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[NEWS] 261104 - Yuju interview with MNH Part 4: “Without holding back, I put everything out there as it was”… Yuju on the journey of finding her own ‘colour’ Singer Yuju has expressed her passion and dedication to her work as a singer-songwriter. One particularly eye-catching aspect of her album is that, despite being titled file. 07, it contains only six songs. Regarding this, Yuju revealed for the first time: "The theme of this album is 'unfinished'. Originally, there were seven songs but I decided to remove one of them of my own accord." She continued, "Even though it didn't make the final tracklist, I worked just as hard on that song as I did on the others. The fact that the omitted song is still part of the album hasn't changed, so I decided to keep the seven files as they were. I also thought that having one song missing was itself fitting for the theme of something being unfinished." Regarding the omitted track, she explained: "I didn't remove it because it wasn't good. In fact, it was such a good song that I thought it might get overshadowed if it were included on the album. I also left it out because I was worried the album might become too deep emotionally. It's the kind of song that I think would really come to life alongside other songs." She also hinted that the song could still be released in the future, saying, "It's not out of the question." Yuju also revealed her particular attachment to the album through the amount of thought she put into its track order. "When people encounter something in life, there's usually a progression where they initially feel confused, then angry, and eventually become calm again. So I wanted the first track to begin meaningfully by posing a question. Then in Rock Bottom, things descend to the lowest point, before the final track P.S. brings everything to a close after all the waves have passed and things have settled down." Regarding Love Gamer, which features singer JUNNY, she explained the song's meaning: "It's about two people who once loved each other but eventually become pieces on a game board. If there were no game board, they would simply be two people in love. But the moment they step onto that board, their relationship becomes one where they have to compete over who wins and come up with strategies." When asked whether she was a "gamer" herself when it came to romantic relationships, she laughed and replied, "I'm not really sure about relationships." Instead, she opened up about her attitude towards work: "In the past, there were times when I felt like an intimidated little chick when it came to work. But there are also days when I feel as though I'm the one holding the reins." She explained that solo albums require a different approach to singing: "For solo albums, the ability to convey a story is more important than vocal power. You need to communicate the beginning, development, climax and conclusion of a story effectively for it to resonate with people so I pay attention to using my voice to convey the story delicately." She added, "By my standards, being good at singing means being able to move someone emotionally when they listen. I don't think you necessarily need to hit high notes or have an incredibly powerful voice. What's most important is being able to connect with people through your own individuality, so I paid the most attention to pronunciation and emotion." Among the reactions she received after the album's release, one particular listener's comment stood out to her. Yuju confessed: "Someone who didn't seem to be a fan left a comment on a music streaming platform. They said they normally use a different music platform but had downloaded the app specifically so they could leave that comment. I was so grateful for that one line." She continued, "I was also happy to see someone say that I seemed like an artist who was creating their own distinctive identity rather than someone making an album based on another artist as a reference. Honestly, that's exactly what I wanted to do. I made this album by expressing myself as I am, without worrying too much about what others might think, so I'm grateful that people recognised that." When asked what kind of artist she wanted to be remembered as after completing these promotional activities, she answered: "I want people to say that I'm a singer with a clearly defined artistic world of my own. The greatest compliment would be to be an artist whose next release makes people curious about what I'll come out with next." Yuju also mentioned plans for a small-theatre concert towards the end of the year. "As the world becomes increasingly flashy and extravagant, I've found myself dreaming more and more about holding a small-theatre concert. Thankfully, I've had the opportunity to perform on many big stages as part of GFRIEND but there's a certain timeless, classic charm to something more intimate. I'd like to communicate with my fans in a reasonably sized venue that isn't too small or modest." Regarding her remaining goals for this year, she said: "I hope file. 07 reaches an even wider audience and I also want to create plenty of good songs. Album promotions don't end with the release itself, so I want to keep putting out additional content related to the album and make sure my fans don't have a boring end to the year." She also left the possibility of returning to dance music open. "I've never thought of it as abandoning dancing. I just want to bring it out when it suits the song. If I work on a good song that suits a dance performance, I'd love to show that side of myself again." Regarding acting activities, Yuju revealed: "I actually received