Introduction to NMIXX
The K-pop girl group NMIXX thrives on change. Comprised of members Haewon, Lily, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo, and Kyujin, NMIXX debuted in 2022 as the newest girl group from Korean entertainment giant JYP Entertainment. In the nearly four years since their arrival on the scene, NMIXX has stood out in a highly saturated music ecosystem. Rather than following trends, the group has dabbled in a variety of genres, often merging several into one song to create their unique sound called MIXX Pop.
Debut and Rise to Fame
On their first full-length album, Blue Valentine, the group is based on some of their more popular B-sides. The melancholic pop-rock of the title track showcases the group’s strong vocals and has already achieved long overdue national success. It is steadily climbing the Korean charts and currently sits at number 51 on the Melon Top 100 chart at the time of publication.
Concept and Theme
The album is all about love, the group explains. “On this album, we included a lot of love stories that people might be going through, have already gone through, or maybe will go through,” says Haewon. The 22-year-old, the group’s leader and main vocalist, is gathered with her groupmates for a late-night Zoom call at their headquarters in Seoul.
Unique Sound and Style
NMIXX spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about why they’re suited to trying out different genres and the pressures of getting their music out into the world. When asked about their first full-length album, Haewon explained, "Blue Valentine is about so many different emotions that you feel when you experience love. All the tracks on the album are about love, but we decided to use different genres so that someone listening to it would say, ‘Oh, it’s all about love.’ But there are so many different ways to express this through different genres of music and performances."
Musical Inspirations and Influences
Lily added, "I think this is a very big thing in K-pop. When I look at our sunbaenims [Korean word for a senior in the same field], all of their first full albums were very iconic. I really hope that our first full album, Blue Valentine, can end up as a very iconic album in NMIXX’s discography. Our fans have been looking forward to this for so long, so we really want to show them the best possible album we can come up with."
Creative Process and Challenges
The group’s lead single was a new challenge for them, with Lily saying, "I think that title song was very new for us in a way. We’ve played a lot of different genres, but every time we have a comeback I think it’s so new for us. This time was no different. First of all, I was so shocked when I heard the song for the first time. I couldn’t even imagine a dance. I thought it was very, very new for us and I was a little worried about whether we would be able to do it. But I think we worked really hard on the performance and the recording process. I think it turned out really well in the end."
Performance and Choreography
NMIXX’s choreography and music video for "Blue Valentine" were also unique, with Sullyoon saying, "There are two very special things [about this music video]. We shot the video in a very special place [Los Angeles]. Secondly, we also used a very special filming technique. But all of that [fans can] see when they watch the music video." Bae added, "If you actually watch the behind-the-scenes video, you’ll be even more surprised, so check them both out."
Reflection and Growth
The album also brought back memories of their debut, with Lily saying, "It’s definitely a very special moment on the album. We performed it at our concerts. Our fans know about the existence of these two different parts, but after we performed it, our fans always asked us if we could release it as an actual album title. I’m really glad we were able to give them that. You’re right, things really come full circle because this is our first full album. The fact that we were able to release more versions of our debut song is very special, and they come at the end of the album."
Overcoming Pressures and Challenges
As for the pressures of releasing a full-length album, Bae said, "The direction NMIXX is heading in is to create this universe or world where diversity is respected. At first I felt pressure. Can music really make that possible? I also felt pressure to complete so many different challenges and try so many different genres. But now – because of all the members and seeing how beautifully and wonderfully they execute difficult genres – I now have faith. This trust creates more excitement rather than pressure. Of course, our fans, NSWERs, are also at the forefront of turning this pressure into excitement because they give us the support and courage."
Contributing to the Album
Haewon and Lily also contributed to the album’s lyrics, with Haewon saying, "I’ve always wanted to do it and now the opportunity finally came, so I took it." Lily added, "There was also a bit of fear, at least for me. It’s a very, very important thing. I didn’t want to do it lightly. I wanted to make sure it was something I was proud of. It was also very difficult. But at the same time it was worth it because I’m really proud that the members see the lyrics that I wrote."
