As early as 2019, the phrase “BABYMONSTER” percolated amongst Okay-pop circles as soon as information surfaced of legendary label YG Leisure submitting a trademark for a brand new lady group identify. However solely 5 years later — as of April 1, 2024, to be exact — would the act say they’ve been revealed of their full, full kind.
As YG ready its follow-up feminine outfit to comply with the chart-topping BLACKPINK, the seven members competing for a spot in BABYMONSTER — Ruka, Pharita, Rami, Ahyeon, Rora, Asa and Chiquita — battled on the digital collection Final Analysis. Mentored and critiqued by YG founder and CEO Yang Hyun-suk plus future label mates like Jennie and Lisa of BLACKPINK, Kang Seung-yoon and Lee Seung-hoon of WINNER, and Lee Su-hyun of AKMU, the collection spotlighted the septet’s monstrous skills by solo, unit and group performances that helped them rapidly garner hundreds of thousands of YouTube subscribers and followers — together with Charlie Puth, who would go on to reward a pop observe for BABYMONSTER after catching Ahyeon’s tackle his 2016 single “Harmful” in a standout second from the present.
“‘BABY’ describes our limitless prospects, youth, and that we’re bringing one thing new to the scene,” energy vocalist Rami tells Billboard throughout a sitdown chat in Seoul. “And ‘MONSTER’ describes our monster-like abilities.”
BABYMONSTER started releasing music in late 2023 with the playful entice banger “Batter Up,” co-written by Asa, however the group was solely recording as six whereas Ahyeon was absent over reported well being points. But the “pre-debut” buzz single nonetheless managed to attain a High 5 debut on Billboard‘s U.S.-based World Digital Tune Gross sales chart whereas additionally peaking at No. 101 on the Billboard International 200.
However when all-rounder Ahyeon returned for BABYMONSTER’s “official” debut on April 1 with the BABYMONS7ER album and its explosive, hip-hop/dance single “Sheesh,” the group soared to No. 33 on the International 200 because the EP landed on the World Albums chart solely from a digital launch. Not solely did “Sheesh” mark a breakout second for the group musically, however the septet additionally reimagined the hit right into a “band model” to ship a full-fledged, rock-star rendition of the observe throughout a number of TV exhibits to share their complete, reside expertise — a stark distinction from Okay-pop acts who will generally rely extra closely on backing tracks to prioritize choreography, vogue and visuals.
Now, of their last “BABYMONS7ER” kind, the women are proving simply how prepared they’re to share their abilities and personalities with the world.
Simply days after releasing the delicate synth-pop single “Perpetually” (which additionally scored them one other High 10 entry on World Digital Tune Gross sales with lower than every week to chart — a pleasant shock to the women), an identical angle is current at BABYMONSTER’s Billboard interview on the YG Leisure workplaces.
Stretched round an extended boardroom assembly desk, the septet has a cool calmness about them because the members make faces on the desk throughout each other or will give one another a thumbs up for her reply. The women aren’t shy to make their ideas recognized or get snug throughout the chat — the youngest member, Chiquita, even pulls out her tiny, personalised, and bedazzled fragrant bottle at one level and shares how she recommends it to assist with complications.
Throughout one pause within the dialog, when the multilingual, Thailand-born Pharita appears to be like tongue-tied and resigned over the message she’s requested to ship to worldwide followers, the 18-year-old apologizes because the group leaves the room. “Sorry about that,” she says in her candy, tender tone. “I simply want I might say extra of what I wish to say.”
Certainly, BABYMONSTER appears to have rather a lot to say as they lead YG Leisure into its subsequent period and, maybe, with the daring shows each on and off stage, may also usher in a extra open and trustworthy era of Okay-pop. Get to know Billboard‘s newest Okay-Pop Rookie of the Month higher under as BAEMON detailing their journey from pre-debut to standing as seven and previewing what’s to come back subsequent.
Beginning at first, I keep in mind listening to the identify BABYMONSTER for a couple of years. Do you know this may be your group identify earlier than debuting?
