[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] RESCENE on Visuals, Vocals, and Versatility of First EP ‘SCENEDROME’

RESCENE is making waves with their first mini-album, and they’re just getting started. Dive into our exclusive interview to discover the magic behind ‘SCENEDROME.’

RESCENE, the dynamic five-member girl group comprised of WONI, LIV, MINAMI, MAY, and ZENA, has been captivating K-Pop fans since their debut earlier this year. From their pre-release single “YoYo” to their official debut with “UhUh,” the group has showcased a unique blend of talent, charisma, and a fearless approach to music. RESCENE is not just another girl group; they’re poised to leave a lasting mark on the K-Pop scene.

Their highly-anticipated first mini-album, ‘SCENEDROME,’ released on August 27th, has already made a significant splash in the industry, garnering attention from fans and critics alike. The album’s double title tracks are a rollercoaster ride for your ears!  “LOVE ATTACK” will have you vibing to its infectious energy, while “Pinball” showcases their incredible vocals in a way that’ll give you chills, proving they can slay any concept. However, the album’s wow factor is further amplified by their visually stunning concept images and teaser films that elevate the MZ mermaidcore trend, highlighting the group’s versatility and captivating energy and leaving listeners eager to explore the full spectrum of their musicality.

In this exclusive interview, our second with the talented group, RESCENE dives deep into the creation of ‘SCENEDROME,’ sharing insights into their creative process, the inspiration behind the double title tracks, and the message they hope to convey through their music. Join us as we explore the vibrant world of RESCENE and discover the passion and dedication that drives these five remarkable artists.

Hellokpop: Hello again, RESCENE! Congratulations on releasing your first mini album, SCENEDROME! Can you tell us about its concept and how it represents RESCENE’s identity?

WONI: This album showcases a bright energy that RESCENE hasn’t shown before, with a concept that contrasts with our debut album.

LIV: This time, we’ve returned with the scent of Ambergris~ RESCENE, the MZ mermaid princesses, have come out of the sea and into the city to find Ambergris! You can see a different image from the previous album to welcome the late summer.

MINAMI: This album expresses a refreshing and youthful image suitable for late summer, and I think you’ll be able to see a different side of RESCENE from our debut album ‘SCENEDROME.’

MAY: If I were to explain it using keywords, I think it would be MZ, mermaid, and finding Ambergris.

ZENA: The concept of this album is a refreshing, cool, and youthful image centered around the MZ mermaid princess and paparazzi.

HKP: If you had to choose one word or phrase to describe ‘SCENEDROME,’ what would it be and why?

WONI: I think it’s refreshing. I felt a lot of refreshing feelings while preparing for this album.

LIV: ‘MZ mermaid princess,’ because the concept, outfits, and content of this album are about MZ mermaids who came out of the sea to the city.

MINAMI: I think it’s ‘challenge.’ In this album, all five of us did our best to show a new side to the public and our fans, and for the first time, we ‘challenged’ ourselves in various ways, such as styling and choreography concepts, so I think it can be expressed as “challenge.”

MAY: SCENEDROME itself. I think the only word to describe SCENEDROME is ‘SCENEDROME.’

ZENA: ‘SCENEDROME’ is a summer MZ mermaid princess. This is because it is an MZ mermaid princess concept that captures the refreshing and cool atmosphere of summer.

HKP: Your album features double title tracks, “LOVE ATTACK” and “Pinball.” Can you tell us about the concept and message behind these two songs?

RESCENE: The first title song, “LOVE ATTACK,” contains the message that ‘when we are together, each other’s value shines even more’” and “Pinball” is a song in which a girl who encounters her first love compares her clumsy feelings to a pinball game and feels new emotions she didn’t know before.

HKP: How would you describe the sound and style of “LOVE ATTACK” compared to “Pinball?”

WONI: While “LOVE ATTACK” uses intense distortion that feels like tearing, “Pinball” has a rich sound with many stacked harmonies.

LIV: “LOVE ATTACK” is made grand by the intense guitar sound, whereas “Pinball” is a calmer song.

MINAMI: “LOVE ATTACK” is a song with a strong atmosphere, but on the contrary, “Pinball” has a mysterious and dreamy atmosphere, so I think both title songs are good to listen to, depending on your mood.

