A model of step-by-step growth, the band Lucy has self-assessed its popularity.

In a media interview commemorating the release of their 6th mini album[Wajangchang], Lucy(Shin Ye-chan, Jo Won-sang, Choi Sang-yeop, Shin Gwang-il)opened up about the evaluations surrounding them, saying, “‘A band more famous than you think ‘is an expression that accurately describes us.”

Jo Won-sang said, “He says,’ My friend knows, ‘but he himself doesn’ t know us.To be honest, I don’t really feel how popular we are.When we stand on a festival stage, I think we’ve become a band that people have probably heard at least one(song).In the future, we want to become a famous band,” and expressed pride in our growth over the past five years, saying, “We still don’t feel popular, but we say that we’ve come together well.”

“I’m proud of Lucy.Just the fact that the band members I’m in are Shin Ye-chan, Choi Sang-yeop, and Shin Gwang-il makes me want to brag to people.I think they’re a team that can make people jealous.”

Choi Sang-yeop continued, “I look back on the year every year, and I have never regretted the past five years.I worked hard every year and I am satisfied.If I could go back, I think I would do the same thing.” Shin Ye-chan also expressed his affection for the band, saying, “I started Lucy without expecting much.I just had fun with the music, but as I saw more and more people liking us, I felt a sense of responsibility and duty.” According to Jo Won-sang, a member and producer of Lucy, the 6th mini-album[Wajangchang]is a challenge toward popularity.Jo Won-sang and Choi Sang-yeop introduced the meaning of the new album, saying, “We are not trying to ‘destroy’ the previous Lucy, but we tried a big change,” and “We wanted to differentiate it from the previous album.’Wajangchang’ means breaking the mold and starting anew.”

“I didn’t intend to make a ‘wow-wow’ change starting with my 5th debut anniversary, but it did have an impact.It was a decision that was possible because I had more time and my perspective broadened after my 6th year.The point I was able to look at because I had more time was ‘popularity,’ and I had to think about it between unique genres.I tried to break the mold, but I hope many people will say, ‘It’s Lucy-like.’” (Cho Won-sang)

“It’s an album that has many new attempts like ‘Wajangchang’ that breaks the mold, but it also has the image that fans expect from us.It will be refreshing for those who didn’t know us, and it will be Lucy-like new songs for the listeners who knew us.” (Choi Sang-yeop)

Main vocalist and drummer Shin Kwang-il will not be participating in this album due to military service, and the members have prepared a lot to fill his void.Jo Won-sang said, “We focused more on the vocals of the main singer, Choi Sang-yeop.However, we had to fill in Shin Kwang-il’s void in terms of the variety and uniqueness of the songs.” He continued, “It would have been difficult for Choi Sang-yeop to sing all by himself during live performances.That’s why he recently started taking vocal lessons with Shin Ye-chan.” This raised expectations for the trio’s upcoming[Wajangchang]activities.

The new album contains a total of 6 tracks, including the double title tracks “잠깨 “and” 하마”, “나는 더”, “ㅌㅌㅌ”, “만누드유의 의 듯다”, and “bleu”.Member Jo Won-sang took the lead in producing[와장창], following all of Lucy’s albums released so far.”bleu” is a song that Choi Sang-yeop wrote, composed, and arranged entirely, showing off his musical skills that have grown even further.

The reason there are two title tracks is because of their popularity.’Jamkkae’, a pre-released easy listening song, and ‘Hippo’, a popular sound that stimulates the eardrums.

Among them, ‘Hippo’ is a song about a situation where the speaker meets the ideal type of person he has always dreamed of in a store he happened to enter, but runs away in embarrassment.After that, he cannot remember the person’s face and only remembers the picture of a ‘hippo’ hanging in the store.

Jo Won-sang shared an anecdote, saying, “It’s not something that actually happened.Most of my songs are based on fiction, and ‘Hippo’ is no different.I record random words or melodies and then add lyrics to them later.The lyrics ‘Hippo~’ came first, and I really wanted to include that part, so I decided on the title ‘Hippo’.”

Like ‘잠깨’ and ‘하마’, Lucy is making music that is like reading a ‘single fairy tale’ with harmless lyrics that are not provocative.Jo Won-sang responded, “It’s hard for the members to have bad thoughts.But ‘하마’ is a love story, so it’s provocative.It’s the maximum(of provocative stories)I can write,” making everyone laugh.

He continued, “For those who need comfort and support, our songs are cheat keys,” and added, “When I’m having a hard time, I feel the need for a kind heart, and I write lyrics based on regrets like, ‘If only I had this kind of heart.’ I think my lyrics are closer to being petty than kind.They’re stories I tell myself, coming from my hardships and my desires.”

‘Hippo’ also features Lucy’s signature violin performance.The harmony of the soft piano and the gorgeous violin cleverly expresses the speaker’s confused emotions.Shin Ye-chan, the violinist, said, “The hardest part about adding the violin to a band is that the sound is hard to hear,” and “We’re trying to somehow match the sound and get by.We’re trying to show a new side of ourselves in terms of performance,” revealing his concerns about how to use the violin.

“I thought that Lucy’s music up until now had a somewhat burdensome sound because good melodies and good sounds were buried together.So this time, I went simple.I composed the sound while restraining myself so that what needed to be heard could be heard.” (Jo Won-sang)

Then, regarding popularity again, Jo Won-sang said, “Intuitively, being a band that plays the violin is our team’s strength.Popularity means being remembered by more people, and we have two distinctive tones that are memorable, and the memorable sound of the violin, don’t we?” He explained, “Just as you can only know the middle after seeing it through to the end, we created a popular track with ‘잠깨’ and mixed our own colors with ‘하마’.”

In addition, Shin Ye-chan expressed his trust by saying, “The violin and tone are strong points, but I think 90% of them are the songs that Jo Won-sang writes.If the songs aren’t good, I don’t think they’ll be able to love us for a long time.”

However, since Jo Won-sang is a member who is about to enlist in the military, Lucy will have to promote music without a producer within the team for a certain period of time.Jo Won-sang said, “I had a lot of worries, but the members ‘self-composing skills are also outstanding.I’m looking forward to what kind of music Lucy will make without me.Since they have trusted me and been with me until now, I’m curious about what the members have to say,” and mentioned the hiatus due to enlistment, saying, “There are many songs that I have written.I can just give my hard drive to the members.”
So Lucy was confident about the music world they had created over the past five years and in the future.

“Our debut title song was ‘Gaehwa.’ Lucy has really been popular for the past five years.Next week’s concert is also sold out, and it seems like more and more people are becoming interested in our music.” (Shin Ye-chan)

“Band music has a long lifespan.There are also various genres within it.We have benefited greatly from the growing interest in band music these days.Lucy seems to be at the forefront, acting as a stepping stone and bridgehead for those who are new to bands.” (Choi Sang-yeop)

“I want keywords that are close and friendly.I want to be a comfortable older brother who lives next door, but I’m a veteran.In fact, even now, it’s no different from when I was the runner-up on JTBC’s ‘Super Band’ (2019).At that time, I had to make six or seven songs in one or two weeks.It’s the same now.I have to satisfy myself, the members, the company, and the waiting fans.I want to do my best and go as high as I can right now.I want to create a sense of empathy through music regardless of gender, age, or country.” (Cho Won-sang)

Lucy’s 6th mini album[Wajangchang]will be released on various music sites at 6 PM on the 23rd, and Lucy will hold her 7th solo concert ‘Wajangchang’ from May 2nd to 4th at the Hwajung Gymnasium of Korea University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.

Reporter Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com jhj@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.