RORA: Ever since Final Analysis, we knew. We got here into the challenge understanding that the group identify was going to be BABYMONSTER. We actually appreciated the identify as a result of we thought it was good for us; it describes us the most effective.
BABYMONSTER: Yeah, all of us had good reactions.
Can everybody share their favourite BABYMONSTER tune to date, to offer us a way of your personalities and music tastes?
RUKA: Up till now, we actually showcased the facet of us the place it’s this actually intense hip-hop facet. And with “Perpetually,” we’re in a position to present our refreshing charms, so I’m actually trying ahead to [fans seeing] that.
RORA: Personally, I like “Caught within the Center (Remix).” We’ve been within the midst of a fan-meeting tour, so we have been in a position to carry out the tune for our finale encore stage. It’s simply actually enjoyable performing as a result of it exhibits a whole lot of our vibrant and pop-y sides.
CHIQUITA: I like “Dream.” I just like the tune in addition to the which means of the tune that ranging from our coaching interval. I at all times get emotional once I take heed to “Dream.”
ASA: I actually take pleasure in “Sheesh.” It was the primary tune that we launched with all seven members and I actually similar to listening to the general public and followers sing alongside to the tune. It’s actually enjoyable performing it as properly. That “sheesh” half is so catchy. It’s addictive.
RAMI: “Batter Up (Remix).” Out of our tracklist, I feel that it’s among the finest songs to essentially leap round and work together with followers. We’ve been performing it throughout their fan conferences.
PHARITA: I like “Like That.” It’s good, simple to take heed to, and fairly distinctive for us. I don’t actually know; I simply adore it. [Laughs]
AHYEON: I feel the one tune that hasn’t been talked about but is my favourite tune, “MONSTERS (Intro).” That’s the tune that may actually present our potential and it makes the crowds overestimated. It makes me really feel like, “Oh, I can do that. Let’s have a terrific stage immediately.”
It’s been nice watching the transition from pre-debut to your official debut with “Sheesh.” Earlier than shifting ahead, what has been the distinction between that interval as six members and now?
PHARITA: Properly, earlier than, it was simply six, and we have been fearful, considering, “Oh, is that this going to go properly?” as a result of everybody issues. And when she got here again for “Sheesh,” we simply had an enormous blowup. Everybody beloved the tune and everybody acquired to see extra sides of us — it simply felt extra full.
Let’s additionally focus on your newest single, “Perpetually.” You introduced it as a “pre-release” single. Is that this a style of an upcoming album?
RORA: It’s a retro synth tune, but additionally a highly regarded and thrilling tune. So, I feel it’s a enjoyable tune to take heed to within the scorching summer time. And we’re having enjoyable as a result of we’re all operating round collectively whereas acting on stage. I feel you possibly can inform from our facial expressions on stage that we’re having enjoyable each time we carry out. It additionally contrasts rather a lot with the performances of “Sheesh.”
ASA: It was actually enjoyable filming the music video too.
CHIQUITA: It’s really a pre-release single shifting in the direction of our album. So, it’s form of the beginning of a brand new chapter for us. So, you must also stay up for our new album which will probably be launched, possibly, this fall?
RORA: It’s fairly exhausting to say as a result of nothing’s actually set into stone but, however BABYMONSTER will proceed to work exhausting to make nice music, showcase nice performances and meet all of their followers all internationally. We simply really need our followers and the general public to remain tuned for our future music. However we’re actually grateful about all the thrill relating to “Perpetually” so we’ll proceed working actually exhausting. We actually wish to deliver a brand new idea for the subsequent album.
BABYMONSTER is the most recent group underneath a legendary label like YG Leisure. Earlier than becoming a member of, what was your data or expertise with YG or its artists? How was it getting recommendation from them on Final Analysis?
ASA: As everybody is aware of, we actually respect and look as much as our sunbaenim [seniors]. So, we watch their performances and concert events rather a lot — particularly with BLACKPINK. Earlier than becoming a member of the label, a few of us went to a few of their concert events. As for 2NE1 and BIGBANG, we grew up listening to their songs, taking a look at their performances. And it’s due to YG’s distinct hip-hop vibe, that I feel that’s a part of the explanation why we wished to affix the label.
