[INTERVIEW] cignature Talks About 'Poongdung,' Role Models, And More With KpopStarz!
To celebrate their latest release, "Sweetie But Saltie," and the lead single, "Poongdung," KpopStarz had the chance to sit down with cignature for an exclusive interview.
On June 10, 2024, cignature released the EP "Sweetie But Saltie," which features the bright and vibrant single "Poongdung." We spoke with the group members Chaesol, Jeewon, Seline, Chloe, Semi, and Dohee to discuss their comeback and some TMIs!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: After 9 Months, cignature is Back with Their 5th EP, Sweetie but Saltie
1. Congratulations on your comeback with album Sweetie But Saltie and title track “Poongdung!” Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the album and its concept? ì ì¨ë² Sweeite but Saltie, íì´í곡 “íë©”ì¼ë¡ ì»´ë°±íì ¨ìµëë¤. ì¶íë립ëë¤! ì´ë² ì¨ë²ê³¼ 컨ì ì ì´ëìì ìê°ì ë°ìëì§ ë§ìí´ì£¼ìê² ì´ì?
ëí¬: ê°ì¬í©ëë¤! ì무ëë ì¬ë¦ì ì»´ë°±ì í기ìí´ ê³ì ì ë§ì¶°ì 리ì¤ë ë¶ë¤ìê² ììí ëëì ëë¦¬ë ¤ê³ ë ¸ë ¥íìµëë¤. ì¬ë¦íë©´ ë± ìê°ëëê² ììí 물과 ê´ë ¨ë ê±°ë¼ ì¬ë¦, 물, ì²ë ì´ë° í¤ìëìì ìê°ì ë°ìì´ì.
DOHEE: Thank you for congratulating us! Since we’re coming back in summer, we aimed to deliver a cool, refreshing vibe fitting for the season to all listeners. Themes related to water came to our minds when thinking of summer, so we were heavily inspired by keywords like summer, water, and cool.
2. You guys debuted way back on February 4, 2020. How much has cignature evolved in their music and style? Do you have any other concepts in mind that you would like to try in the future? ì¬ë¬ë¶ì 2020ë 2ì 4ì¼ ë°ë·íì ¨ëë°ì, ê·¸ëì ìì , ì¤íì¼ ë°©ë©´ìì ê·¸ë£¹ì´ ì¼ë§ë ì±ì¥íë¤ê³ ìê°íìëì? 미ëì ëì í´ë³´ê³ ì¶ì 컨ì ì 무ìì¸ê°ì?
ì¸ë¯¸: ë°ë· ëìë ê°ë ¬í 보컬 ì¬ì´ëì ìì ì íì¼ë ì§ê¸ì ë¶ëë½ê³ ë¬ì½¤í ìì ì íë©° ì¬ë¬ê°ì§ ì¤íì¼ì ë¤ ì í¬ ê²ì¼ë¡ ë§ë¤ ì ìëë¡ ì±ì¥íìµëë¤. ìì¼ë¡ë ëì í´ë³´ì§ ìì, ë ë¤ìí 컨ì ë¤ì ê³ìí´ì í´ë³´ê³ ì¶ìµëë¤.
SEMI: We focused on powerful vocal sound when we first debuted, but I think we have grown a lot by trying various sounds, such as more mellow and sweet music, and proving cignature as a group that can absorb any style into our own. We’d like to continue trying new and different concepts in the future.ì±ì: 미ëìë ì´ì¿ ì¤í±í ì¥ë¥´ë ë°ë¼ëìë ëì íê³ ì¶ì´ì. ììí 곡과 컨ì ë ì ìíí ì ìì ê² ê°ê±°ë ì! 4ë ëì ë¤ìí 컨ì ì ìííë ê²ì¼ë¡ ì±ì¥ì í´ì기 ë문ì ëì í ëë§ë¤ ë ë°ì í 모ìµì ë³´ì¬ëë¦¬ê³ ì¶ìµëë¤.
CHAESOL: I hope to try an acoustic genre or ballad in the future because I believe we can pull off a more calm song or concept. We have grown by challenging ourselves with many concepts for four years, and we want to present an even better version of cignature with every challenge we take.
