Get to know cignature as they dive into the exhilaration of their fifth mini album, 'Sweetie but Saltie,’ in this exclusive interview.
K-pop girl group cignature, known for their vibrant energy and catchy tunes, recently released their highly anticipated fifth mini album, ‘Sweetie but Saltie,’ on June 10th. This seven-member group, consisting of CHAESOL, JEEWON, SELINE, BELLE, CHLOE, SEMI, and DOHEE, debuted on February 4, 2020, with the digital single "Nun Nu Nan Na" and has since been capturing hearts with their unique sound and dynamic performances. Currently promoting as a six-member group due to BELLE’s commitments with the project girl group UNIS from SBS’ audition program Universe Ticket, cignature continues to charm their fans, known as signfan, with their latest musical endeavors.
‘Sweetie but Saltie’ brings a refreshing blend of summer vibes and sincere storytelling, reflecting the group's journey and emotional depth. The title track, "풍덩 (Poongdung)," is a sparkling summer anthem that captures the fearless excitement of falling in love. Songs like "I like I like" delve into the nuances of love and the desire for affirmation, while "Melody" offers a poignant look at cignature's past, present, and future.
In this exclusive interview, cignature shares their thoughts and favorite moments behind the making of their latest album, their growth since debut, and their deep connection with signfan. Join us as we dive into the world of cignature and explore the sweet and salty flavors of their new music.
Congratulations on the release of your 5th mini-album, ‘Sweetie but Saltie!’ How does it feel to be back with new music for your fans?
JEEWON: For the first time, we are making a comeback with a song perfect for the summer, and we are very excited to enjoy the heat of the season! We will work hard so that you can also enjoy a hot summer with the music of ‘Summer Queen’ cignature!
DOHEE: I'm really excited to meet my fans for the first time in a long time, and I hope they like this song as much as we worked hard on it.
For the newer fans, could you each introduce yourselves and share a bit about your role in the group?
CHAESOL: Hello, I’m CHAESOL. I’m in charge of vocals with a sweet tone.
JEEWON: Hello, I’m JEEWON! These days, I am planning and producing a variety of content, and I use trendy shorts and reels to capture the fun side of cignature.
SELINE: Hello, I’m SELINE. I’m a dancer in cignature, and the animal that represents me is a dog.
CHLOE: Hello, I’m CHLOE! I am in charge of English and candid yet quirky charm and cuteness.
SEMI: Hello, I’m SEMI. I’m in charge of singing and dancing in cignature.
DOHEE: Hello, I’m DOHEE. As the energetic youngest member, I try to make the members laugh whenever they get tired.
The concept photos for ‘Sweetie but Saltie’ have a very relaxed and cute vibe. How does this theme play out in the music and choreography of the album and how do you feel it represents cignature's style?
SELINE: cignature has always had plenty of cute songs and choreography, but this time, I think our concept photos captured our playful and kitschy atmosphere well.
CHLOE: I think this concept fits perfectly with the cignature. The concept photos that showed the members' playful, girlish, and mature appearances came out pretty. It seems like the vibes and choreography of the title track, “Poongdung,” and the B-side track, “I Like I Like,” embody those elements.
The album title, ‘Sweetie but Saltie,’ suggests a mix of different flavors. How do the songs on the album reflect this duality?
CHAESOL: “Melody” and the two songs “Poongdung” and “I like I like” showcase contrasting charms that represent the duality.
SEMI: First, the title track, “Poongdung,” mixes saltiness and coolness. On the other hand, “I like I like” adds a sweet touch to this album.
The timing of the album is perfect for summer. How do you think this album captures the essence of the season?
DOHEE: The title “Poongdung” (which can be translated to ‘splash’) reminds me of summer! All the songs have a refreshing atmosphere, so the album is perfect for the hot summer, and I hope you'll listen to the entire album.
CHAESOL: We filmed the music video in Lisbon to express the atmosphere of summer, and we wanted to bring bubbly, refreshing charm to the choreography.
If you had to describe the "풍덩 (Poongdung)" in three words, what would they be?
JEEWON: Diving, Sea, Love
SEMI: Sky Blue, Waves, Heart
What do you hope fans take away from the title track, "풍덩 (Poongdung)," both in terms of its sound and its message?
CHLOE: Splashing into Love! I hope you feel refreshed and excited while listening to “Poongdung,” a song filled with the excitement of a summer romance, and get swept away by those thrilling emotions.
SELINE: As it's a summer song, the lyrics are filled with expressions evoking swimming. I hope you’ll listen to “Poongdung” when traveling in summer and soak up the excitement of your journey.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories or TMIs from the music video shoot for "풍덩 (Poongdung)?"
