In simply two months, MEOVV has leaped onto the Okay-pop scene by showcasing a promising vary and daring artistry set to claw out a legacy all their very own.
The five-member lady group is the first-ever launched by THEBLACKLABEL, the company based by legendary producer Teddy with over 25 years in crafting Okay-pop classics by the likes of BIGBANG, 2NE1, PSY and BLACKPINK, that now homes high expertise like Rosé, Taeyang, Jeon Somi and extra. The joy round MEOVV’s debut translated right into a document cope with Columbia Data, tens of millions of views on the group’s intriguing, fashion-forward teaser visuals, and daring debut single “MEOW” roaring onto Billboard’s World Digital Music Gross sales chart at No. 10 in September.
Regardless of the ultra-polished visuals and Teddy’s guiding hand, MEOVV balances uncooked confidence and relatability as seen of their two new singles: the energetic anthem “BODY” and emotionally charged “TOXIC.” The songs set up the five-piece’s immense vary of potential, effortlessly transitioning from a fierce, pump-up monitor to a throbbing, electro-pop midtempo with common emotional resonance.
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MEOVV members Sooin, Gawon, Anna, Narin and Ella’s spectacular multilingual talents — in a position to talk in English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese language, and Spanish — are matched by an plain heat and relatability. Talking with Billboard from Seoul throughout a night Zoom name, the members spoke largely in English however flowed seamlessly between languages, exuding a real camaraderie that belied their comparatively quick time as a gaggle. Even with simply months underneath their belts as a crew, the group spoke in regards to the delight they’d of their music (particularly as “TOXIC” was co-written by Gawon and Narin) and hoping to be a spot of consolation for followers (emphasizing how they wish to be relatable and genuine).
As MEOVV proceed to prowl ahead on their journey collectively, get to know the Okay-Pop Rookie of the Month for November 2024 as they share particulars about how they shaped, recommendation from BLACKPINK, their inside cats and extra.
MEOVV simply debuted in September with two new singles in November. How have these previous couple of weeks and months been for you?
GAWON: Wow. Tremendous hectic, however very thrilling.
ELLA: The place we got here out with our debut solely a few month in the past, we acquired to see quite a bit about how we sort of are on stage in entrance of individuals so it was actually a great studying time period to see what we might do higher, what we might perhaps work on or hold doing. It was like a great time to be taught and develop. And now we’re prepared for our subsequent launch.
Are you able to inform us how MEOVV shaped and what it was like when the 5 of you got here collectively?
NARIN: All of us come from completely different backgrounds and have lived very completely different lives. So once we first met at THEBLACKLABEL, we had been like full strangers. However I feel we additionally had that robust connection to one another since all of us love music — we have now a robust, shared ardour for music, shared imaginative and prescient, frequent pursuits and all the pieces. I feel it was very pure for us to attach to one another and actually turn into a crew.
GAWON: Yeah, I feel that simply introduced us collectively. After which in the future we simply discovered ourselves recording “MEOW,” filming movies, making ready, and rehearsing. SOOIN unnie and I knew one another from just a few years again after which we reunited at THEBLACKLABEL and it was like, “Oh my God, what the heck, you’re right here!”
NARIN: And I feel once we first began recording our first debut music, “MEOW,” all of us have so completely different voices and it’s very distinctive, however when recording, it was all identical to turning into one music.
GAWON: And I feel we began to really feel like, “Oh, this makes a lot sense.” Like, once we had been additionally within the studio, we simply sonically made sense. At the moment, we didn’t actually like, know one another on a deeper, deeper degree so I feel by these sort of processes and making ready for our debut, we acquired to know one another and we bonded over that. I feel it simply felt proper. Yeah, it felt proper.
You’re the first group from THEBLACKLABEL, tens of millions of individuals have considered simply your trailer teasers, the “MEOW” music video earned over 30 million views. Did you are feeling strain to stay as much as any expectations?
