One year after their debut as the formidable K-pop act woo!ah!, the five women are back with a new, exquisite comeback album ‘WISH‘ that reinforces the idea that the group is only capable of delivering excellence. 

In the quintet’s year together, we had been exposed to two previous releases by the NV Entertainment artists, as the first group to represent the promising rookie label. Putting their best foot forward, woo!ah! kicked off an iconic addition to the industry during a difficult time by debuting mid-pandemic, ultimately giving people a chance to find solace from the comfort of pop music. Through their initial tracks, woo!ah! took time to let people discover and process their group’s hardworking energy with a sweet introduction to their love for pop music – but truly challenged themselves with their second release QURIOUS that amped up their dance tracks as a perfect presentation of their devotion to music. 

After the sensational production behind “Round & Round” and “I Don’t Miss U” the group has once again succeeded with their new album ‘WISH‘, finding new ways to raise their already high standards. After thinking it was impossible to appreciate woo!ah!’s energetic, organic-pop style anymore, ‘WISH’ takes the lessons of previous work and their desires to grow, which results in the group’s ability to pinpoint their trajectory through every detail-oriented concept. 

‘WISH‘ pulls from a variety of styles and production choices, leading with the piano-charged song “SCAREDY CAT” and journeys through a unique blend of vocal range and an unexpected rap addition. The woo!ah! track is an unforgettable start to listeners’ experience with ‘WISH’, and it’s braced by the lead single “Purple” as a follow-up. On “Purple” the group commits to a color-thematic idea that begins with a hip-hop beat and an ultimate carefree summer anthem, singing “All them haters, I don’t care” before eventually leading into a flawless post-chorus confidence in the final moments of the title song. The video for “Purple” fulfills their comeback concept with purple-twinged backdrops, fashion, and an overall vibe that respects the color’s association with creative royalty. 

The final track on ‘WISH’ titled “Pandora” and feels like woo!ah’s take on more traditional stylings of K-pop music, keeping a peppy consistency that marvelously fits in with the sounds of 3rd generation K-pop icons. Despite the fact that “Pandora” has that relatability to listeners, woo!ah!’s pursuit of “Purple” for their pivotal return creates a better understanding about the group – that they will always opt to creatively find ways to reform music. 

Now that ‘WISH‘ is out in the world to listen to (on repeat) we spoke to woo!ah! about the comeback era, how they hope future artists perceive them and remaining extremely focused on their craft. 

I’m so elated about your new release! How long would you say ‘WISH’ has been a work-in-progress? 

WOOYEON: Hello! Nice to meet you. This album ‘WISH’ took about 6 months to prepare. Considering the fans who are waiting for us, we worked hard to meet you with better music and more improved images!

I discovered your music over quarantine and immediately became a huge fan myself – and I’d have to say that “Round&Round” is my absolute favorite woo!ah! song prior to ‘WISH’. Of your three EP’s so far, what would you each choose as your favorite track to either record or perform so far? 

NANA: Right now, I think I listen to the song “I Don’t miss U” from the second single album the most! When performing, it’s a song that we can show a different charm as opposed to the title song “Bad Girl”, so I always have fun!

WOOYEON: I personally liked to develop more details while preparing for the album QURIOUS and while doing activities – and to have a bit of a challenge! I’m not sure about this ‘WISH‘ album because it hasn’t been active yet, but I want to give you energy through this album!

MINSEO: I like all the title songs and tracks that have been released so far. This is because each song has a different meaning and atmosphere. We can show our various charms to fans, so each song seems to have a different charm. As I recorded this album, with the thought of showing fans our music as soon as possible, so I think I recorded and practiced it in a new and fun way.

You just had a major milestone of a one-year anniversary, so congratulations! Considering it’s been a busy year, how have your bonds with one another evolved since your trainee days? 

NANA: Every time we released an album, we tried to show our worldview a little more accurately. I also practiced really hard so that my skills can support the images.

WOOYEON: Since the days of being trainees, ‘woo!ah!’ has always been filled with laughter because our teamwork has been great, and it seems that such energy gathers and creates synergy and further develops. And it seems to learn a lot and grow with the attention and love of fans!

SORA: First of all, thank you! Once the practice time started increasing, all of the members seemed to be more comfortable on the stage, and as we practiced hard, I think we have improved our skills!

LUCY: I practiced a lot so that I could make a lot of progress in terms of skills, and I put a lot of effort into making the gestures and expressions look natural and cool while practicing together.

MINSEO: Thank you so much for congratulating the 1st anniversary. When I was a trainee, I kept practicing and those days were often repeated, but after my debut, I think there are times when I stand on the stage, meet our fans, and get to really know myself a little better. I’m so happy that I made my debut!

If you were going to each choose a song from the new release that individually challenged you the most, what would you pick?  

NANA: It’s definitely the song called “Pandora”. It’s the first time I’ve heard and sung this kind of style, so I think I’ve worked harder to express the feeling.

WOOYEON: Personally, the title song “Purple” was the most difficult. I had to think a lot about how to understand the song well and how to digest it with a unique woo!ah! feeling. As it is the title song, I would say I put more effort into it. Even though it was difficult, it was a very fun process!