MAY: “LOVE ATTACK” is a bright, bouncy song with an intense atmosphere, and “Pinball” is a calmer and more atmospheric, dreamy song than “LOVE ATTACK.”

ZENA: If “LOVE ATTACK” has a refreshing and lovely atmosphere, “Pinball” is a song with a calmer and more fluttering feeling.

HKP: Talented lyricists such as Bang Hye-yeon, Woo Seung-yeon, and The Muze participated in the lyrics of the title track. How was the process of working with them? How did their diverse styles influence the message of the song?

WONI: First of all, I was excited because it was a song with a concept I was trying for the first time, and I also thought I wanted to try a bright song. It was a bright song, but the song was also good, so I remember having fun recording it.

LIV: When I first heard the song, the melody stuck in my ears, and I really enjoyed the process of practicing recording.

MINAMI: I think because it’s a song with such talented composers, we prepared for this album with more confidence and boldness while working on it. I worked hard in various ways so that fans could hear “RESCENE’s songs are good.”

MAY: It was easier to understand the feel of the song through the lyrics, and I liked that they expressed ambiguous emotions well, which helped a lot when recording.

ZENA: I think they captured the mood of the song and the lovely feeling well. I think I was able to understand the message of the song well.

HKP: Can you tell us about the B-side tracks “Lucky You” and “New World”? What can fans expect from these songs?

WONI: “Lucky You” is an impactful song that opens the door to ‘SCENEDROME,’ and “New World” feels like going on a trip, so I think fans will like it even more.

LIV: I think the song styles of ‘Lucky You” and “New World” are different, but I think ‘Lucky You’ gives a strong impression from the intro, and “New World” is a song that can be seen as cute in a way.

MINAMI: “Lucky You” is a grand and confident song that heralds the beginning of this album, and “New World” is a bright and cute song that fans will like. Personally, as soon as I heard “New World,” I thought REMINE would like it.

MAY: “Lucky You” can be seen as the first track to open the door to the ‘SCENEDROME’ album, but it’s a grand song that firmly sets the tone and starts, so I think it’s really good as a starting song.

ZENA: “Lucky You” literally means Lucky You! You who met me are very lucky! It’s a confident song with high self-esteem. “New World” is an exciting song where you imagine going to a ‘New World’ when everything is boring and boring (in the present world), just like the content in the lyrics.

HKP: Which member do you think embodies the ‘SCENEDROME’ concept the most, and why? Did anyone surprise you by really shining in this new concept?

WONI: MINAMI cut her bangs into a full bang, so her image changed a lot, and the feeling changed too. I think her facial expressions and image go well with this album.

LIV: Everyone! Because I thought all the members fit the outfits and concept, and I thought the makeup and hair all looked good on them. I also think that the music video shoot has grown a lot compared to the previous album.

MINAMI: To be honest, in this album, it’s impossible to pick just one person because everyone digested this concept well, and I think that when five people are together, like “LOVE ATTACK,” they shine even more.

MAY: I think it’s ZENA and MINAMI, whose hair has noticeably changed!

ZENA: I think it’s me. I dyed my hair and got a little closer to our mermaid concept.

HKP: As this is your first mini album, what was the most challenging part of the recording and preparation process?

WONI: I think “LOVE ATTACK” was difficult because the breathing section was ambiguous.

LIV: In ‘SCENEDROME,’ all four songs have to capture the feeling really well, but it was difficult to properly understand the song’s content.

MINAMI: Since there are four songs in total, it was a little difficult because I had to memorize the melody and beat of the four songs in a short time, but I think I had fun recording all four songs because they were good.

MAY: Since it was the first time to prepare four songs together, it took time to set the mood, point, and atmosphere for each song.

ZENA: Unlike my debut, I didn’t have much time to practice recording, so I think there were some changes or difficulties while recording. For example, I remember that the pronunciation and beat of the lyrics “Switch my world 바꿀 time” in “New World” was difficult.

HKP: Which song on the album was the most fun to record, and why?

WONI: I think the overall process of teaching and learning from each throughout the album was fun.