ELLA: I feel there positively was occasions of strain, however I feel it was largely, like, pleasure — we had been excited to lastly put out music now. However when there have been moments of strain, I feel we channeled it nicely into working onerous.
GAWON: Yeah and when there have been moments of strain, it was largely simply pleasure. Like, “Yeah! We’re gonna debut! Yeah!” I feel we had been in a position to flip that into motivation and simply gasoline for the fireplace that we had whereas making ready to be out on the earth.
MEOVV is the latest lady group produced by Teddy, a legendary producer. Have been you Teddy followers or followers of any of the artists he labored with prior to now?
SOOIN: We had been all positively followers.
GAWON: I got here from the States, however I used to be nonetheless surrounded by his music rising up. It’s simply all over the place.
NARIN: And his music is simply so iconic.
GAWON: With the legacy that he created in music, we’re simply so excited to have the ability to proceed that as MEOVV. I like everybody and everybody he labored with — even 1TYM!
Okay-pop followers could have knew ELLA’s background and being shut with the BLACKPINK members. How did you get to know them?
ELLA: It simply got here naturally as a result of once I first got here to THEBLACKLABEL, I met them once I was actually younger, only one time within the studio after they had been working. Then whereas we had been making ready for our debut, we acquired a variety of ideas and recommendation from them in order that they’re actually supportive. It’s sort of loopy considering like, “Oh, I met them sort of doing what we’re doing now.”
GAWON: It actually places issues into perspective. They’re so candy and provides such such nice recommendation.
ELLA: They’ve been doing this for thus lengthy — it’s like, what higher particular person to get recommendation from than them? They understand it finest.
In September, “MEOW” debuted at No. 10 on the World Digital Music Gross sales chart. Did you see the information?
NARIN: I positively keep in mind the second when GAWON unnie discovered it out after which she advised us — I feel we had been within the elevator, yeah —
GAWON: I used to be simply scrolling and I used to be like, “Huh? What?”
ELLA: We didn’t imagine her at first!
NARIN: We mentioned, “What do you imply Billboard? What do you imply?” After which all of us began cheering.
ALL: Yay, Billboard! [Cheering and laughing]
Let’s talk about the brand new singles “TOXIC” and “BODY.” What do these songs imply to MEOVV?
GAWON: Properly these two new releases are very completely different from “MEOW.” The 2 songs are very contrasting to one another. However on the similar time, they’re in a position to concurrently praise one another in a means the place it simply balances all the pieces out.
NARIN: “TOXIC” may be very emotional and really trustworthy; it’s extra susceptible. We’re additionally extra emotionally connected to this one as a result of we wrote the lyrics. It’s been a minute since we wrote, however GAWON and I had been within the studio and so they simply placed on a random music, which was simply the beat and perhaps melodies for the refrain on “TOXIC.”
GAWON: Yeah, melodies for the refrain and a theme of “poisonous.” This music is about being poisonous after which, um, he [Teddy] left us within the studio. He was like, “Oh, I’ve to go do one thing. You guys do no matter you need with it. Have enjoyable.” [Laughs]
NARIN: I like how the feelings that we had whereas writing lyrics at the moment are for everybody to share with us.
GAWON: It shines within the music video too, it’s simply a variety of shared feelings. It’s sort of like a full circle second. We love “TOXIC.”
Would it not be protected to say “TOXIC” is everybody’s favourite single over “BODY”?
NARIN: Oh, that’s very tough as a result of “BODY” seems like one in all our members now — it’s like our buddy. It’s at all times there within the apply room…
ELLA: It’s at all times there…
GAWON: …within the automobile. It’s this type of power that we simply maintain with us all over the place we go. Particularly moments earlier than stage, we’re like, “Let’s go, let’s go!”
How was capturing the music movies?
GAWON: Oh my god, it’s so particular…each movies for every of the songs maintain a really particular place in our coronary heart as a result of It was very pure; it was very pure. Like us in our purest types [for “TOXIC”].
