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STAYC Talks About Two and a Half Years of Activities in Japan, Their "Masterpiece" Single, and How Fulfilling Their Experience Has Been—"Even Our Korean Fans Are Jealous"

K-POP girl group STAYC has been consistently releasing songs for the Japanese market and actively holding related fan meetings and events since their Japan debut in the fall of 2022, earning a reputation for their deep affection toward Japanese fans. On June 4, they released their sixth original Japanese single, "Lover, Killer / BEBE -Japanese Ver.-." "Lover, Killer" is a track the group feels particularly attached to, while "BEBE -Japanese Ver.-" is a Japanese version of their hit song that completely refreshed their image. Now that they've released this confident work packed with STAYC's charm, what are the members feeling?

The six members (Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, J), who came to Japan for their solo concert, took time out of their busy schedule to cheerfully talk about episodes related to their new songs and how they feel now. (Takao Matsumoto)

Two and a Half Years Since Their Japan Debut: Gratitude to Fans and Their First Solo Concert

---- It's been about two and a half years since you debuted in Japan with the single "POPPY" in November 2022. Could you share your thoughts looking back on your activities in Japan?

Seeun: When I first heard that we would debut in Japan, I felt incredibly happy. All of my memories of our activities in Japan are wonderful, and it's thanks to the fans who have always supported us that we were able to hold our first solo concerts in Osaka and Tokyo this time. I always feel so happy, and I'm truly grateful.

---- Not long after your Japan debut, "Teddy Bear" became a big hit in Korea. Wasn't it tough to travel back and forth between the two countries for your activities?

J: Actually, I felt more gratitude for being able to do activities in Japan. The Japanese versions of our songs feel fresh to us, and I only have positive feelings about having done them.

Yoon: There were some tough parts, but I think the joy of working overseas outweighed them. We were busy, but it also felt like a trip, so it was a lot of fun.

---- Do you have any private time during your stay in Japan this time?

Sieun: This time, we have promotions and our solo concert coming up, so our schedule is packed to the brim (laughs). But if we have even a little free time, we often go to convenience stores.

Yoon: We really love Japanese convenience stores. We always stop by right before heading to work.

Sumin: All of us love the pudding from Japanese convenience stores!

Yoon: Especially the cream is so delicious. Even when we're not sure if we'll have time to eat it because we're so busy, we buy it just in case and keep it in the fridge—we love it that much.

---- Are there any other foods you like?

Yoon: Hmm, I still like convenience store pudding the best (laughs). The Japanese staff often buy us pudding from famous shops, but I still prefer the convenience store pudding (laughs).

Isa: For me, it's salted melonpan. It's really delicious. They sell it in Ginza, and the staff even lined up to buy it for us. It was so good!

Sieun: I used to be someone who only loved takoyaki (laughs), but lately I've become interested in monjayaki. I want to try it next time I come to Japan!

The Group's True Nature Shines Through Their Close Bonds, Rado's Advice, and the Beginning of Their Second Chapter

---- Including this single, "Lover, Killer / BEBE -Japanese Ver.-," you've released a total of six singles in Japan. That's quite a lot compared to other recent K-POP groups. I think it's proof of how much you value your Japanese fans.

Sumin: I love every song. When we release works for Japan, our Korean fans say, "We want you to release them in Korea too," and get jealous. But we're only able to release them because we have so many Japanese fans. We're truly grateful.

---- Your producer Rado, who fully supports you, once said, "STAYC is a group that has it all: personality, visuals, and talent." What do you think about that?

J: Haha, I think that's exactly right. All the members are kind and have good personalities, and they're talented too. I'm really proud to be a part of STAYC.

---- It's true, you all seem to get along really well when meeting in person.

All: Yes, that's really true!

Sumin: (So that we don't end up not getting along) I'll be careful (laughs).

---- I saw your showcase at Zepp Haneda (TOKYO) in 2023, and the friendly atmosphere was really impressive. Your talk felt so natural, and I especially enjoyed the stories like "someone was snoring."

Yoon: Oh, Sieun has something she wants to say.

Sieun: Today, Sumin was snoring on the bullet train again (laughs).

All: Ahahaha (laughs).

Sieun: To add a bit, when Sumin snores, it's not like a loud "gaa-gaa" sound, but more like a baby’s gentle breathing.