LIV: “New World,” because I think the members’ tones go really well together, and it was even more fun to record in harmony.

MINAMI: Personally, I had fun recording “Pinball” because the song has a difficult melody and beat, so I practiced a lot. However, as I practiced, I got used to it, and it was fun because I sang well when recording!

MAY: “LOVE ATTACK” was the song I was most curious about and looking forward to, but I think it was the most fun to hear it get filled up while recording.

ZENA: I think “New World” or “Pinball” because these two songs fit my well with range and are songs that can express my voice well.

HKP: Can you share any memorable moments or funny stories from filming the music video or album trailer?

WONI: While filming, MAY went to a sticker store, and I remember spending all the money I exchanged.

LIV: The most memorable moment was the underwater filming for the album trailer. It was my first underwater shoot, and I was so nervous and shaky, but looking back, it was fun! The fun part was filming the ‘New World’ music video on Santa Monica Beach. We were practically playing while filming, riding games and rides, so it was really fun and happy.

MINAMI: The underwater shoot, which I tried for the first time during the album trailer shoot, is the most memorable. I thought we were all going into the water together, so it was okay, but later I found out I was going in alone, and I was a little scared, but I did it!

MAY: There are so many, but I think the filming in the U.S. is the most memorable. I won’t be able to forget when we all went to Santa Monica Beach together. Rather than filming, it felt like traveling, and I think I laughed the most.

ZENA: I remember most vividly acting with my hands covered in oil while filming the concept film.

HKP: How do you think RESCENE has grown since its debut? 

WONI: I think we (RESCENE) have grown (and continue to grow) by making you feel the bright energy in our performances while also enjoying the music.

LIV: I put a lot of thought into expressing myself through the songs and the overall album. I’m so happy with how everything turned out; it feels like a whole new me! So, to express my color in this album, I want to use sky blue. I want our music to give everyone a feeling of refreshment and coolness.

MINAMI: While we were preparing for our comeback, we tried to become closer to our fans through live broadcasts. We also practiced hard all night long to improve our skills and even went to the U.S. to film a music video!

MAY: I think we’ve grown since our debut, as we’ve become a little closer to the camera and found our own feel!

ZENA: When we debuted, I had a chic image, but now I think I can show you my cheerfulness and coolness on stage.

HKP: What are your goals or aspirations for RESCENE for the rest of 2024?

WONI: I want to receive the Rookie of the Year award!

LIV: RESCENE’s goal for the rest of 2024 is to receive the Rookie of the Year award while working enjoyably without anyone getting hurt!

MINAMI: Our goal is to win the Rookie of the Year award by running hard until the end of 2024 without losing strength.

MAY: Our RESCENE is a group that looks ahead and moves forward diligently, so we will continue to work hard! I will do it.

ZENA: I really want to receive the Rookie of the Year award in 2024, and I will always be RESCENE who works hard!

HKP: Lastly, what message would you like to send to your fans who have been eagerly waiting for this mini-album?

WONI: As much as you’ve been waiting for our comeback, I hope REMINE will listen to our songs and be happy. Thank you for waiting, REMINE! We’ll continue to work hard, so please keep an eye on us! We’ll make you happy.

LIV: You’ve waited for a long time, right? We’ve missed you so much! Following our last album ‘RE:SCENE,’ we’re excited to present our new album ‘SCENEDROME’ with its unique Ambergris scent. We poured our hearts into all four songs, so we hope you’ll listen to and enjoy them! And most of all, please give a lot of love to RESCENE. We’ll continue to work hard and improve for REMINE! We’ll always be by your side. I love you, REMINE!

MINAMI: REMINE! Have you been waiting for a long time? We worked hard and tried to show you a more beautiful side because we wanted to show it to REMINE as soon as possible. There will be many opportunities to meet many REMINE during this promotion, so please look forward to it and see you often!

MAY: REMINE, thank you so much for patiently waiting for us! We appreciate you for always waiting for RESCENE in the same place. We’ve worked really hard to repay you with this comeback, so please look forward to it!

ZENA: RESCENE is finally back! Even though the hot summer is ending, let’s reminisce about those sunny days and enjoy the rest of the season with our cool new music. We love you, REMINE! Please show us lots of love!