The K-pop group NMIXX, famous for their distinctive “MIXX POP” sound, has released their latest album, “Fe3O4: FORWARD.” This marks yet another progress in their artistic journey as they continue to experiment with genres and gain more confidence in their identity. The six members of NMIXX, Haewon, Lily, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo, and Kyujin, gave us some glimpses into their creative process, the music that inspires them, as well as their bold dreams for future collaborations during one of their interviews.
“Fe₃O₄: FORWARD”: A Bold Musical Journey
NMIXX truly lives up to their name, as the new album, “Fe3O4: FORWARD,” is the epitome of bold musical genre fusions. From the songs “KNOW ABOUT ME,” “High Horse,” “Slingshot,” “Papillon,” and “SOAR,” it’s evident that NMIXX have truly evolved as artists, as these songs portray variety while still keeping high energy, which is their trademark.
Finding Balance: Identity Preservation, Boundary Stretching.
In NMIXX, Haewon, the group leader, describes the challenge of balancing between innovation and consistency. For them, the innovation in writing the songs comes from their own emotion and stories, incorporating ‘what’ they feel into the songs regardless of the genre. “We can fuse a lot of sounds and still have one energy and identity because of our ‘MIXX POP’ style,” NMIXX members heard Haewon explaining. She added that this type of exploration, at the end of the day, strengthens their artistry.
Lily explained particular aspects of the “NMIXX sound” the group has developed during their short span of existence in the music industry, stating the vast range of their voices is a big advantage along with different vocal harmonies. According to her, the group has had a change in their approach after the first music in Feb 2022. “Now we pay more attention to breathing and nuanced, deeper emotive expressions,” said Lily, showcasing the growing depth in their music.
Haewon discussed the more experimental aspects of the album, for example, the genre fusions “High Horse” and “KNOW ABOUT ME.” The song “High Horse” has a mix of hip-hop, breakbeat, and jazz and is quite dynamic. Our title track, KNOW ABOUT ME, has a laid-back but powerful vibe over a trap-infused hip-hop beat. She elaborated. These combinations make it possible for NMIXX to emote in different ways and showcase each member’s vocals and rap skills.
Jiwoo talked about the performance challenges posed by the new album, especially regarding “High Horse.” She pointed out the restriction of deeper expression along with the need to use more subtle body language, such as softer gestures or eye contact, to deliver the song’s message. Spending time on deep emotional details takes a lot of time to do with the other members.
Kyujin shared the vocal challenges of “KNOW ABOUT ME,” which required the singers to stomach some discomfort and use a more laid-back voice. This style was new for me, but it was rewarding after people said the song sounded effortless and soothing.
Empowerment Through Music: The Impact of “Papillon”
Bae shared her story concerning “Papillon,” a song that posed a particular challenge for her due to the fast rap segment. After overcoming her initial doubts and practicing, she performed the song and felt empowered, appreciating the confidence she had gained through her hard work.
Utopia: A Shared Vision of Harmony
The members have a clear and deep vision of the album’s theme: building a utopia together. As Haewon explained, their image of a utopia is not a predetermined perfect place but one that is constructed through understanding and respecting differences. This view was also supported by Lily, who pointed out that the building blocks of harmony are, and must be, diversity.
Taking Risks: The Fusion of Latin Hip-Hop and UK Garage
Kyujin remarked on the experimental approach of “SOAR,” which integrates Latin hip-hop with UK Garage, two seemingly disparate genres. Their bold take paid off, as the unique flow and vibe that emerged was embraced by the other members.
Working Together With India: Blending Choreography
With “High Horse,” NMIXX added more culture to their work by collaborating with Indian choreographer Paramdeep Singh. Jiwoo mentioned how modern dance was integrated into the choreography, which was far from typical K-pop choreography. The collaboration helped NMIXX realize more emotions in performances, which enhanced their stage presence.
A Developing Passion: Relating With Indian Music
Lily noted her newly found interest in Indian music and culture after watching some reaction videos. She made particular mention of her admiration towards Jonita Gandhi and her wish to work with the Indian singer. The members of the group noted the strength of emotion and expressiveness that Indian music has and praised its depth.
Lily’s peer dreamed of collaborating with a wide range of global artists. She specifically mentioned Taylor Swift due to her lyrics and stage theatrics. While revealing the artists that influenced her, Haewon said that Imagine Dragons made her want to become a singer. She went on to voice her admiration for Sabrina Carpenter’s songs and performances as well. Regarding chosen students, Sullyoon stated the reason for choosing Olivia Rodrigues as her dream collaboration is because of her dainty and emotional singing style. As for Bae, she stated that her dream collaboration is with Ariana Grande because of her vocals and stage presence. Jiwoo’s choice was Kendrick Lamar, citing his flow and dynamic vocals as what drew her to him. Kyujin went on to SZA, stating that her voice and the emotions within her lyrics drew her to the artist.
Haewon reflected on the advice she would give her fellow members, as she told them to learn how to speak different languages for communication with fans. She added that accepting oneself is equally as important.
Final Thoughts: NMIXX’s Bright Future
NMIXX persists in marketing themselves as a group that is willing to take risks and connects on a global scale with “Fe3O4: FORWARD.” It is their bold artistry mixed with willingness to experiment that makes them one of the most followed figures in K-Pop.
