"We will be together until our 60th anniversary. You will come to our dinner show with us, right?" (JAE YOON)
Group SF9, who debuted in 2016, has already reached their 10th anniversary. Reorganized as an 8-member group, SF9 released their second full-length album "TENACITY" and shared their determination, saying, "We wanted to show just how strong our will and ambition are through our music."
During the press showcase for their second full-length album "TENACITY" held at 2 PM on the 26th in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, HWI YOUNG gave credit to the fandom, stating, "The number one contributors who allowed us to carry out idol activities for 10 years, which might just be a dream for someone, are our fans." CHA NI also expressed disbelief, saying, "People around us kept saying it is our 10th anniversary, but it hasn't really sunk in so it still feels like we are in our 5th year."
The new full-length album "TENACITY" was named to convey the meanings of "perseverance, tenacity, and indomitable will." The title track "Without Wings" is a song that intuitively captures SF9's story of soaring again beyond limits, featuring an Afrobeats-based pop genre that harmonizes rhythmic grooves with sophisticated pop sounds. Cheerful percussion, addictive hooks, and dynamic vocal progression maximize the song's energy. In addition, the album includes tracks such as "PRESSURE," which captures a narrative of starting from the bottom and proving oneself, and Y2K-sensitivity dance-pop genre songs "One More Kiss" and "Curtain Call."
Regarding the songwriting process, HWI YOUNG revealed, "When working on the title track, I tried to incorporate a lot of hope to match the title and concept." CHA NI said, "When writing lyrics, I try to include my own stories, but when I lack experience, I fill it in through movies or dramas." YOUNG BIN shared, "When writing lyrics or making music, I care most about what people can relate to. I have the desire to do well, but I think the most important thing is empathy."
When asked about the most memorable moments over the past 10 years, DA WON picked taking first place with "Good Guy," the title track of their first full-length album released in January 2020. DA WON recalled, "Winning first place on a music program is the wish of everyone who debuts. Even looking back at it again, my heart beats fast and it feels great." HWI YOUNG laughed and said, "Today. And when we played mafia games in the dorms during our trainee days. We couldn't use our phones so we played analog-style and stayed up all night, and I hope a day like that can come again."
They also spoke honestly about various moments of crisis. YOUNG BIN emphasized their close bond, saying, "There are always worries that cannot be shared publicly. Sometimes our attitude toward music changes, and the members always seemed to be right by my side when that happened. When HWI YOUNG had a slump in songwriting, he asked the members for advice. Looking back, there is nobody except the members. It feels like we don't even have many friends outside."
In particular, YOUNG BIN mentioned communication with members ZU HO and YOO TAE YANG, who are currently serving in the military. He added, "Although they are not here, the members sent me KakaoTalk messages saying, 'We will be watching closely.' Contact isn't always easy, but a single message like that gives me a lot of strength. Even when we don't contact each other, we always cheer each other on in our hearts, and I hope everyone manages well in their respective places."
As for what has changed, YOUNG BIN chose "flexibility." He explained with a smile, "Not being stubborn while establishing the direction for this team—that flexibility has changed the most. In our early debut days, we used to fight a lot over things like 'I am going to wash first' or 'I am going to eat first,'" and emphasized, "Courage, perseverance, tenacity, and Fantasy [the fandom name] who loves us are the secrets to how we keep going."
DA WON also confessed that "thirst" was the driving force behind his growth. He added, "You cannot help but pay attention to results or the scale of performances, but frankly, I am not fully satisfied. Whether it's music, musicals, or acting, all the members are good at many things and have a lot of healthy ambition, but we haven't achieved everything yet. I think there was a thirst in those areas, which is probably why I've been able to stay until now."
IN SEONG explained the goals for this album with his witty talk. He joked, "Our goal is to win first place on a music show. If there is one more thing, I want to take first place in the hearts of the reporters here. Your 'likes' give us great strength," and expressed his ambition, saying, "I understand that the Wimbledon venue holds about 50,000 people, and someday I want to hold an SF9 concert there."
SF9 will release all tracks of their second full-length album "TENACITY" and the music video for the title track "Without Wings" through various music sites at 6 PM on the 26th. Following the album release, they plan to meet fans by holding their 10th-anniversary concert on October 10-11 at the KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.
Photo = FNC Entertainment
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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