South Korean K-pop band ITZY debuted in 2019.
Photo: Associated Press
Yeji, Ryujin, Chaeryeong Yuna and Lia are the members of ITZY, the K-pop girl band that reached 14 million video views when their first album “IT’z Different” was released on February 12, 2019. from the song “Dalla- Dalla”.
Itzy means “to have” (Itji), it is the way in which they communicate that they have the energy, talent, among other virtues, that the market demands. The band was created by JYP Entertainment, one of the agencies responsible for the development and expansion of the K-pop phenomenon around the world. Singer and producer Park Jin-young is the founder.
“Kill My Doubt”, with six songs, is their most recent album. A good summary of the group’s work, as its progress is evident in terms of sounds, production and vocal execution. Some songs, with relaxed melodies and others with dark and avant-garde rhythms, talk about overcoming internal fears, celebrating life and bravery. The lead single, “Cake,” is an optimistic anthem that invites listeners to live carefree.
Regarding its release, we asked them about their collaboration with other artists such as Stray Kids, NMIXX and JY Park, in the music video for “Like Magic”: “As it was the first time we recorded with JYP and Live Nation, we had high expectations. . “I am very happy with the result,” said Hwang Ye-ji, the group leader.
“We are focused on the world tour, especially on the setlist, rehearsals with the band and the arrangements of the songs. I think it is the musical project that has excited me the most. We are happy to share the result with you,” said the South Korean singer, rapper and dancer, Lee Chae-ryeong, better known as Chaeryeong.
In this regard, Shin Yu-na, Yuna, noted: “Our fans always look at us with a very warm eye when they come to our concerts or parties. Every time they see us, we receive a lot of energy and we can act with confidence.”
The ITZY fandom is known as MIDZY, a play on “mid-eo,” which means trust/believe in someone. In his words, “the midzies (fans) trust ITZY and ITZY trusts their midzies.” They chose this name and announced it on their X account on July 8, 2019, as a thank you for the unwavering support of their fans during their journey to success.
K-pop fans use a ring or light stick called a lightstick, which they synchronize with the band’s songs, and thus the audience is illuminated during the concert. It is a symbolic accessory that represents each K-pop group with unique colors and designs. The official ITZY lightstick costs between US$60 and US$90, and was released on July 21, 2020 by JYP Entertainment. It differs from others by having a ring design that replaces the traditional handle and dome, it has RGBW LED that can produce light in various colors and a special mode called “Rainbow Flow”, controlled wirelessly at concerts through an application that still has not been released. Its design is inspired by the K-pop band DAY6 and has the option of being decorated with stickers or handles to suit each fan.
The discouraging news is about Choi Ji-soo, known artistically as Lia, who due to problems with her mental health was unable to participate in the world tour or promotional activities for the new album. On their social networks, JYP Entertainment explained that Lia was undergoing exams due to anxiety that prevented her from carrying out her activities. The resumption of her activities has not been decided yet and will depend on the decision of her and her work team.
In a handwritten letter posted to ITZY’s Instagram, the singer expressed her gratitude and indicated that she needed to take time to love and fulfill herself first. The company included “Blossom,” Lia’s solo song, on “Born To Be.”
Some numbers speak of the group’s impact. They were number 1 on the iTunes Worldwide chart and their world tour “Itzy 2dn world tour Born to be” passed through 18 countries in Asia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Europe and North America. The tour, produced by JYP Entertainment in collaboration with Live Nation, began in Asia in February 2024. On April 15 they performed in Mexico City and on April 18 in Santiago, Chile.
“’In Born to Be’ we wanted to show our individual charisma. “We wanted to reflect what our fans want to see most,” said Chaeryeong before saying goodbye.
*This interview was made possible thanks to Coca-Cola: K-Wave.
