[Hanteo News = Reporter KANG SUYOUNG] 10th anniversary, 2nd album. On the day of its comeback, the first thing SF9 brought up was not a shining moment. It was what still felt lacking, what did not feel satisfying enough, and the will to keep running regardless. That honesty made the team look even stronger.

SF9 held a showcase for the release of its 2nd full-length album ‘TENACITY’ at Cube Convention Center on the 26th and talked about the new album. TENACITY means perseverance, determination, and will. For a name the group has given itself on its 10th anniversary, it is far from flashy. But throughout the interview, the members themselves proved that this word suits the team best.

“I cannot speak on behalf of the group, but personally, I think we still have not reached the level of results I want. I do not think we can avoid caring about the scale of our performances or our results. In those areas, I do not feel satisfied, and I also feel that our musical self-realization is still somewhat lacking.” (DAWON)

It was an unexpected thing to say at a place where one might expect warm, cheerful reflections on a 10th anniversary. But JAEYOON’s next words explained that unexpectedness. “When making this album, I think the members burned through 120% of the passion they could give. I guess we really want this album to do well.” That thirst was the driving force. The full-length album after six years also came about because the members repeatedly appealed to the company. YOUNGBIN explained, “It was something fans had long wished for, and we also wanted to show it,” adding, “We also chose to do this because if the songs the members participated in receive love, we thought we might be able to establish our musical direction more clearly.”

Their honesty continued into stories from inside the team that had spent a long time together. Over 10 years of promoting under one name, the members overcame crises by relying on one another.

“I think the biggest change from our early debut days is the members’ flexibility. Each of us has gradually adjusted our different directions into a direction for the team. For example, we do not insist on our own way. I think those things make the team atmosphere brighter now. I think we have grown in that way. When we debuted, we fought a lot. Things like, ‘I will eat first,’ or ‘I will shower first.’ These days, we have become more flexible, so I really like seeing that.” (YOUNGBIN)

“To be honest, among the members, we always have our own concerns that we cannot talk about in public. There are also times when our attitudes toward music change. Whenever that happened, I think the members were always beside me. Looking back, while realizing that we had slumps and crises, I also felt that this is how we overcame them. I really think the members only have the members. I do not think we have that many friends either.” (YOUNGBIN)

“I think the biggest driving force is that our hearts align well with one another. We are people who all came from different environments, but we talked a lot recently as well, and in the end, because our ultimate goal is the same, our hearts align around the thought, ‘Let’s really keep doing what we love until the end.’ I think that is why we can keep going for a long, long time.” (INSEONG)

When asked what sets SF9 apart, the members acknowledged it without hesitation. Because they have tried various concepts, they also do not have one fixed image. But they explained that this is precisely what makes them different.

“I think we are a team that is not stagnant in one place, but always flowing. The fact that we try hard to show many new styles and sides is our color, and I think it may also be our company’s color. I think we could be described as a constantly flowing, non-stagnant, ever-changing team.” (HWIYOUNG)

“In Pokémon, there is a Pokémon called Ditto. I felt that our team is somehow like Ditto. There is a genre called trap hip-hop, there is pop, and there are ballads. Our members can use all of them in the right place at the right time. In a way, we are a palette with an infinite number of colors. That is how I want to describe us.” (INSEONG)

The title track ‘Without Wings’ from this album reads like the conclusion of all those stories. INSEONG introduced it by saying, “It is a song about overcoming the various limits we face in life and soaring, flying upward.” YOUNGBIN followed by saying, “They say singers follow their song titles, right? We will run hard so that we can soar even without wings. We will run with our feet and run with everything we can run with as we work hard during this promotion.”

Their goal is clear. INSEONG said, “We really want to win No. 1 on a music show,” and also brought up the big dream of performing at Wembley Stadium. “I heard it can hold 50,000 to 100,000 people, and we have a goal of definitely holding an SF9 concert there someday.” INSEONG also said they are “looking ahead to the 60th anniversary.” It is a number so big it almost sounds absurd, but coming from this team, belief came before laughter. If a team has endured 10 years with perseverance and determination, it is likely to walk the next 10 years in the same way.

SF9’s 2nd full-length album ‘TENACITY’ will be released today (26th) at 6 PM. Attention is focused on how far the next steps of SF9, armed with the determination to soar even without wings, will reach.

grace@hanteo.com

관련 기사
SF9 재윤 “눈 깜짝할 사이에 10주년…60주년에 디너쇼 하고 싶어” [HT현장]

SF9 인성 “활동 목표는 음방 1위…언젠가 웸블리 콘서트도” [HT현장]

SF9 영빈 “멤버들, 서로 의지하며 슬럼프 극복…친구 많이 없다” [HT현장]