3. Since cignature members are busy in their promotions, how do you maintain balance between your personal lives and careers as idols? ë°ì ì¤ì¼ì¤ì ìííë ëì ìì´ëë¡ìì 커리ì´ì ê°ì¸ì ì¸ ì¶ ì¬ì´ìì ì´ë»ê² ê· íì ì ì§íìëì?
ì 린: ì ë êµ³ì´ ìì´ëê³¼ ê°ì¸ì ì ì¶ì ëë ëì§ë ìì§ë§, ì¼í ëë ì´ì¬í ì¼ íê³ ì´ëë í¹ ì¬ëê² ì¤ì¤ë¡ë¥¼ ëìë³´ë ë°ì í° ëìì´ ëë ê² ê°ìµëë¤. ì¶ì ì§ë ëìì§êµ¬ì!
SELINE: I don’t necessarily set a line between idol life and personal life, but I found focusing on work and taking a full break when necessary helpful to reflect on myself. It also helps bring up the overall quality of life!í´ë¡ì´: ìì´ëë¡ì íë기ìë ë무 ë°ìë¤ë³´ë ì ì´ ë§ì´ ë¶ì¡±íë°ì. ë기ìê°ì ìë©´ì íë¤ëê° ë¹í민ì ì±ê²¨ë¨¹ì¼ë©´ì ê±´ê°ì ì±ê¸°ê³ ììµëë¤. ì²´ë ¥ì´ ì¢ìí¸ì´ ìë ê² ê°ìì ì´ë² íëì´ ëëë©´ ì²´ë ¥ì 기르기 ìí´ ì´ì¬í ì´ëì í´ì¼í ê±° ê°ë¤ë ìê°ì´ ë¤ìì´ì!
CHLOE: As an idol, I lack a lot of sleep time when we’re active and promoting busily. During that time, I would take a nap during short breaks or eat vitamins to watch out for my health. I found myself quite weak physically, so I think I need to work out more after this promotion to boost my health!
4. How do cignature members handle the pressure and expectations? ì¬ëë¤ì 기ëê°ì¼ë¡ë¶í° ë¶ë´ì´ ëê»´ì§ ë, ì¬ë¬ë¶ì ì´ë»ê² ê·¸ ë¶ë´ê°ì í´ìíë í¸ì´ì ê°ì?
ì§ì: ì ë ë ë§ì´ ì°ìµíê±°ë ì¬ì ì¤ë¹ë¥¼ íê³ ìì´ì. ë¶ë´ê°ì ì ëë¼ë í¸ì´ë¤ ë³´ë ê·¸ë§í¼ ë ¸ë ¥ì¼ë¡ ì±ì°ê¸°ìí´ìì!
JEEWON: I just practice more or prepare ahead of time. I would feel pressured a bit easily, so I try to cover that by working even harder!ëí¬: 기ë를 í´ì£¼ì ë¤ëê±° ìì²´ê° ê°ì¬í ì¼ì´ë¤ë³´ë ìµëí ë¶ë´ê°ì ëë¼ì§ ìê³ ì¢ì 모ìµì ë³´ì¬ë리기 ìí´ ë ¸ë ¥íëê±° ê°ìµëë¤. ì¤ë¹í ê²ì 100%를 ë°íí기 ìí´ìë 먼ì ìë²½íê² ì¤ë¹í´ì¼ íììì. ê·¸ëì ì§ê¸ë í¼í¬ë¨¼ì¤ë ê°ì°½ ì°ìµì ì´ì¬í íê² ëë ê² ê°ìì.
DOHEE: I am actually grateful for expectations, so I try my best to present my best self without feeling pressured as much as possible. You need to be perfectly prepared in order to show your full potential, so I always work hard to improve my vocal skills or performance.
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5. Do you guys have any role models who inspired you to become musicians? ì¬ë¬ë¶ì´ ê°ìê° ëê³ ì¶ë¤ê³ ìê°í ê³ê¸°ë¥¼ ì¤ ë¡¤ëª¨ë¸ ìí°ì¤í¸ê° ìëì?
ì¸ë¯¸: ë§ì ì¹´ë©ë¼ì ê´ì¤ì´ ìì´ë ìì ê° ìë íì ì¼ë¡ ëì¤ìë ì´í¨ë¦¬ ì ë°°ëì ë³´ê³ ‘ëë ì ë ê² ë©ìë ìí°ì¤í¸ê° ëì´ì¼ì§’ ë¼ê³ ê¿ì í¤ì ê³ , ê·¸ëë¶í° ì´í¨ë¦¬ ì ë°°ëì ê³ì ë³´ë©° ì°êµ¬ë¥¼ íìì´ì. ì§ê¸ë ì ë§ ì¡´ê²½íê³ ììµëë¤!
