Welcome to Fan Chant, a weekly column for Okay-pop followers, stans, and newbies alike. Every week, I’ll be rolling out interviews, lists, and all types of content material to maintain you within the loop on the newest and best from our mates in Seoul and past. Additionally, be sure to subscribe to my companion publication!

This previous fall in Seoul, the track “Hype Boy” by NewJeans was nothing in need of ubiquitous.

The track was taking part in out there in Insadong, procuring malls in Myeondeong, eating places and comfort shops alongside the Han River, and even pulsing from the brightly coloured bars in Hongdae at evening, hoping to draw clients like me. It appeared like folks throughout demographics have been listening to NewJeans, the freshly debuted group out of ADOR, subsidiary of HYBE, however the hype didn’t keep contained to South Korea.

In only a few months since their July 2022 debut, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein have already began to go world, their string of absurdly catchy, hopeful, and youthful singles pulling in listeners with various ranges of curiosity in Okay-pop. Ariana Grande hasn’t given us new music shortly; within the meantime, contemplating queuing up NewJean’s “Cookie.” Nostalgic for woman teams of the early 2000s? “Consideration” is the best way to go. For movie buffs with a eager eye, their music movies are a treasure trove; the newest, “OMG,” deftly references director Park Chan Wook’s 2006 I’m A Cyborg, However That’s OK.  

“OMG” is the main focus monitor for a single album of the identical title, which was launched on January 2nd and preceded by the equally refreshing “Ditto.” The 2 tracks, “OMG,” with its irresistibly bouncy vibe and “Ditto” with its deconstructed membership beat, handle to offer high-energy sounds and choreography whereas protecting the quintet planted comfortably in an appropriately youthful house. The ladies, whose ages vary from 14 to 18, recall stateside showstoppers like The Cheetah Women and Miley Cyrus, acts that outlined coming-of-age for thus many millennials; whereas loads of Okay-pop woman teams provide high-octane spectacle, NewJeans are the traditional, grounded return to type we didn’t know we wanted.

I linked up with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein to debate the brand new single album, OMG, their budding staff dynamic, their favourite winter soundtracks, and far more. Learn the complete interview with the group under.