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[INTERVIEW] SAY MY NAME discusses new single "iLy" and dream collaborations

AKP STAFF

Posted by Sofia-Sayson 1 hour ago 573

With the latest addition of member SHUIE, the girl group SAY MY NAME (HITOMI, SHUIE, MEI, KANNY, SOHA, DOHEE, JUNHWI, and SEUNGJOO), managed by iNKODE (founded by Kim Jae Joong), has re-emerged as an eight-member group following their October 2024 debut.

Led by HITOMI (a former member of IZ*ONE and AKB48), SAY MY NAME has released their first single as a reorganized eight-member team, titled "iLy." The track is an interpolation of Frankie Valli's renowned song, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and offers a cool, refreshing vibe that's perfect for the summer.

SOHA stated, "Our song is a refreshing interpolation that fits the summer, so I think you'll think of summer every time you listen to it."

After the release of their single "iLy," allkpop had the chance to sit down with SAY MY NAME for an exclusive interview. We talked about their reintroduction as a group, first impressions, and even their dream collaborations. Read on to get to know the members better!

Shout-out video from SAY MY NAME:

allkpop: First of all, congratulations on your recent single! Introduce yourselves to everyone. Give us one or two fun facts about you and something you want to bring to the table as a member of SAY MY NAME.

HITOMI: Hello! I'm HITOMI, the youngest leader of SAY MY NAME! My TMI is... I'm really into packing my own lunchboxes these days, and for this comeback, I dyed my hair red for the very first time in my life! I'm the only J out of the eight members, so I want to show you all a planned and charismatic style of leadership! (laughs)

SHUIE: Hello everyone! I'm SHUIE, the eighth member of SAY MY NAME! My TMI is that I'm always losing things... My mom even says, “If you don't lose something, you're not SHUIE.” The charm I want to show as a member is my stable and gentle personality!

MEI: Hello! I'm MEI, the member of SAY MY NAME with sparkling, charming eyes! I have the brightest energy on the team, and I'm a mood maker and the main dancer. My TMI is that I recently found out that if I sleep during an even-numbered hour, I don't feel sleepy, but if I sleep during an odd-numbered hour, I do!

KANNY: Hello! I'm KANNY, the main rapper of SAY MY NAME from Thailand! My TMI for today is that I put my hair in a ponytail for the first time in a long time! Ponytails really suit me, so I wore them often during our “ShaLala” promotions, and I decided to do it again specially for today! My charm is my unique vocal tone. It's full of cool vibes, and people say that when they hear my voice, they feel like they're falling in love! (laughs)

SOHA: Hello! I'm SOHA, SAY MY NAME's sweet princess and main vocalist! The nickname “sweet princess” was given to me by MEI because I eat a lot of sweets. (laughs) And as the main vocalist, I really want to show off my vocal tone, as well as my dance skills, which are as good as the main dancers!

DOHEE: Hi! I'm DOHEE, the voice fairy of SAY MY NAME! I'm a versatile center of the group, but I also have an awkward, waddling duck-like charm. (laughs) I want to show you a more powerful side of me in the future!

JUNHWI: Hello! I'm JUNHWI, the charming member of SAY MY NAME! I'm good at imitating animal and alien sounds! As a member of SAY MY NAME, I want to be as bubbly and refreshing as soda in the hot summer!

SEUNGJOO: Hello! I'm SAY MY NAME’s lovely youngest member, SEONGJOO! My TMI is that I really like to make dad jokes, so I usually study them. (laughs) When I make jokes, the members’ reactions are so funny that I become addicted to them! And as the youngest member of the team, I want to show all my cute charms! It's the kind of charm that makes anyone think, “Oh, it's the youngest member!” when they pass by me on the subway. (laughs)

allkpop: Can you share with us the message behind “iLy”? What does the song mean to you?

HITOMI: Although the preparation period for this single wasn't long, we all worked really hard to prepare the song so that we could showcase the upgraded appearance of the new SAY MY NAME with eight members and to showcase these eight new personas. I also think it's a song that lets you feel our unique teamwork!

