Interview: Izna returns with ‘Sign' of things to come

Korea Herald

31-03-2025

Rookie girl group Izna, who debuted through the K-pop audition show "I-Land 2: N/a" in November, dropped its new digital single "Sign," Monday, four months after releasing its first EP, "N/a."
At a roundtable interview with reporters held at a coffee shop in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Wednesday, the six active members of the group -- Yoon Ji-yoon is on a temporary hiatus due to health issues -- shared their thoughts on returning with a new song and showcasing a new side of themselves.
Combining sensuous lyrics with a catchy melody, "Sign" is a love song that conveys the courage and certainty of expressing love through a clear signal. "I think fans will really love it. It's a sentimental and dreamy track that only Izna can pull off," Jeong Saebi said.
"Since it's our first song after our debut track, I was curious about the concept. It's sentimental, and I think we'll be able to show our unique style with it," Choi Jung-eun said.
Ryu Sa-rang shared her hope to demonstrate growth in various areas through the new release.
"'Sign' is a song where our voices really stand out. We talked a lot among ourselves and asked the producer for advice while practicing," Ryu said.
The single, like the debut EP, was produced by top producer Teddy and his team at The Black Label.
"Since emotional delivery is important in this song, Teddy told us it's crucial to maintain that emotion throughout, even in a single line," Ryu said.
"Just having Teddy involved gives us a sense of responsibility and motivation. We're truly honored to work with him," Mai added.
The group members expressed their determination to make up for the void left in the absence of Yoon Ji-yoon.
"Ji-yoon's health is our top priority. We were sad not to promote as seven, but we're each taking more responsibility to make up for it," Bang Jee-min said.
The seven-member group gained early attention through the global audition show and achieved notable chart success with its debut EP, including topping the iTunes Top Albums chart in 14 countries and reaching No. 1 on Apple Music's K-pop rankings in Japan and Rakuten Music. They were also named one of the "8 Rookie K-pop Acts to Watch in 2025" by Grammy.com.
Izna also made a strong impression at year-end performances and award shows. The group performed at the 2024 Mnet Asian Music Awards before making an official debut and later appeared at the SBS and MBC year-end music festivals, as well as the 39th Golden Disc Awards.
The members noted that they still feel nervous on stage but are slowly growing more comfortable.
"We're still nervous, but now we try to enjoy the stage more," said Mai, who also recalled realizing their popularity for the first time during a recent trip to Japan. "I didn't expect it, but Japanese fans recognized us. My friends told me they heard Izna's song playing on the streets, and even sent me videos."
On Feb. 1, Izna took the stage at Tokyo Dome for the Laposta 2025 event, just two months after the group's debut.
"I had only ever watched concerts from the audience. Performing there felt like a dream. I hope to perform a solo concert there someday," Mai said.
When asked about Izna's strength as a group, Jeong likened them to a rainbow.
"Each member brings a different charm, and together, we create synergy. That's our strength," Jeong said.
Bang emphasized the power of fan support.
"We debuted through a survival show, and the fans helped create us. Each member also has a different training background, which helps us try a variety of things," Bang said.
While most K-pop groups spend years training together before their launch, Izna was formed in a comparatively short time, raising concerns about potential clashes. But members said they worked hard to build mutual respect.
"We tried to align our minds from the beginning. We respected each other's opinions and talked things through. Now, we can understand each other just by a glance," Ryu said.
As for goals, Bang hopes to achieve first place on a music show and chart rankings. Choi said she wants to meet more global fans through overseas performances.
Bang, who has experience as a child actress, shared her ambition to explore acting again. "I'd like to try acting someday. I also want to try photo shoots again."
Koko said she hopes to showcase more of her dancing skills.
"I haven't tried a chic, cool concept yet, and I'd love to do one. I also want to show my skills through dance content or covers," Koko said.