RAMI: We steadily meet our seniors going about [the YG building] and, particularly throughout Final Analysis, we have been in a position to get a whole lot of recommendation from BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Jennie, in addition to WINNER and AKMU. They only tried to inform us what we have to look out for and the way it’s [as a performer].
RUKA: Chan-hyuk sunbaenim, from AKMU, mentioned that whenever you’re performing onstage, it’s important to get used to creating all the things your individual — “Make each stage your individual.”
AHYEON: Additionally, after we meet senior artists within the follow rooms or within the constructing, they inform us that they’re rooting for us and to proceed working exhausting.
With the corporate’s lengthy historical past, BABYMONSTER can be the primary group to frequently launch music in English, equivalent to “Caught within the Center” and “Like That.” Was that at all times a part of your plans?
RORA: So, reasonably than having a set particular plan, we simply actually wished to showcase our music and the music’s messages in order that they will resonate with a wider, world viewers. That’s why we form of are frequently releasing songs in English. The plan is to convey the which means of the tune to the followers world wide and ensure they know we wish to talk with our followers.
BABYMONSTER can be fairly a various group with members representing Korea, Japan and Thailand. How did you discover methods to attach? Does it really feel such as you’re representing a brand new era of Okay-pop as a multicultural group?
RUKA: Particularly throughout our trainee days, we have been all very homesick — the members from Japan, Thailand, and even members right here in Korea as a result of they’re aside from their households. And as a lot as the entire course of was troublesome, we have been actually in a position to lean on every otherl, and discover the help and motivation to work actually exhausting.
RORA: It’s exhausting to say that we’re form of “representing” the subsequent era, however we’re very grateful that individuals may assume so. And never simply in Korea, however we actually wish to attain everybody all internationally, all our world followers, and develop from the power we obtain from the followers as properly.
Final Analysis appeared troublesome when cameras movie such a private expertise. How have been your experiences needing to undergo the debut course of and have it filmed?
RORA: In order a lot because it was a “survival program,” I feel essentially the most troublesome half was the truth that we needed to compete with our pals that we had skilled with collectively for therefore lengthy all operating in the direction of the identical dream. However in the case of the performances, I feel we’re really on the opposite facet in that we have been joyful that all the things was filmed and we might return and reminisce to the occasions after we needed to put together for the stage and watch us performing.
One other nice reminiscence, I’m positive, was AHYEON’s cowl of “Dangerously,” which acquired the eye of Charlie Puth, who finally gifted you guys “Like That.” What was your response to that have?
AHYEON: I used to be like so stunned that he commented on my video. I simply [screen] captured it and I despatched it to my household, like “That’s loopy. He commented on me.” [Laughs] And some months later, our boss advised us we have been going to have a brand new demo from him and all of us screamed like, “What?!? He gave us a demo?!?” Once I advised my household, they mentioned, “Properly, you’ve started working exhausting now.”
However again to your music, ASA co-write and composed “Batter Up.” Will we get to see extra contributions from you and the members?
ASA: I hope we will do quite a lot of issues by music. Transferring ahead, we’re all planning to work exhausting in the case of songwriting and producing music in order that we will showcase a greater variety of our abilities.
I used to be so impressed by BABYMONSTER’s “Band” model performances. Are you able to share what went into conceptualizing and creating the efficiency?
AHYEON: I imagine that an important side of a reside efficiency is the sense of presence and reference to the viewers. We wished to share the power we obtain from our followers by the band variations. It was thrilling to see all the varied band elements come collectively, and I feel we have been in a position to take one other step in constructing our repertoire.
Do you’ve got a message you’d prefer to share with worldwide followers who’re ready to see you?
PHARITA: We haven’t had an opportunity to satisfy everybody but that we wish to so BABYMONSTER’s going to maintain on making extra music that we love and we simply hope that followers may also adore it. We’ll present our greatest facet and I simply hope that everybody will adore it.
RORA: And I feel the last word purpose is to essentially simply produce a whole lot of music and meet our world followers all internationally.