SEMI: I watched Lee Hyori performing with a lot of confidence in front of many cameras and audiences, and was inspired to become an amazing artist like her. Since then, I learned a lot from watching her performances and videos. I still look up to her!ì 린: ì ë ì´ë ¸ìëë¶í° ê°ìê° ê¿ì ìëìëë°ë TVì ëì¤ë ê°ìë¤ì ëê²½íìì´ì. ê·¸ ììì´ ìë ìë ì ë°°ëì´ìë ê² ê°ìµëë¤.
SELINE: I admired singers on TV even though my initial dream was not to become a singer when I was young. I think my initial inspiration was from watching Girls’ Generation.
6. The choreography for “Poongdung” looks vibrant and energetic! Is the “Poongdung” choreography your favorite dance out of all your comebacks? Or are there any other choreographies in your previous songs that you particularly love dancing more? “íë©" ì무ë ì ë§ ë°ê³ í기찬ë°ì, ì§ê¸ê¹ì§ íëí 모ë 곡ë¤ì ì무 ì¤ ì´ë² ìë¬´ê° ê°ì¥ ë§ìì ëìëì? ìëë©´ ê°ì¸ì ì¼ë¡ ë¤ë¥¸ íë곡ì ìë¬´ê° ë ë§ìì ëìëì?
ì§ì: ì ë ‘ì리졒 ì무를 êµì¥í ì¢ìíëë°ì! íìííê³ í¹ì´íë° ê·ì½ê¸°ëí´ì 춤ì ì¶ ë ì¬ë¯¸ìê³ , ë³´ìë ë¶ë¤ê»ë í ê½íë ê² ê°ìì ì¢ìí©ëë¤! ‘íë©’ì 멤ë²ë¤ê³¼ íì´ ìë¬´ê° ë§ìì ì´ì ê³¼ë ë¤ë¥¸ ëëì´ë¼ì ì¢ìíê³ ì!
JEEWON: I love the choreography for “ARISONG” because it’s powerful, unique, and cute. I have a lot of fun dancing to the song and I think it leaves an instant impression on the viewers! I also like “Poongdung” because it has many pair choreography which presents a new vibe from our previous performances.í´ë¡ì´: ì ë ê°ì¸ì ì¼ë¡ ‘íë©’ ìë¬´ê° ë무 ì¢ìë°ì! ì¬ë¯¸ìë íì´ ì무ì ìë¡ ëì í´ë³´ë ëíë ë§ìì ë¤ì´ì. ë¤ë¥¸ íë곡ì ë³´ì´íë ë ì무ë ì¢ìí©ëë¤.
CHLOE: I personally like “Poongdung” choreography with its fun pair choreography and new formations we’ve never tried before. I also like the choreography for “Boyfriend.”
7. Are there any funny or memorable moments you would like to share during the production of the Sweeite but Saltie album? ì´ë² ì¨ë² ìì ê³¼ì ì¤ ììë ì¬ë¯¸ìë ë¹íì¸ë ì¤í ë¦¬ê° ìë¤ë©´ ê³µì í´ì£¼ì¸ì.
ì¸ë¯¸: íë© ë ¹ì ë ë¤ê°ì´ íë©~! íí¸ë¥¼ ë¼ì°½íë ë¶ë¶ì´ ììëë° ê·¸ë 멤ë²ë¤ê³¼ í¨ê» ì¥ëì¹ê³ ìì¼ë©° ì¦ê²ê² ë ¹ìíìµëë¤.
SEMI: There was a part where all the members sang in unison in “Poongdung,” and we had so much fun by joking around and laughing together.ëí¬: ì¨ë² ìë¡ ê³¡ ì¤ ‘I like I like’ë¼ë ê³¡ì´ ìëë° ëì ë¶ì ìì´ë¡ ëííë ë¶ë¶ì ë°ìì í´ë¡ì´ ì¸ëê° ë§ì´ ëì줬ëê² ì ì¼ ê¸°ìµì ë¨ìµëë¤.
