K-pop Rookies ITZY Learn To Practice What They Preach

Before their debut in February 2019, the five members of ITZY were referred to because the unicorn team" within their South Korean entertainment business, JYP. Youngest member Yuna zealously adopted the majestic moniker, adding a unicorn emoji beside each member's name in her phone’s contacts list. "Unicorns are very free, and we can relate to that feeling," she tells MTV News, sitting beside her teammates in a cozy studio space in New York. They've just finished a busy press day after the conclusion of their first United States tour, and right after a meal of pizza and gummies, they're prepared to talk. Yuna, feeling energized from the modest sugar intake, adds in Korean, the mythical creatures are "playful, yet sort of pretty — just like us."


She's not wrong. It's a dichotomy of powerful and delicate, pretty and punk that makes the girl group’s presentation particularly potent. Today, they mix black leather boots and studded belts with red plaid skirts and dangling chain hardware; their smiles are blinding. There's an effervescence to ITZY that's a testament to their ages — Yeji and Lia, both 19, Ryujin and Chaeryeong, both 18, and Yuna, 16 — and also their dynamic sound, which is big on energy and attitude. Yuna calls their music "medicine," or an instant mood-enhancer. "We hope that it gives people energy," Lia adds in English language. "Like a vitamin."


With their upbeat bops and confident, cool demeanors, the rookies dominated 2019 with two smash singles: "DALLA DALLA" and "Icy," which swept televised music programs and topped the charts in South Korea, becoming mainstream hits with major crossover appeal. The colorful visual for their premiere track "DALLA DALLA" (meaning "different" in Korean) became the fastest debut music video to reach 100 million views on YouTube; to date, it's racked up nearly 177 million views. The global demand for ITZY grew so high immediately following the release of their EP It'z Icy in August that the categorize embarked on their U.S. Showcase tour in the new year, bringing them to five cities across the States, from Los Angeles to Brooklyn.


"I felt a lot of different emotions on this tour," leader and eldest member Yeji says. "We're already like a family member, yet I feel like we got even closer. It's not just about improving our skills, because we're performing a lot and can visualize the improvements, although we're experiencing new things. And we get to do it with each other, which makes it more special."


It's taken years — spent in and out of practice rooms, staying up to "4 or 5 in the morning," according to Lia, talking and consuming food their preference snacks on the floor of their shared dorm — to build this sort of sisterhood, one founded on trust, communication, and "fruits," soft-spoken Chaeryeong enthusiastically adds. For the past year, they've spent nearly daily with each other, and before that, they trained alongside one another. In that time, they've picked up on each other's quirks, like the way Yeji consistently feeds jellies and chips for dinner, or how Lia recoils at the mere thought of cucumbers.


"We've known each other for a long time, so we don't really have any problem communicating," Lia says. Although we do have different personalities." Ryujin is quick to add, "We have a lot of contradictions Immediately considering that, a certain sort of alchemy is required to create it work. Yuna is "the energetic one who makes us smile." The mischievous maknae (youngest member) has a similar effect on fans. "I will keep smiling because someone mentioned to me, 'Your smile makes me smile,'" she instructed them crowd at the final stop of their showcase tour in New York. Meanwhile, diligent dancer Chaeryeong "catches all of our mistakes," Lia adds. "She takes care of us." Yeji stands out with her striking visuals, trendy ponytails, and memorable, crowd-killing parts, although the members mention their leader is the "most hard-working," someone on whom they rely for truthful feedback and encouragement. Any time I'm struggling, I get a lot of confidence from practicing a lot and seeing those results on stage, especially any time the fans react positively to it," Yeji says. "I'll read the comments, and that gives me a boost of confidence."


If they get also stressed while rehearsing their next stage or learning a new choreography, it's level-headed Ryujin — with her "cool vibe" and imperturbable nature — that "makes us move on," Lia says, generally with a bad joke. As for Lia, she's the listener of the categorize. "Lia is very deep-thinking, and she's really good at empathizing," Ryujin says. "She listens to us and our problems, and gives us advice."


"Since we're very similar in age, we all treat each other like companions Lia says. "Even if we're very different, we all respect each other and understand each other." Yet one thing they do all have in regular? "We practice and train for the same dream together."


Watching ITZY command the stage at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre while listening to thousands of fans, officially called MIDZY, shout the words "I love myself" as they sing along to "DALLA DALLA," it's clear that the rookies are boldly living that dream. "DALLA DALLA" introduced the world to five young ladies who were unafraid to be loud in a global that would rather they remain silent. "There's no time to care about what others think," Chaeryeong sings in Korean on the track. "I'm busy doing what I'd like to do."


That theme continues in their second single "Icy," a fierce anthem about not being affected by others’ suggestions. "I'm the kind of person who cares a little much less about what others mention Lia notes. "Normally, I don't really care, or I care a little bit much less compared to others." Others, like Chaeryeong, are still working on it. "I do care what other people mention she adds. "I'm trying not to be affected by that as much. My objective this year is to try and not be also shaken by what other people mention In moments of self-doubt, Chaeryeong turns to an artist she admires for her own self-assuredness: Korean singer-songwriter Baek Yerin. "I listen to 'Square' a lot. Her voice, and that song, make me feel calm and safe."


"Icy" is that song for ITZY fans. About the freedom of staying true to yourself and your intentions, it makes the listener feel safe and, more importantly, seen. "They keep talkin', I keep walkin'," Yuna sings in English language on the hook. However the track’s real power is in the way that ITZY assert themselves; they're not asking for permission or forgiveness. They're carving their own paths with confidence in their steps, and it’s leading them to achieve their loftiest goals: Their next album, It'z Me, is already set for a March 9 release.


"'DALLA DALLA' and 'Icy' are both about self-confidence and loving yourself, so that's segment of the message we're attempting to send," Lia says.


However it's not habitually easy to practice what you preach. The members of ITZY, like several of their fans, are still learning to love themselves. "If someone would ask me, 'If you can change something about yourself, what would you change?' I would mention, 'Nothing,'" Lia admits. However it's hard to pick something that I love [about myself]." She pauses, then adds: "I love my family."


As for Ryujin, she loves that she doesn't sweat the small stuff. "I lose things with little effort, yet I do not get worried about it," the steel-haired rapper mentioned. "I never get stressed conveniently Nevertheless, Lia adds, "Other people around her worry about it."


Yuna admires her own optimism. "It's a little bit awkward to mention it, nevertheless I hear a lot that people increase a lot of positive energy from me," Yuna says. "It's really touching." For Yeji, she loves her smile. "I feel confident any time While I smile," the leader grins. Affable Chaeryeong believes her duality is especially charming. "I have several sides to me," she says. "That's the ideal thing about me." As one of the main dancers of the categorize, Chaeryeong brings a fire and tenacity to the stage, however she's also sensitive. Throughout the last night of their showcase tour, she broke down in tears. "I will never forget [this night]," she tearfully mentioned. "I aspire to be able to see you again."


Watching the members interact onstage, it’s apparent that what makes them special isn't the sparkle or the energetic anthems about self-love and confidence; it's the ways in which they ruthlessly attempt to sabotage one another while in a dumb game, how they laugh at Lia's aegyo beautiful expressions), and while they comfort Chaeryeong at her lowest. In moments like this, they increase assurance from being together.


obviously, calls residence don't hurt either. "I converse with my mom often," Yuna smiles. "I get a lot of strength from her. My mom gives me the perfect suggestions. She recently informed me, 'Trust yourself.' I think she's been listening to a lot of ITZY!"