I-DLE Explains Why They Dropped the (G) from Their Name
(G)I-DLE held a press conference on May 19 at Chosun Palace in Gangnam, Seoul, to discuss their 8th mini-album, We Are. This marks the group’s first comeback in approximately 10 months following the release of Klaxon in July 2024. Notably, all members have renewed their contracts with Cube Entertainment and have dropped the “(G)” and the term “여자” (Yeoja/female) from their name.
Miyeon remarked, “I always found the ‘female’ label in parentheses a bit odd since our debut. It feels like we’ve finally claimed our true identity and name.” Yuqi added, “I recently made a mistake when introducing the group name out of habit. I hope the public will get used to the new name along with us.”
Leader Soyeon explained, “We decided to try something new by having all the members take part in the songwriting and composing process for the first time since renewing our contracts. I was a bit worried about whether we could pull it off, but it turned out to be a fun and meaningful experience.” The album shifts the group’s long-running “I” series, which started with their debut album I am, to a new “We” theme, representing unity and shared narratives.
Regarding their title track “Good Thing,” Soyeon said, “It uses autotune sounds that were popular in the 2010s, blending nostalgia with freshness. The song depicts confronting a cheating lover, expressed in a way rarely done by female artists—something bold and different.”
Minnie discussed the track “Chain,” stating, “I wanted to depict the tightly interwoven relationships within I-DLE, like chains. It can also be interpreted as a romantic relationship. The lyrics are direct and daring.” Yuqi contributed to “Love Tease,” her favorite disco genre track, where she emphasized melody over lyrics.
TRENDINGMiyeon, who wrote “Unstoppable,” said, “Thanks to the support of the members, I found the courage to write my song. I try to focus on universally relatable themes.” Shuhua, participating in lyric writing for the first time with “It’s Okay,” expressed her gratitude to Soyeon for encouraging her, noting, “Making music was so fun that I’d love to try composing someday too.”
Soyeon also shared their goals for the album, humorously referencing Yuqi’s previous comment about shaving her head if they hit No. 1 on Billboard. “I’m sure many people are looking forward to seeing Yuqi shave her head,” she said.
Discussing their contract renewal, Soyeon noted, “The new conditions are more favorable for the artists, but if it only benefits us, the company could suffer. We worked together to find a balanced agreement.” Looking ahead, she emphasized the desire for long-lasting performances with diverse concepts, not limited to specific genres.
Yuqi addressed rumors about the group’s future dynamics: “There was a lot of speculation last year, but the five of us are straightforward and honest. We do fight a lot, too. After renewing our contracts, I felt glad we stuck together.”
Despite their history of addressing female empowerment in their music, the group acknowledges criticism for intense dieting and provocative concepts. Soyeon clarified, “We don’t create songs to push a message. We simply express what we feel and want to talk about at the time. It may seem contradictory, but we view it as expressing different sides of ourselves through character.” She admitted that external opinions do have some influence on their creative process but reaffirmed the abstraction of song lyrics.
With a redefined identity and collaborative spirit, I-DLE’s comeback signifies not just a new chapter but also their evolution as artists united in their vision.