A powerhouse girl group with a fierce lineup to match, X:IN is an unforgettable K-pop group with charming members who come together from various parts of the world. With hits like, “SYNCHRONIZE” and “NO DOUBT,” the girls are back with “Attention Seeker” and demand all eyes on their newest album, Defend Myself.
Under BeBy Entertainment, the five-member girl group is a visual bridge of cultures in K-pop as idols E.Sha, Nizz, Nova, Hannah, and Aria take the stage to emphasize that K-pop stars come in various international styles. They debuted in April of 2023 with their first album KEEPING THE FIRE and have continued to maintain popularity with their in-your-face music style.
Now, the members are here with ZAPZEE to share how it feels to be a global group, touring across the world, and coming together to create K-pop music in their own special way. From hilarious on-tour stories to the hardships idols often face but can’t easily talk about, the girlies of X:IN break down the skills and perseverance it takes to be an idol in our exclusive interview.
As always, X:IN greeted fans (Ready) as well as ZAPZEE’s readers. Check out the exclusive interview and learn more about X:IN’s diverse charms.
Q. X:IN debuted in 2023. After two years, how do you feel as idols? Do you feel more confident or still learning how to be an idol?
E.Sha: I still don’t feel dissatisfied. Although it’s been a few years, it feels as if we still debuted yesterday. I had a lot of past experiences as a model and more so I feel because of that I have more confidence to utilize. I still want to appear on a bigger stage than now.
Nova: We have done amazing solo concerts in Russia and it has been the biggest stage we have done with almost 10,000 fans. We feel so proud of those moments and want to show more to our fans.
Q. Tell us about your new song and album Defend Myself – what stories do you want to tell in this album?
E.Sha: The story is like a movie for fans to enjoy. There are still many concepts we haven’t shown fans yet, so this is a new side to our coin. The album tells each of our personal hardships. “Attention Seeker” is a powerful track and can encourage fans to be strong.
Nova: We have a cool song with some spooky elements, too. The song is called “SABAHA” and was extremely fun to record. Nizz did her best recording it, and at one point, we all decided to laugh like witches just for fun. The director loved it and utilized each of our unique laughs throughout the track of the song.
Q. Did the members feel any personal struggles from becoming an idol?
Nova: Absolutely. We have a B-side track called “Almost Done,” and all of the members came together to write the lyrics. It shares our personal stories and struggles that we went through as idols. The message is very deep, and we worked hard to make the songs meaningful for fans. So I hope fans read the lyrics.
E.Sha: We always show our fans a bright side and powerful imagery, but in the end, we have worries and pressure too. In this album, we want to express these parts earnestly through our music.
Q. What would you tell someone who wants to become an idol in the future? Can you give any advice?
Aria: The trends are ever evolving, and we are in constant competition. We try our best to achieve and not feel left out. I think every idol group struggles with this, and we want to bring awareness to this thought in the album.
Hannah: Preparing to be an idol may be very hard. But truthfully, once your dream is set, it would be best to continue onward confidently.
Nizz: It is a job where you always have to show your best side. So, of course, it is a big part where you can get a lot of stress. But when I think of how much I love dancing and singing, I can enjoy this job even more, and I feel like the end results are better.
Q. What are some difficulties the international members have faced? How do you learn Korean?
Aria: I’ve been a big fan of K-pop for a long time, so I knew some basic words and understood some sentences. However, to survive, I had no choice and had to speak in Korean. Even if I make mistakes, I learned not to care and pushed myself to speak. The Korean members can’t speak English fluently, so I have to keep trying more.
Q. Although the album has powerfully dark stories, does the group have any funny stories they can share from their pre-debut days?
Nova: Actually, we have many fun stories after our debut. When we went to Russia, we filmed with a YouTube channel and got to rank traditional Russian food. There was a lot of Russian food that Russians eat when they are really young, and the members really enjoyed trying foods similar to Kimchi and even pancakes.
Aria: Yes. It was fun. Being able to exchange our cultures like this is the best part.
Nova: Also, filming and preparing the video for “SABAHA” was the best. The ending of the MV and the choreography are really interesting, and our witch laughs are hilarious. I wish we had filmed a behind-the-scenes of it! Even our producer’s laugh appears in the track.
Q. Are there any K-Dramas the members are watching lately?
Aria: I’ve been watching The Haunted Palace, it is a very entertaining ongoing series. It isn’t that scary, but it has great horror elements mixed with comedy.
Nizz: I loved watching When Life Gives You Tangerines because the characters are realistic and remind me of my actual parents.
E.Sha: Personally, my favorite drama is Our Beloved Summer – the main character is just so realistic, and their comforting scenarios and adventures were so healing and great to watch.
Hannah: How about Twenty-Five, Twenty-One. It is a little old, but for me, that drama was so great! It has a memorable story.
The wonderful woman of X:IN were a pleasure to speak to and always had a funny story to share. With a gentle smile, X:IN showed a new vulnerability that made them even more attractive than any other idol. Before the interview came to an end, X:IN prepared a final loving message for their fans, Ready.
E.Sha: Fans really wanted a long time for this album, so we are grateful for that. Even when we are feeling bright or sad, we can feel strength from the support of our fans. So we prepared a lot to show our fans, so Readys, please show a lot of love and interest for our new songs.
Hannah: It’s been a while since we had a comeback, so thank you for waiting. We are ready to greet all of the Readys around the world and in Korea! We will show you a dazzling performance on the stage.
Nizz: Thank you so much to all of the Ready out there. We can’t wait to see you.
Aria + Nova: Yes! We are really grateful and love our fans. Thank you.
What do you think of X:IN and the heart-warming members? Each member loves interacting with fans on social media, so if you’re looking to enjoy some daily posts from these lovely idols, be sure to follow them on Instagram and X. Don’t forget to follow ZAPZEE on Instagram and X as well for more exclusive K-pop interviews and content.