DOHEE: When recording our B-side track “I like I like,” CHLOE helped us a lot with the pronunciation of the English intro part. It’s the most memorable moment for me.
8. Which songs on the Sweeite but Saltie album are your favorites? Which tracks would you like to recommend to signfans? ì´ë² ì¨ë² ì¤ ì¬ë¬ë¶ì ìµì 곡ì 무ìì¸ê°ì? ì¸ì¸í¬ìê² í¹í ì¶ì²íê³ ì¶ì 곡ì 무ìì¸ê°ì?
ì±ì: ì ë ‘I like I like’ì ì¶ì²íê³ ì¶ì´ì! ìì´ ë²ì ë ìê³ í¸íê² ë£ê¸° ì¢ì 곡ì´ëëë¤.
CHAESOL: I would like to recommend “I like I like”! There is an English version of the song as well, and it’s very easy to listen to.ì§ì: ì ë ‘ë©ë¡ë’ì¸ë°, ì í¬ ì´ì¼ê¸°ë¥¼ ê°ì¬ë¡ íì´ìì¸ì§ ë§ìì ìë¿ê³ ë£ê¸° ì¢ìì ì¶ì²íê³ ì¶ìµëë¤.
JEEWON: “Melody” tells our own story through lyrics, so it’s very touching and comfortable to listen to. Highly recommended!
9. Your new title track "Poongdung" really emits summer vibes! How do you all spend your summer days? ë “íë©"ì ì¬ë¦ ë¶ìê¸°ê° ë¬¼ì¬ í기ë 곡ì¸ë°ì, ì¬ë¬ë¶ì ì¬ë¦ì ì´ë»ê² ë³´ë´ë 걸 ì¢ìíìëì? í¹ë³í ì¦ê¸°ë ì¬ë¦ ì¡í°ë¹í°ê° ìëì?
ì±ì: ì ë ììì ì¢ìí©ëë¤!! ììí ê³³ìì ë³´ë´ë ì¬ë¦ì ì¢ìíë¤ ë³´ë íëì ì¸ ì¡í°ë¹í°ë¥¼ ë§ì´ ì¦ê²¨íì§ë ìììì§ë§, íë 골ë¼ë³´ìë©´ ììì ì¢ìí©ëë¤!
CHAESOL: I like swimming! I prefer spending summer in a cool place so I don’t necessarily enjoy extreme activities, but if I choose one, my favorite activity would be swimming.ì 린: ì ë ì¬ë¦ì 주기ì ì¼ë¡ ë°ë¤ë ê³ê³¡ê°ì´ ë¬¼ì´ ìë ê³³ì ê°ì¡±ê³¼ ëë¬ê°ì ìê°ì ë³´ë´ë 걸 ì ì¼ ì¢ìí©ëë¤.
SELINE: I love spending time with my family at the beach or valley, somewhere with water, in summer.
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10. Lastly, do you have any messages for your endearing signfans? ë§ì§ë§ì¼ë¡ ì¸ì¸í¬ë¤ì ìí ë©ì¸ì§ í ë§ë ë¶íëë ¤ì.
í´ë¡ì´: ì¬ëíë ì¸ì¸í¬ ì´ë² ì¬ë¦ë ì´ë ê² ìê·¸ëì²ë í¨ê» ë³´ë´ê³ ê³ìëë° ì´ë ì ê°ì? ì í¬ê° ì¬ë¬ë¶ì ì¬ë¦ì ì¡°ê¸ì´ë¼ë ììíê² ë§ë¤ì´ëë¦¬ê³ ìëì? ì ë ì¸ì¸í¬ê³¼ ë무ë무 ì¦ê±°ì´ ì¬ë¦ì ë³´ë´ì íë³µí´ì. ìì¼ë¡ë ë ë¤ìí 모ìµì¼ë¡ ì주 ë³¼ììëë¡ ë ¸ë ¥íê² ìµëë¤ ì¬ëí´ì!!
CHLOE: Our dear signfans, how are you enjoying this summer with cignature? Are we cooling you down at least a little bit? I’m very happy to spend such a fun summer with you all. We’ll work hard to meet you more often with various charms. Love you all!
Congratulations on your comeback, cignature!
Check out their music video for "Poongdung" here:
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Written by Alexa Lopez