Photo = FNC ENTERTAINMENT

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter KANG SUYOUNG] SF9’s YOUNGBIN shared the secret to how the group has overcome slumps.

 

SF9 held a showcase for the release of its 2nd full-length album ‘TENACITY’ at Cube Convention Center on the 26th. On this day, YOUNGBIN said, “I think the members only have the members,” adding, “I do not think we have many friends either, and the members spend a lot of time together.”

 

Asked whether there had been moments over the past 10 years when they felt slumps or crises, YOUNGBIN said, “We always had our own concerns that we could not talk about in public, and there were times when our attitudes toward music changed,” adding, “Whenever that happened, I think the members were always beside one another.” He continued, “When HWIYOUNG went through slumps in songwriting, he often asked me or CHANI for advice, and while looking back and realizing, ‘We did have slumps,’ and ‘We did have crises,’ I also felt that this is how we overcame them.” Regarding YOO TAEYANG and ZUHO, who could not join this promotion due to military service, he said, “They sent us a KakaoTalk message yesterday saying they would be watching us well,” adding, “It is not easy to stay in touch, so a single message like that gives us a lot of strength. Even if we do not contact one another, we are always cheering each other on in our hearts.”

 

Asked what has changed compared to 10 years ago, YOUNGBIN said, “The biggest change is the members’ flexibility,” adding, “I think the flexibility of each member gradually adjusting their different directions into a direction for the team, and not insisting on their own way, has changed the most. I think those things actually make the team atmosphere brighter now.” He added, “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.” JAEYOON said, “On stage, I think the members have become very flexible and have come to know how to express themselves and how to express what SF9 is,” adding, “The most important thing is something I feel every day when I look at the members’ faces: they have become really cool.”

 

Regarding the secret to their teamwork, YOUNGBIN said, “I think it is perseverance, determination, and flexibility, but the most important thing is that there have to be people who love us,” adding, “I always think that the most fundamental reason we have been able to maintain such good teamwork and continue our activities for 10 years lies with FANTASY, our fandom.” INSEONG said, “I think the biggest driving force is that the members’ hearts align well with one another,” adding, “Because our intentions toward being singers and toward music ultimately share the same goal, I think we can keep going for a long, long time because our hearts align around the thought, ‘Let’s really keep doing what we love until the end.’”

 

They also talked about what sets SF9 apart. HWIYOUNG said, “I think we are a team that is not stagnant in one place, but always flowing,” adding, “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.” INSEONG said, “I thought our team was like Ditto from Pokémon,” describing the group as “a palette with an infinite number of colors, where if there is a genre like trap hip-hop, pop, or ballad, our members can bring out and use all of them in the right place at the right time.” YOUNGBIN said, “Because our company is a band company, the melodies of our music are so good,” adding, “I hope the innocence of the members, who have steadily completed 15 mini albums without complaint and without wavering, will be seen as our team’s color.”

 

SF9, which debuted in October 2016, has steadily maintained its presence with its broad ability to pull off various concepts and solid performances. At the 30th Hanteo Music Awards 2022, the group won the Global Artist Award in the China category, recognizing its popularity overseas as well.

 

The 2nd full-length album ‘TENACITY’ is an album that looks back on the past 10 years and tells the story of moving forward as the group marks its 10th debut anniversary. The album title ‘TENACITY’ means “perseverance, determination, and indomitable will,” while also containing “TEN,” symbolizing the group’s 10th debut anniversary. The album consists of songs that capture SF9’s musical journey and promise for the future, including the title track ‘Without Wings.’

 

SF9’s 2nd full-length album ‘TENACITY’ will be released at 6 PM on this day. The group’s highest initial chodong sales record to date is 179,666 copies, achieved by its 12th mini album ‘THE PIECE OF9,’ released in January 2023. Attention is focused on whether SF9, returning with a renewed will for its 10th anniversary, will be able to break that record with this album.

 

grace@hanteo.com