbacks and my strong will to never give up perfectly match the album’s concept!

Yun Ju: I think the youngest members (Anna, Yun Ju, Ye Rin) best suit the ‘REEBON’ album concept. Honestly, we can pull off any concept, but as the youngest, I think we can express the innocent and cute style well.

Ye Rin: I think Hyo Ri suits this album’s concept well. Not only does she have an inherently lovely and beautiful appearance, but her inner strength is also well-expressed in the songs, so I thought she fits the best.

HKP: Each MIMIIROSE member has their own unique charm. Can you share how your individual charms shine through in this album?

Yeon Jae: While I showed a charismatic side in the previous album, in this album, you’ll be able to see my innocent and refreshing “eye smile!”

Hyo Ri: Personally, I feel like I’m wearing the most fitting clothes among all the albums I’ve done so far. I think you’ll feel good just seeing how my vibe and the song’s vibe harmonize.

Ye Won: I believe the charm of my vocals will shine through!

Jia: Although I originally had a somewhat strong image, I think this song will also showcase my lovely charm!

Anna: I think my charm lies in my strong will to flap my wings towards the top.

Yun Ju: I think my charm is a unique mix of 4-dimensional and innocent qualities, and I’ll be able to show these charms on stage!

Ye Rin: As part of the maknae line, I think my lovely and cute charm stands out!

HKP: What makes you proud to be a member of MIMIIROSE?

Yeon Jae: I’m proud that we always have Bloomies behind us, and I’m proud to be with these wonderful members right now.

Hyo Ri: I don’t think there’s another team as diverse as ours. It’s truly an honor to be a part of a team with such a variety of colors. We have a great bond, and the fact that we’re pursuing the same dream with such amazing friends feels like a precious opportunity in life.

Ye Won: I’m proud to be working with such talented members.

Jia: We have great members and great songs. As an idol, I believe we should always repay our fans with good music and performances. I’m happy to be able to do that as a part of mimiirose.

Anna: Our teamwork is something to be proud of. We respect each other’s strengths and understand each other’s weaknesses.

Yun Ju: I’m so proud to be able to create performances with such amazing older and younger members!

Ye Rin: As a 7-member group, we have so many new and diverse sides of mimiirose to show. I’m very proud that we can present these various charms to our Bloomies.

HKP: Lastly, please leave a message for your fans.

Yeon Jae: Bloomies, thank you for always being by our side. Whether you’re going through tough times or happy times, I’ll always be there for you – in front, beside, behind, or even diagonally from you. I love you!

Hyo Ri: Bloomies – I’m so sorry that I couldn’t keep my promise of not making you wait too long. I feel like all that’s left is to repay you for your wait by doing my best. I can’t say that the road ahead will be easy, but I want to tell you that it will be happy. That’s all I can do, and I’ll work hard for that. I’m always grateful and I love you, Bloomies!

Ye Won: Bloomies, we’ll bring you even better results since you’ve waited so long. Please look forward to it and continue to show us lots of love!

Jia: Bloomies! I’m so sorry for making you wait for so long, and I’m also so grateful. I love you. We’ve come back with even better quality because you waited, so please show us lots of anticipation and love. Thank you so much.

Anna: Thank you for reading until the end!! I’ll do my best and work hard. I hope Bloomies will cheer us on, too. Please look forward to mimiirose’s various growth in the future!

Yun Ju: Our Bloomies who have waited for so long. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t tell you properly every time you said you missed us. We’ve prepared a lot of new things for this comeback since you waited, and I’m already happy thinking you’ll like it. I hope we can happily wrap up this album, too. The new members have also worked really hard in a short time, so please look upon them kindly. Thank you so, so much for always being by our side and giving us courage and strength. mimiirose loves you a lot!

Ye Rin: This late summer, how about blooming the flower that might be swaying, wilting, or yet to sprout in a corner of your heart together with me? I love you, Bloomies!

Connect with the members of MIMIIROSE on Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, and MIMIIROSE Talk. 

Listen to their discography on Spotify or Apple Music.

*Special thanks to the members of MIMIIROSE and POCKET7 Entertainment for this exclusive interview.

Image and Video Credits: POCKET7 Entertainment.