a casting offer recently but for various reasons, it didn't end up happening." Nevertheless, she hasn't ruled out acting in the future. "I think music itself is also a form of acting so I don't draw a strict line between the two. I haven't had much experience performing from a script so it's difficult for me to imagine what it would be like. But if a good opportunity comes along, I'd be open to it." When asked what kind of role she would like to try, she picked: "A character who initially seems like a villain but turns out to be someone who becomes your benefactor by the end." Finally, Yuju shared a heartfelt message for her fans: "The love that fans give me feels like a different kind of love. Sometimes, I even feel that it's greater than the love I receive from my parents. The way they consistently look at me with such unwavering support and encouragement is something I wouldn't trade for anything." She continued affectionately: "If I want to keep giving them reasons to feel happy and motivated, I have to work even harder. I know it's a cliché thing to say but what I want to tell them most is that I hope we can stay together for a very, very long time." 🔗naver.me/GDQAsvsa #GFRIEND #YUJU @YUJU_atarea

[NEWS] 261104 - Yuju interview with MNH Part 3: Yuju breaks stereotypes about girl group members: "Someone at a company asked me, 'Did you really write this yourself?'" Singer Yuju has opened up about her experiences and thoughts behind her songwriting and composing abilities. The title track Nameless is a song that leaves a lasting impression through its simple melody and short lyrics. Yuju began by explaining: "The lyrics are very easy to understand. I don't particularly like overly abstract expressions so I wrote lyrics that people can immediately understand when they hear them. Just because the lyrics are simple doesn't mean they lack emotional impact." She continued, "The lyrics in the chorus are about how 'it hurts because I can't put a name to this relationship'. I hope that line becomes something that deeply resonates with people who have experienced similar emotions." Yuju also expressed how pleased she was that the song had been interpreted more broadly than she had expected. "I thought people might see Nameless as simply a love song but at a fan-signing event, someone told me it reminded them of their family. Others related to friendships that were once incredibly close but had eventually become complicated and ambiguous. I was surprised and grateful that people were thinking about Nameless in the context of so many different kinds of relationships." When asked whether the unresolved relationship depicted in Nameless was based on her own personal experience, she explained: "Since it came from me, it's true that it started with emotions I could relate to. However, I didn't write every single line like an entry in my diary. It came about through a combination of my own experiences and emotions along with new feelings I developed from listening to the stories of people around me and observing their lives." However, she admitted that she sometimes encounters certain assumptions associated with being a singer-songwriter who originally debuted as an idol. "One of the artists at a company once asked me, 'Did you really write this yourself?' I guess they wondered how much I could actually do since I came from a girl group, so they were surprised that I really had written everything. It was a good kind of doubt," she said with a laugh. Regarding the pressure of having to prove herself through her music, she expressed her personal philosophy: "Is there anyone who doesn't feel pressure in their own line of work? I think that pressure should only go as far as giving you a sense of responsibility to take good care of yourself and work hard." She emphasised, "If I bring that pressure into the process of making music, I end up putting unnecessary strain on myself and the essence of the music gets lost. At least when I'm in the studio, I try to simply be someone who loves music." This album also adopts a concept reminiscent of an unsolved case, with its tracks referred to as 'files' rather than 'tracks'. Yuju explained: "When I was doing group activities, the songs would be created first and then the company would come up with the concept afterwards. But ever since I started working on solo albums, I've been developing both aspects together." She added, "I believe music becomes more engaging when there's something enjoyable to look at as well as something to listen to. So from the early stages of working on a song, I also picture what kind of clothes I'd wear and what sort of atmosphere the setting would have when performing that music." She also reflected on her songwriting process: "There are songs for which I decided on the title first, while others, like P.S., were given a title only after I had finished writing the lyrics. I find it a little easier to develop the story when I decide on the title first." Yuju revealed that she recorded every song on the album by herself without a recording director guiding her. "What I'm most satisfied with is being able to capture everything exactly the way I want." She elaborated: "When I record with producers, they guide me really well, but sometimes we have disagreements over certain things. For example, I'll say, 'The emotion is more important than the rhythm in this part', while the producers might say, 'You need to take the emotion out here and make sure the rhythm is perfectly precise'. When I'm working alone, I can express things according to my own judgement." However, she acknowledged that recording independently also has its challenges. "Without the