From their debut journey to their boldest aspirations, get to know the members of UNIS in this exclusive interview.
In the bustling world of K-pop, currently characterized by the emergence of fifth-generation artists brimming with talent and charisma, the arrival of UNIS, stylized as U&iS, represents a monumental stride forward. Under the nurturing wing of F&F Entertainment, this eight-member project girl group has captured global adoration long before their official debut on March 27, 2024, with their enchanting mini-album "We UNIS." Created through the immersive journey of the SBS reality show "Universe Ticket," UNIS epitomizes diversity, synergy, and raw talent, boasting a lineup that transcends geographical boundaries, featuring members hailing from Korea, the Philippines, and Japan.
Each member brings a unique set of skills and charm to the group, painting a vivid portrait of UNIS's collective spirit and individual strengths: HYEONJU, as the leader and lead vocalist, leads the charge with her commanding presence and vocal prowess. NANA radiates as the main dancer, vocalist, and center, captivating audiences with her mesmerizing stage presence and flawless execution. GEHLE adds depth to UNIS's sound and aesthetic with her vocal talents and striking visual appeal, while KOTOKO infuses the group's music with a distinct flavor through her rap skills. YUNHA's powerful and emotive vocals resonate deeply, while ELISIA enchants listeners with her expressive range and soulful delivery as the main vocalist. YOONA demands attention with her sharp and dynamic rap verses, showcasing her lyrical prowess. Lastly, completing this stellar lineup is SEOWON, whose angelic vocals and youthful charm shine brilliantly as the group's main vocalist and maknae.
In an exclusive interview with UNIS, the members share insights into their debut journey, the creation of “We UNIS,” aspirations as artists, and the bond that unites them as UNIS. Stay tuned as UNIS opens up about their dreams, ambitions, and the electrifying path that lies ahead.
First and foremost, congratulations on your upcoming debut! Please introduce yourself and your role in UNIS to our readers.
HYEONJU: Hello! To all the readers of Hellokpop, this is our first greeting to you. I am HYEONJU, the reliable eldest member of UNIS.
NANA: Hello! I am UNIS’ main dancer, NANA. Please take care of me.
GEHLEE: I am GEHLEE, UNIS’ sub vocalist and rapper!
KOTOKO: Hello! My name is Kotoko, and I am in charge of UNIS’ cute charms.
YUNHA: Hello! I am YUNHA of UNIS from the talented group UNIS.
ELISIA: I'm so happy to greet you like this. I'm Elisia, the power vocalist of UNIS.
YOONA: Hello! I am YOONA, the bright charm of UNIS. I am so happy to meet you.
SEOWON: Hello! I am UNIS’ main vocalist and maknae, SEOWON.
Can you describe the overall concept and theme of your debut mini-album, "We UNIS"?
HYEONJU: Our mini album, “WE UNIS,” is about the eight members taking their first step as UNIS after achieving their dreams through a universe ticket. With the theme of "You and I, the Story of You and My Beginning," we expressed our diverse emotions with UNIS’ colors. The concept of our debut album is kitsch. You will be able to fully feel our bouncy and bubbly energy and the colorful charms of our eight members.
YOONA: Our debut album contains five tracks, including the title song, ‘SUPERWOMAN.’ I took great care in collaborating with other composers for all the songs, so I think we were able to show more of UNIS’ diverse sides. I hope you listen to and enjoy it.
If you had to summarize the album in three words, what would they be?
YUNHA: 유니스 (UNIS). I think “WE UNIS” is the album that best represents UNIS, like the album name. Not only is it full of UNIS’ identity, but I also think it's the best way to introduce Eunice to the public, so I want to express UNIS in three letters. 유니스.
NANA: Rainbow. Just as the colors of the rainbow coexist under it, I am confident that our album "WE UNIS" is an album where you can feel the charm of UNIS and the individuality of the eight members. Please show a lot of interest in “WE UNIS,” which contains the various charms of eight members.
What was the creative process like when working on "We UNIS"?
SEOWON: We prepared for our debut quickly. From the title track to the B-sides, we had to record and learn new choreography. After all, we are a group with a survival program background. We've learned how to create high-quality stages in a short amount of time. So, preparing for our debut went smoothly. It was enjoyable to spend time with the members, continuously preparing and learning new things.
NANA: When I think about recording, one of our album tracks, 'Whatchu Need,' comes to mind. The lyrics include the phrase 'Whatchu Need,' which was quite challenging to pronounce. I recorded this part multiple times, paying extra attention to it. I wanted to make sure it was perfect for our fans, so I put in a lot of effort. I hope our fans enjoy 'Whatchu Need' as much as we enjoyed recording it.
What message or emotions do you hope to convey to your fans through this release?
KOTOKO: I hope UNIS becomes a here to the public. I think it's also important to feel the kitschy, bubbly charm of UNIS through our title track, 'Superwoman.' If there's a message we want to convey more than that, we hope that the song gives people confidence and bright energy. So we want everyone who hears the has listened to it to become superwoman, not just us.