SORA: The song “Pandora” was the most difficult for me! The reason was that it was very difficult to express a feel for this song, and it was a high note right from the beginning, so I practiced a lot with the members!

LUCY: “Purple”, which had a lot of details to express, was a bit difficult. There were many parts that had to be worked on with great care on details – so I worked harder on it!

MINSEO: If I picked a song that says ‘I put a little more effort into it’ than ‘it was difficult’ for me, it seems to be “Purple”. It may be because “Purple” is the title song, but I thought a lot about how I can sing this song in a better voice for the fans. Still, I recorded all the songs very hard!

I’ve seen you perform a cover of 2NE1, and I know some of you have mentioned a respect Girls Generation as well! When your music is listened to by future generations of artists, what is something you’d deem important to the legacy of woo!ah! ? 

WOOYEON: In the future when our juniors listen to our music, we hope that they see the importance of our ability to digest songs, performance, and teamwork! In addition, we will work to maintain elegance and constantly strive to grow.

SORA: I hope our music can be addictive and that our group’s own colors can be shown! I also hope they think, ‘because woo!ah! could express this feeling, we can too.’

MINSEO: I hope they can listen to our music and listen closely to our own colored vocals! And I hope they can watch the performances that goes well with the music!

You really feel like a group that keeps gaining momentum with each release, so there’s always an added level of hype for a woo!ah! comeback! When you start a new project, do any of you have any unique methods to get in the right headspace? 

NANA: I think, first of all, I focus on the interpretation of the song with the mindset of starting from the beginning again and practicing hard!

SORA: We always work on projects while giving and receiving feedback from each other, especially the leader Nana, who bonds us well! We try to convey the meaning of the song well. Generally, it seems to be singing with sincerity so that fans can truly feel happy when they listen.

LUCY: I think it is important not to lose the original intention. The five members always talk a lot with each other, and each album is prepared with a new mindset so that we can show our growth.

Outside of working together, what is probably the next activity that the group spends the most time on? 

WOOYEON: Have a good feast together and practicing choreography!

LUCY: Since we have always been working hard on practice before our comeback, we spend the most time getting to practice together. Apart from ‘work’, we have been practicing steadily together.

MINSEO: It may be a small thing, but I think it’s when everyone laughs and talks at the dorm! Other than that, when we take a break and get to go out for a little shopping, so I think those!

You’re getting so much experience under your belt in the last year – so I can imagine that you’re also eager to perform for fans soon too! What would you each say you’re most excited about when it comes to a concert? (a certain song, stages, live vocals, etc.) 

NANA: I want to hear the cheers of ‘WOW’ the most and I’m looking forward to it! I really want to feel the heat of the real stage. I may cry right away.

WOOYEON: When we perform in front of our fans, we are most excited to show our stage to the fans and to show them in person in one space!

SORA: It’s the fans cheering! I think I’ll be so touched! Even now, my heart flutters and trembles all the time before I go up on the stage. If I listen to the cheers while performing in front of ‘WOW’s, I will be really happy.

LUCY: We are looking forward to the public’s reaction to see our performance stage in front of their eyes.

MINSEO: I’ve never heard of the fans’ cheering, so if I hear the cheering while I’m performing, I might be burst into tears. I hope the day of performing in front of the fans soon comes!

If you each had the opportunity to switch parts on a song with another member on the EP, who/what would you choose? 

NANA: I would love to try LUCY’s rap part ‘Why do you live the world so complicated’ from the song “SCAREDY CAT”!

WOOYEON: It’s LUCY’s rap part. Because I like rap, and LUCY always nail the rap parts well, so if I can change the part, I want to try the rap part.

SORA: It’s also LUCY’s rap part from the song “PURPLE” for me!

LUCY: Everyone took parts in each killing parts, but if I have to choose, I would choose NANA’s part ‘I can’t help it because I met my eyes anyway, just come and tell me’ from the song called “SCAREDY CAT”. 

MINSEO: I want to try the rap part of LUCY, because I have never tried it before! (laughs)

Your newly named fandom ‘WOW’ has been so excited to receive new music, and I’m sure you’re equally excited to reveal it to them as well! What do you think will surprise people most about the new chapter of woo!ah! ? 

NANA: woo!ah!’s more advanced skills and performance! And it’s the liveliness of the music video! Just like the name of our group ‘woo!ah!’, we hope we can inspire admiration and excitement. I’ll show you a stage to make the people saying ‘woo!ah!’ with excitement, feel inspired.

WOOYEON: It seems to be our developed performances with our other, different charms! LUCY and NANA showed a different style with bangs, and I think you might like that part as well.

SORA: It is a piece of addictive music and has great performances! If you listen to all three songs in ‘WISH’ once, these will continue to linger in your ears.

LUCY: You will be most surprised by our improved skills and performance! Everyone seems to have improved a lot in the vocal part. Dance also expresses powerful movements, and we tried to convey our liveliness! Please look forward to it.

MINSEO: I think you will be surprised to see our music and performances that are different from before (laughs). I can’t wait to show you soon!

Check out the woo!ah! EP ‘WISH’ here, and the music video for “Purple” above!