CHAESOL: The director who joined us this time is Sunny Visual's director Yoo Seong-gyun, who has been working with us since our debut! He knows our charms so well and skillfully highlighted our strengths during the shoot. We also had a lot of fun shooting overseas. Despite facing difficulties like our luggage being delayed, we ended up having an exciting and enjoyable shoot!
SELINE: Leaving for a music video shoot and losing all the carriers we brought was quite shocking at first, making me think, 'How could something like this happen to me?' But seeing the cignature team somehow manage to complete the music video despite the setbacks, I was truly impressed. We felt it was an experience unlike anything in our lives, and despite the initial panic, we found it quite enjoyable in retrospect.
If ‘Sweetie but Saltie’ were a snack, would it lean more towards being sweet or salty? And which member's personality would best match that snack?
JEEWON: I think it would taste like salted caramel, with sweet and salty flavors at the same time, which is popular these days! Even when making desserts, salt is added for extreme sweetness! Just like that, we added a touch of saltiness for an intense sweetness, and I think SELINE fits best with this concept. She embodies the perfect balance where both flavors coexist harmoniously!
SEMI: I think it would have been closer to sweetness. With a sweet base, the salty taste would add highlights that just pop in your mouth, one by one, and I think the member who would go well with this snack is DOHEE. I believe she embodies both aspects of the flavor profile seamlessly.
If you could pick one song from ‘Sweetie but Saltie,’ besides the title track, to be the anthem for your fans' summer, which track would it be and why?
DOHEE: For me, it’s “I like I like.” Personally, when I first heard the song, I thought it would fit well on a summer afternoon as the sun sets.
CHAESOL: I also pick “I like I like!!” This song captures the hazy feeling of summer, and I think it's very easy to listen to. It's also very addictive!
Each of you brings something unique to cignature. How did your individual strengths and personalities influence the making of this album?
CHLOE: The members of cignature know each other's strengths and personalities well, so we would discuss various ways to highlight each other's strengths and exchange opinions during practice. For example, when I think about each member's strengths, CHAESOL has such a beautiful voice that she often takes on the bridge part in cignature's songs, smoothly transitioning the mood of the song. JEEWON is good at using facial expressions; she effectively maintains our music and atmosphere in the center. SELINE’s great physique and dance lines shine the most with her strong movements when she performs as the center of the group while balancing the team well. SEMI has solid vocal and dance skills, along with a wide range of expressions, naturally grabbing everyone’s attention when she’s performing. I think I have a lot to learn from her. Lastly, our youngest member, DOHEE, takes on cool rap parts contrary to her cute, innocent appearance just like a fairy. She also makes our choreography look easy with her feather-like movements. This time, she’s in charge of the intro! As for me, fans say I have a unique voice, making my parts easily recognizable. I think this album turned out very well with every member’s strengths highlighted!
SELINE: The members laughed and talked a lot with each other. We laughed while recording, and it felt like we were just filming ourselves hanging out during the music video shoot. With that experience, I thought cignature's lively and fun side was captured well, and the result came out well because it blends greatly with this album.
How do you feel you've grown since your debut, especially with this new release?
SEMI: At the beginning of my debut, I had a lot of difficulties preparing for the stage. But as I prepared for this album, I was happy to feel that I had become more professional when filming music videos and during dance lessons.
DOHEE: I think the things I could experience while promoting helped me grow up. I still have a lot to learn, but I feel like I've definitely learned how to enjoy the process.
After the release of ‘Sweetie but Saltie,’ what are your plans for the rest of the year? Any upcoming projects or goals you’re aiming for?
JEEWON: In the second half of the year, we plan to perform on various stages at different events and festivals. We also plan to show many interesting appearances off-stage on several YouTube and radio channels. Finally, I'd love to showcase cignature's fantastic stage starting from our comeback showcase if we have an opportunity.
CHLOE: We are still in the beginning stage of this album’s promotions, but I wish to make another album this year and share cignature's great music with everyone. I especially want to perform in front of cignature’s international fans. I hope to communicate with my fans through various social media platforms and show them fun content! Our goal is to meet our fans with improving performances every time.
Lastly, please leave a message to your fans reading this around the world.
CHAESOL: We were able to come this far thanks to our signfans, and we will always strive with a humble heart to ensure that you can ‘splash’ into our charms. Are you ready to beat the heat with cignature this summer?! I’m always thankful for you, and love you all!
JEEWON: signfan~ I can't believe we've already released our fifth mini-album. I will always work hard with an unchanging heart, so I hope you’re ready to fall in love with cignature this hot summer. We will make you dizzy and out of breath, just like the lyrics from “Poongdung.” I love you!
Listen to their discography on Spotify or Apple Music.
*Special thanks to the members of cignature, J9 Entertainment, and Helix Publicity for this exclusive interview.
Image and Video Credits: J9 Entertainment