ELLA: It wasn’t even like a music video shoot. It was identical to, “Oh, it was like a hangout second” and so they had been simply capturing the second. After which with “BODY” it’s identical to, we simply had a lot enjoyable; we simply had a lot enjoyable having a celebration. We had been bonding after that.
ANNA: There was a scene [in “TOXIC”] the place we had been identical to operating across the road, simply enjoying like little ladies, Everybody was watching us. Truly. It wasn’t like a set, It was simply [outside] on the road and when the sunshine inexperienced, It was like, “Let’s simply go!” after which we began operating, leaping, mendacity down. It was very nice.
ELLA: It wasn’t a [traditional music video] set, we had been exterior and when recording began, it was like, “Let’s simply go!” and we began operating, leaping, mendacity down.
What messages do you wish to share with “TOXIC” and “BODY”?
NARIN: They’re each about our uncooked feelings and our authenticity.
GAWON: They’re very trustworthy so I really feel like individuals might stay up for that and we hope that lots of people can resonate with each songs in these completely different features of being assured but additionally on the similar time having the ability to be extra susceptible about your true feelings and your experiences.
ELLA: I hope that when individuals watch the music video, they’re entertained by watching us and our type of vulnerability and emotion, however they’re additionally like additionally they can sort of discover that with themselves.
GAWON: Yeah, I hope they see themselves in us.
As a enjoyable query about your idea, I’d like to know what sort of cat your members establish with each other.
ELLA: Beginning with GAWON unnie, she’s such an enormous cat — like a leopard.
SOOIN: Or a cheetah! She has lengthy legs too, she’s huge and tall.
ELLA: And he or she likes cheetah print so it’s your vibe.
NARIN: And Anna Jang?
ELLA: She’s like a kitten!
NARIN: You’re like a bit of, white English Shorthair; that’s what you might be!
ELLA: However it must be a child,
SOOIN: A small, shy child, kitten.
ANNA: I agree with that. [Laughs]
NARIN: I really feel like SOOIN wants blue eyes, as a result of she loves blue, she’s obsessive about blue…
SOOIN: I like blue. [Shows blue accessories, notebook and blue phone case]
ELLA: So, a Siamese cat with blue eyes.
SOOIN: I prefer it.
ELLA: And for NARIN, I feel you’re not a daily cat however from The Aristocats animation, what’s the one with the pink bow’s title? Marie from The Aristocats, yeah.
GAWON: She is so Marie.
NARIN: Thanks, I like that.
GAWON: You realize what you might be, ELLA? You might be Puss in Boots — like a tabby cat.
NARIN: With the smirk.
ELLA: Yeah, I just like the orange ones — that’s my character too. I prefer it.
Thanks for the very satisfying solutions throughout the board. To wrap up, taking a look at MEOVV general, what are your objectives and goals as a gaggle?
ELLA: I simply hope that individuals will get impressed listening to our music and perhaps uncover extra about themselves and their feelings.
GAWON: With the ability to join with extra individuals by our music, I simply need individuals to really feel one thing after they see us. No matter emotion which may be, simply to share experiences and emotions collectively. When it comes to objectives, I feel we simply wish to set up MEOVV additional and simply create our id and whereas additionally conserving our personal individuality.
What else ought to we stay up for, or do you wish to share with followers now?
SOOIN: Now we have so many songs that we’re engaged on and we picked one of the best out of one of the best for this launch. So, it’s simply solely a little bit of what they’re about to indicate to the world. We hope that individuals are wanting ahead to us sooner or later!
ANNA: This time, our songs are actually good so I wish to present a greater efficiency whereas making ready for it. Sooner or later, I hope I can present it to the followers world wide quickly.
GAWON: One very last thing I wish to say is that we’ll simply thanks in your continued assist — all of the followers and everybody who’s tuning into our music.