SOHA: Our single “iLy” is an interpolation of the world-famous song “Can't Take My Eyes Off You.” I remember my parents playing this song loudly in the living room during Christmas when I was a child, and we would dance to it together. When I listen to the original song, I think of those memories and it reminds me of winter. But our song is a refreshing interpolation that fits the summer, so I think you'll think of summer every time you listen to it.

SEUNGJOO: “iLy” is an abbreviation for “I Love You”! Since “I-L-Y” sounds a bit boring, we wrote “I-li~” (pronounced as “ay-li”) to make it easier to read and sound cute.

allkpop: Are there any memorable and fun behind-the-scenes stories, from the concept photoshoot to song recording and music video filming?

SHUIE: It was my first time in Okinawa, so every single day felt so fresh and memorable! The most memorable moment was the day we went to a convenience store with our members, bought a lot of snacks, and had a party at the hotel. We were so happy that day!

MEI: It was so hot while filming that my skin got really tanned… Even though the wind was blowing strongly during the outdoor shoot, it was so hot that it felt like a heat wave and I had a hard time keeping my eyes open.

JUNHWI: I went to Okinawa for the first time to shoot a music video, and the ice cream was so cold and delicious! And the weather was so interesting, it rained and then the sun came out! (laughs)

allkpop: How do you find your journey as a member of SAY MY NAME so far? Do you have any favorite moments yet?

HITOMI: Even though I've been active for over a decade, there were many first-time experiences and learnings that I had since becoming a SAY MY NAME member. One of the most surreal moments was our debut showcase. It was a day I'll never forget when I was able to dream again in front of my fans who believed in me and waited so long for me, and greeted them on stage with a new look!

DOHEE: I think the moment when our new member, SHUIE, joined was also special! (laughs) It felt like we were starting the story of SAY MY NAME anew, so it was really special and I loved it!

JUNHWI: When SHUIE first joined, it was a new feeling, a little different than before, because we had been on a journey with seven members and now we have eight members. It was a bit nerve-wracking, touching, and special to start with a fresh mindset!

allkpop: What were your first impressions of each other?

SHUIE: When I first introduced myself to our members, they were all a little shy, but they greeted me with smiles and enthusiasm! What I felt at that time was that they were all really kind and cute!

KANNY: Everyone's personality is different, so when we first met, I was a little scared because I thought, “Will we get along?” But as we practiced and lived together, I realized that the members were kind and genuine. When I saw how we helped and supported each other when things got difficult, my initial fears are now completely gone!

SEUNGJOO: When I first met SHUIE, I felt an elegant aura! It was a different vibe from the existing members, so I felt a lot of new things. KANNY has long arms and legs, so she really looked like a real model, so I wanted to get close to her. (laughs) However, since we are both very shy, I think it took a while for us to become close!

allkpop: Are there any artists, in or out of K-pop, that you’d like to work with in the near future?

KANNY: The first person who made me think about becoming an idol was [BLACKPINK] Lisa! If I ever get the chance, I definitely want to work with her!

SOHA: There are many artists that I really respect. My role models are BLACKPINK's Rosé and Jennie, Taeyeon, and Baek Yerin, as well as Avril Lavigne, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, Charlie Puth, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Crush, Lady Gaga, and Ruel. Many of them have given me great inspiration. I would be so happy and excited if I could work with them. It's my lifelong wish!

DOHEE: If it's not too much, I'd love to work with IU someday. I'd love to see her emotions up close when she sings, and learn from her closely.

allkpop: Lastly, please leave a message to everyone who will read this interview! Feel free to also share with us your goals as a rookie group!

KANNY: LOVvmE (SAY MY NAME’s fandom name) and readers! Thank you so much for always looking at me kindly and cheering me on! I will continue to show you a better and more mature side of me. Please love me forever! (laughs)

MEI: LOVvmE! Thank you so much for always supporting us! Thanks to you, I always receive great happiness. I will try my best to give you more than the happiness you give me! I love you!

DOHEE: Thank you so much for creating a short story for us! I hope we have many more opportunities to get our names out there in the future. We'll continue to work hard to improve!