aAfter a tumultuous few years that included lawsuits, label changes and a re-debut, things are finally starting to settle down for the members of ARTMS. NMEIn 2017, the girl group held their first solo concert as a five-piece in Seoul, South Korea, ahead of their massive world tour. From the start of the interview, the group was keen to highlight their involvement in the tour, from the set list to the stage direction and choreography.
Their dedication to honing their craft and empowering their work is reflected in their releases over the last year. NMEboth Odd Eye Circle and HeeJin were enthusiastic about how much they've grown since taking on their respective mini-albums. “A song wasn't considered finished until we finally said 'yes.' We really wanted to perfect everything and show that we were fully immersed in the music,” says Kim Lip.
Their attention to detail is not only a heartening reflection of how much they understand their fans, but also born out of years of frustration at being prevented from making creative decisions. “Before Modhaus, I would be given a song or an album and just go on stage and do what I'm told,” Kim Lip continues. “But now, we really start thinking about how we present ourselves onstage and how we can best convey the meaning of the songs.”
“That's what prompted us to become more actively involved in our own releases so that we could have control over how we wanted to present ourselves to our fans and the public,” she added. Still, for Kim Lip and her bandmates Heejin, Jinsol, Choeri and Haseul, their former lives as members of beloved K-pop group LOONA remain very close to their hearts.
During two Seoul shows of their “Moonshot” world tour, ARTMS surprised fans with remakes of hits from their LOONA days, alongside songs from their debut album “Dall.” “While preparing to perform LOONA songs, I was actually really moved, and it felt new to us,” says Haseul. “I imagined how our fans would feel and be moved when they saw our performance.”
But as well as acknowledging the past, the five stars also see the tour as an opportunity to show off new sides of themselves. For Heejin, that meant taking to the stage with electric guitar in hand and performing an emotional cover of “난춘” by her favorite band, SE SO NEON. “It was actually on my bucket list,” she says, adding that she really enjoyed showing off her practiced guitar skills to fans. “That performance was quite an accomplishment for me.”
“We put together those stories and those references. [to our past] It's like showing how different beginnings brought ARTMS together.” – JinSoul
Midway through the show, ARTMS captivated the crowd with an energetic cover of TWS' hit “Plot Twist.” “We wanted to try something new, but at the same time, we wanted to perform songs that are popular with the general public so that our fans could enjoy them. LOONA is pretty well known for covering male idol songs, so we thought we'd keep doing that,” said Kim Lip, revealing that the group has more covers and special performances in store for the rest of the tour.
ARTMS is committed to providing a unique experience at each show, with Choerry hinting that they have paid special attention to the “little details” of each performance.[Look forward to] “I enjoy the different variations we create for each choreography and performance,” she says with a knowing smile. While the group has “no concrete plans” for concerts outside of Europe and the Americas, Hassul says they “would love to visit and perform” wherever the group's fans are. When one member jokingly suggests performing in the Amazon rainforest, they all laughingly agree that if the opportunity arises, they definitely would.
circleInitially, the quartet (as well as Modhaus) had no intention of making ARTMS a permanent group, but it soon became the natural next step. Their creative work on the project made it clear that debuting as ARTMS didn't mean shedding their identity as LOONA; it was simply a way for them to expand their unique worldview. “It was actually a big decision for us to get back together and create ARTMS, and it took a lot of determination,” HaSeul reflects. “We have immense love for each other and are really happy to be together, and it shows in our teamwork.”
Their efforts culminated in the release of “Dall” in May. Not only was this ARTMS' debut album, but it was also the first time that all members produced a full album together. “We were able to be heavily involved in the production, including directing the vocals, writing the lyrics, and giving our input into the overall concept and album design,” Kim Lip proudly states. “We worked really, really hard on this album, which is completely different from the group's previous releases.”
“A song isn't considered complete unless we finally say 'yes.' We wanted to perfect everything and show that we were totally immersed in the music.” – Kim Lip
“We really cherish and love this release,” Heejin said, confessing that she often felt “confused” about the concepts under her previous agency. [the ideas] Actually, it was all of our work that was behind them. But I feel like being involved in the script and everything else gave us a clearer understanding of how to express ourselves and what to portray. I think we've become more expressive and grown to the point where we can express the concept 200%.”
The girl group also talks about their growth as lyricists over the years. Touching on their contributions to “Dall,” Heejin, Kim Lip, and Jinsol answer burning questions fans had about their fan-favorite song, “Sparkle.”Fireboy“The phrase 'Fireboy' that I used in the lyrics of 'Sparkle' is the lyrical theme song of this song,” Heejin said, revealing that she borrowed it from Thai singer PP Krit's “Fireboy.” “I felt that this phrase, which compares fireworks to sparks of love, connected with the overall message of the song, so my lyrics were very inspired by it.”
Meanwhile, Jinsol revealed that she began writing the lyrics for the critically acclaimed pre-release track “Birth” after waking up from a nightmare during the Odd Eye Circle tour. “I don't really remember what happened, but I tried to express what I felt during that time in the lyrics,” she says of the melancholic, unsettling song inspired by horror elements. Kim Lip, one of the few members who has written songs for LOONA in the past, spoke about “Distress,” which was inspired by the tumultuous emotional journey that led to the founding of ARTMS.
“Dall” marks the birth of ARTMS as a new group, but there are plenty of influences from their past too. The breezy “Air” borrows lyrics from LOONA's “Butterfly” and the melody from Odd Eye Circle's “Air Force One,” while “Candy Crush” and “Flower Rhythm” contain inserts from Haseul's and Heejin's solo singles, respectively. These are on top of the countless references to LOONA throughout the album. For longtime fans, these Easter eggs are both fun nods and heartfelt reminders that no matter what happens, the members haven't lost their love for their roots.
“We've all had debuts and releases up until now as individuals and subunits, but this is a new start. We're bringing those stories together and those references show how all these different beginnings brought ARTMS together,” says JinSoul. While she's unsure if this trend will continue with future releases, she thinks “it'll be pretty fun to keep bringing back those references from time to time.”
As ARTMS opens a new chapter in their ever-evolving story, it's clear they're not closing the door on LOONA. If anything, the experience has only further emphasized their need to perform and express themselves. Their hard-won freedom has allowed them to forge a unique and distinctive identity that is intrinsically tied to their past. And now that they're setting out to meet the world for the first time as a quintet, this burning desire to carve out their own chosen path foreshadows a blossoming future for ARTMS.
ARTMS' debut album “Dall” is out now on Modhaus