sense of security that comes from having producers guide me, there are times when I wonder, 'Did I do this properly?' So even when recording alone, I sent them the files each day and made revisions based on their feedback whenever they noticed something I had missed. I worked independently, but still received guidance." She also reflected on how her approach to songwriting has changed over the years. "I think I've become less inclined to beat around the bush. It feels like I'm discovering the beauty of being more raw and unfiltered. When I was younger, even if I was writing the same single line, I would spend a lot of time thinking about how to make it sound more impressive or sophisticated and I paid a lot of attention to decorating it." Yuju revealed that her songwriting style has become much more straightforward: "Now, I like taking whatever raw thoughts come to mind and putting them out there exactly as they are. I think there's something beautiful about expressing them without processing or polishing them too much." Having recently collaborated with SHINee's Onew on Mind Games, Yuju also expressed interest in working with other artists. She said: "I've often wondered what it would be like if someone commissioned me to write lyrics for them. When you're writing lyrics, you get to briefly live someone else's life. I think it would be wonderful if I had the opportunity to do something like that." 🔗naver.me/GowMLZ7j #GFRIEND #YUJU @YUJU_atarea

[NEWS] 261104 - Yuju interview with MNH Part 2: Yuju on a GFRIEND’s group chat: “It’s usually quite but once one person starts chatting, it never ends” Singer Yuju has shared updates about how she has been keeping in touch with her fellow GFRIEND members as well as the memories she has made with her new colleagues. When asked how she had been keeping in touch with the members following their 10th anniversary activities, Yuju revealed: "Our group chat isn't particularly active on a regular basis. But once someone starts a conversation, it just keeps going endlessly." She added, "I recently filmed some content with Sowon unnie and it was the first time we'd seen each other in several months. As soon as we met, everything felt so natural. Even if we don't get to see each other often, we keep in touch from time to time so whenever we meet again after a long time, our energy is always exactly the same." On what kind of inspiration she gets from her fellow GFRIEND members, who are now continuing their musical careers in their respective fields: "Rather than feeling inspired or motivated by them, I simply feel nothing but support for them. We know each other so well and we understand what each of us is feeling and the mindset we're working with so we naturally support one another unconditionally." She also revealed that she hadn't played her new album for the members privately before its release. "Because the members know each other's personalities so well, I understand that they want to share something only once it's been completed perfectly. They're not the type to say, 'Let me hear it in advance'." When asked whether any of the members had given her particularly honest or critical feedback, she laughed and replied: "We're the type to praise each other unconditionally. They just said things like, 'I've been keeping up with what you're doing', 'You did well' and 'You made it well'." Beyond the members she has spent so many years with, Yuju also developed a special connection with colleagues she recently met through a new performance setting. Yuju is appearing on ‘The Listen: The Season We Stayed (hereafter The Listen)’, which premiered on the 7th of last month. Alongside Lee Younghyun, Tei, Suho and Chuu, she has been putting on busking performances in various locations across the country. Recalling when she was first approached to join the programme, she said: "It's always nice to receive a work-related call, no matter where it comes from." However, she admitted that busking was particularly challenging for her. "By my standards, busking is the most difficult type of performance. Rather than performing on a large, spectacular stage, it's actually harder to sit face-to-face with a small audience, close enough to hear each other's breathing, and sing completely live. You can't stop halfway through and start again either." Nevertheless, she had clear reasons for deciding to take part. "I felt pressured, but I also had this expectation that if I could pull it off, perhaps I would have developed in some way by the time filming was over. I also accepted it as a way of giving myself a mission, telling myself, 'Try and accomplish this at least once'." She continued: "I know quite a few idol friends around me who have tried busking, and they get genuinely nervous. Everyone has become accustomed to performing on big stages but they say busking makes them the most nervous. They'd actually prefer doing a concert." When asked about her most memorable performance, Yuju picked her duet with Tei. "I became really captivated by NELL’s song Limit and I really wanted to perform it with Tei sunbaenim. I gathered up the courage to suggest it to him first, and he gladly agreed." She expressed her gratitude and recalled the experience: "Because we each had our own schedules, we barely had any time to practise together so we only really rehearsed on the day itself. But even without having to explain much to each other, whenever our eyes met while singing I could sense things like, 'I'll take the lead here'. That moment when our chemistry naturally fell into place without saying anything was really meaningful." She also proudly mentioned, "He even complimented me, saying that my voice was