Do you have a favorite track from the album? If so, can you tell us why it's special to you?
ELISIA: I'd recommend a song called "Whatchu Need," which has English lyrics. "The message is that we will show you everything you (fans, listeners) want to see in the future. As a rookie group, I think it's a message that we, UNIS, can really deliver to our fans and listeners. Not only that, but it's also a song that showcases the freshness and kitschy charm of our members. So, I highly recommend it!
YOONA: We re-recorded ‘Dopamine’ and' Dream of girls’ in our own version. Hearing only the voices of our eight members in these versions was delightful. I chose them as my favorite songs because they showcase a different side of UNIS from the title track. I hope you'll give the UNIS version of 'Dopamine' and 'Dream of girls' a listen.
UNIS is a multinational group with members from Korea, the Philippines, and Japan. How does this diversity influence your music and the group's overall identity?
KOTOKO: As a multinational girl group, I believe the diversity of our members adds to the group's charm. Each member possesses unique personality traits and charms, contributing to UNIS's diverse image. That's why I think we can showcase a wide range of styles that are unique to UNIS. I'm looking forward to the future, as I believe with each album release, we can continue to present limitless concepts.
SEOWON: I feel like we're also influenced musically. With our diverse nationalities, we've had the opportunity to explore various music genres beyond K-pop. Spending time sharing our music preferences with each other has widened our musical spectrum. It seems like our minds and thoughts are opening up even more as we continue to learn new things.
Each member of UNIS brings unique talents to the group. Can you share UNIS's main strength?
HYEONJU: Our strength lies in all members' outstanding dance and vocal skills. That's why UNIS can perform well live. We really want to showcase our live performances. We hope to achieve first place on music shows and present encore stages to our fans.
With the debut date approaching, what emotions are you feeling as a group, and how are you preparing for your official debut stage?
GEHLEE: While we were working on the album, it didn't feel real that we were debuting. Then, on March 27th, we performed our stage. As we met with the fans who had been waiting for us and played our debut song, it finally felt real. On the day the album was released, many people came to congratulate us and support our debut. I still can't forget that moment. I was so happy.
What are some of your goals and aspirations for UNIS in the future?
YUNHA: I want to become a group that knows no end. Even now, many senior artists continue to receive unwavering love. We, UNIS, also want to be with our fans for a long time with good music. Although we've just begun, our ultimate goal is to become a group without an end. We want UNIS to be loved and remembered by many people for a long time. We're going to work really hard to make sure that happens.
GEHLEE: I would love for UNIS to go on a world tour. Soon, UNIS will meet fans in Japan, the home countries of Kotoko and Nana, and in my and Elisia’s home country, the Philippines. I'm so happy that since our debut, we've been able to meet diverse global fans. If given the opportunity, it's my dream for UNIS to go on a world tour and meet fans from all over the globe.
Lastly, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans who have been eagerly anticipating your debut with "We UNIS"?
HYEONJU: At last, UNIS has debuted! Thank you for watching over us and supporting us since the Universe Ticket days. We feel like it's time to repay that support. We will work hard to become artists that you can be proud of.NANA: I'm so happy to be able to spend each day with you after our debut. Thank you for cheering loudly and supporting us every time we step onto the stage. I will work even harder, both as UNIS and as NANA.
GEHLEE: Thank you so much for your interest in UNIS. Every day feels like a dream, and I'm incredibly happy. I won't forget the support you've given us. I'll strive to repay you with better performances.
KOTOKO: Seeing fans come to support us at every schedule made me realize that our debut is very real. I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has shown interest in and supported UNIS, from the Universe Ticket days to now. We'll work even harder and continue to grow, so please keep watching over us.
YUNHA: Thank you all so much for helping me fulfill my dream of making my debut. Thanks to you, I'm having the debut and stage of my dreams. We won't forget the support and love you always send us, and we'll show you even more hard work. Since we still have activities ahead, let's enjoy more happy times together.
ELISIA: Thanks to all of you, we're able to stay active and gain strength. Thank you so much. I hope we can meet even more fans in the future. I'll continue to work hard to show you the diverse sides of UNIS. I hope you'll continue to watch over us and support us as you do now.
YOONA: I am truly grateful to all of you for your unwavering support. I feel like I could say this a dozen times, a hundred times, and it still wouldn't be enough. We've come this far, thanks to all of you. I'm going on stage thinking that we need to show our fans a great and proud side of us. Let's continue this journey together until the end, UNIS and our fans.
SEOWON: Thank you for always supporting us passionately and for being our pillars of strength. We've worked hard on this album, and I hope it becomes a gift-like album for all of you. Having fans who always support us and give us strength makes it possible for us to work hard in our activities. It's just the beginning, so let's work hard.
Listen to their music on Spotify or Apple Music.
*Special thanks to the members of UNIS and F&F Entertainment for this exclusive interview.
Images and Video Credits: F&F Entertainment