Sumin: No wonder my throat felt dry when I woke up (laughs).

---- By the way, what kind of person is Rado?

Yoon: He treats us like his own daughters. He's basically very kind, but sometimes he can be a bit stubborn and speaks his mind clearly. He also has a playful side... He's really like a dad to us.

---- I think STAYC is always a group that takes on challenges. The three-track single "S" you released in March this year also brought out new charms from you all.

Seeun: It was a style we had never tried before, so at first I worried a lot about "How should I sing this?" But thanks to Rado's advice, "Don't get stuck thinking 'you have to sing it this way,'" I think the song turned out great.

---- The feedback from your fans was really positive, too. In an interview around the release of "S," Yoon, you said, "This is the second chapter of STAYC," with great confidence.

Yoon: The lead track of "S," "BEBE," was the most dramatic image change we've ever done. I was so happy to be able to show this side of us and to prove we could do this kind of genre. Our old mold, or shell, or wall... "BEBE" broke all of that for us.

The Special Touches in "Lover, Killer" and "BEBE -Japanese Ver.-"

---- You’ve just released "Lover, Killer" in Japan. I heard this song was once a contender for a single alongside "Teddy Bear."

Yoon: Yes. All of us really liked this song, so we always wanted to release it someday. When "Lover, Killer" was first finished, we decided it wasn’t the right time to release it and put it on hold. Now, after about two years, we finally got to release it, and I’m so happy!

---- What would you like listeners to pay attention to in this song?

Sumin: I’d really like everyone to listen to our high-tone vocals.

Sieun: Also, even though the lyrics are quite bold and expressive, we sing them in a really cool way. I think that gap is one of the charms of "Lover, Killer."

---- My first impression when listening to this single was that your Japanese pronunciation has become clearer and your expression more nuanced. Did you put a lot of effort into studying Japanese and recording?

Sumin: That makes me so happy, thank you!

Yoon: There’s a phrase in my part, "たった一言 決着つけてあげるわ[tatta hitokoto ketchaku tsukete ageruwa]" ("Just one word, I’ll settle it for you"), and it was really hard. I practiced it over and over until I could sing it smoothly. So when I was told during recording, "Your pronunciation sounded natural," I was really happy.

---- The other title track, "BEBE -Japanese Ver.-," also keeps the original’s feel while adapting it for Japan. I imagine the Japanese rap parts were especially challenging.

J: My part actually has a lot of English, so there wasn’t much Japanese to sing. Even so, it was tough. It’s just so fast, and singing it was difficult...

Sieun: For me, filming the music video for "BEBE -Japanese Ver.-" was really hard. I had to lip sync in Japanese, but I’m so used to the Korean version that I got confused.

What Does "Music" Mean to STAYC? Each Member Shares Their Thoughts

---- Sumin, in an interview this spring, you said, "From now on, I want STAYC’s catchphrase to be not 'Teen Fresh,' but simply 'Fresh.'" I think this comes from wanting to always bring something new to your fans. Does that feeling apply to your activities in Japan as well?

Sumin: Yes. Our new single "Lover, Killer / BEBE -Japanese Ver.-" has a different vibe from anything we’ve sung before, so I hope everyone in Japan feels that freshness from us.

---- One last question: What does "music" mean to each of you?

Sieun: I think of music as the "fuel" that drives me. It takes up a huge part of my life. Sometimes it sparks my imagination, sometimes it pulls me into deep sadness. It’s a force that shakes me like a roller coaster.

Yoon: It’s like air. That’s how much it’s become a part of my daily life. I listen to instrumentals too, but I love songs with lyrics the most. I really enjoy focusing on how the singer expresses each word.

J: Music is like "fate" to me. I’m grateful every day that I get to sing as my job, and I want to keep living with music from now on.

Isa: I think music is what makes me "human." It’s changed my life in a big way and brought me so many encounters. I can only feel grateful.

Seeun: I think music is a way to connect the world beyond language differences. It also moves my heart.

Sumin: For me, music feels close to faith. By believing in music and living with it, I gain strength. I think music is something that lets us connect beyond nationality, gender, and age.

---- We’re looking forward to seeing STAYC shine even brighter, both as idols and as passionate artists.

All: Thank you so much!

STAYC looks back on two and a half years of activities in Japan

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