really beautiful." Regarding some of the more nerve-racking moments, she laughed: "Every performance is nerve-racking so they're all nerve-racking moments. Sometimes, when I accidentally got the lyrics wrong, I would just pretend to be shamelessly confident and carry on singing." She continued: "It was August and September, so I hadn't really anticipated how cold it could get. But because the location was by the sea, it was genuinely as cold as winter. I was shivering but thankfully, Suho sunbaenim took off his jacket and gave it to me and looked after me so I was able to manage the situation." When asked which cast member she had become closest to, Yuju mentioned Lee Younghyun. "She's so cool and impressive when she's singing. I don't know if it's okay to call her cute, but in everyday life she's incredibly adorable and has such a girlish side to her." She recalled one particular moment: "One time, she came in with her hair beautifully tied up so I told her, 'You look so much like a princess today'. Her cheeks turned rosy and she gave me such a cute smile." She added affectionately: "Whenever I come dressed a little too lightly for the cold, she'll look after me and say, 'Why did you wear something like that?' She's someone I've had a lot of playful back-and-forth interactions with” Finally, Yuju shared what she would like to challenge herself with in future episodes of The Listen. "This time, I've mainly performed ballads but I'm actually surprisingly good at rhythmic songs. I'd like to try performing something with a faster tempo that can lift the atmosphere and get everyone excited." 🔗naver.me/5Nes37S3 #GFRIEND #YUJU @YUJU_atarea

[NEWS] 261104 - Yuju interview with MNH Part 1: Yuju on a GFRIEND reunion: “I think the possibility is always open” An interview with Yuju, who recently returned with her 4th mini album 'file. 07', was held at the MHN headquarters. During her time with GFRIEND, Yuju was responsible for the powerful high notes in hit songs such as Glass Bead, Me Gustas Tu and Rough, earning nicknames such as "power vocalist" and "high-note fairy". Reflecting on her role in the group, she said: "My vocals definitely had a specific role within the team. Regardless of what kind of song we received, I was usually given the parts that needed to be the most impactful, the parts where the spotlight had to shine directly on me. So back then, strength and power were important." GFRIEND reunited as a complete group last year to celebrate their 10th debut anniversary and reconnect with their fans. When asked about the possibility of another reunion, Yuju responded cautiously: "That's something that requires consideration and decisions from all six members, so I can't say here whether we will or won't do it." However, she emphasised that the possibility remains open. "Still, we're always keeping the door open. It's not as though we've completely come to an end and we also got to show everyone that chemistry once again during our 10th anniversary. I believe the possibility is always there and we occasionally talk about these things among the members." Even now that she is pursuing a solo career, many people still remember her as the "high-note fairy". However, Yuju said there isn't a significant gap between what she wants to show as a solo artist and what the public expects from her. "Whatever you do, there will always be people who like it and people who don't. You might do something thinking that's what the public wants but their reaction might be different. On the other hand, you might think that only you will like something but it could receive a great response." She explained, "I think when I release music that I genuinely like and feel confident about, people end up liking it too." She added, "Even when I build an album around emotions, I don't abandon the powerful parts of my vocals. I try to carry all of those qualities with me." In particular, recalling her early days as a rookie, she said: "Back then, everyone was putting so much energy into their performances because we were in a position where we needed to stand out even to just one more person. I also focused on creating ad-libs that weren't even originally there. Now, I think I need to combine that kind of energy with a more mature vocal style." GFRIEND's songs continue to be talked about even today for their wistful melodies and lyrics that capture the beauty of the Korean language. When asked when she notices the group's lasting popularity, Yuju said: "I feel it all the time. Thankfully, our songs are still played quite often on the streets and they're frequently used as entrance music for people appearing on variety shows and comedy programmes." She continued proudly: "When I meet younger artists who debuted recently at broadcasting stations, many of them tell me things like, 'I used to cover your songs' or 'I auditioned with that song'. That's another moment when I really feel it, and I'm grateful." When asked which GFRIEND song she would like to perform on her current programme, ‘The Listen: The Season We Stayed’, she chose Me Gustas Tu. "Actually, it's an upbeat dance song but the lyrics are very lyrical and sentimental. I think if we changed the accompaniment to an acoustic arrangement, those beautiful lyrics would really come to life." Among GFRIEND's bside tracks, she picked Gone with the wind, You are my star and Luv Star, expressing her affection for the songs. "When we're busking, we tend to perform songs that people are likely to recognise so we don't get many opportunities to perform B-sides. But there are quite a lot of songs that I think would sound great acoustically." 🔗naver.me/xTy2Z8fX #GFRIEND #YUJU @YUJU_atarea