Exclusive : It’s Just “The Beginning”, Fifty Fifty On Their Recent Success & More

If you have been closely following music news, then you are well aware of the K Pop quartet Fifty Fifty, which has been continuously making headlines, breaking records and dominating streaming platforms.

The girl band which includes four members Saena, Aran, Keena and Sio, have become the fastest K-pop act to enter Billboard’s main singles chart with their February 2023 release, “Cupid”, securing the No 100 spot. The viral hit Cupid further climbed up six spots to the No 94 position, and continues to steadily move up the charts.

Just five months old in the industry, Fifty Fifty debuted in November 2022 with their first single, “Higher” from their debut mini album, “The Fifty”. Housed under Attrakt, their recent comeback “Cupid”, which is the lead track of Fifty Fifty’s first single album, “The Beginning: Cupid “, has struck a chord amongst fans worldwide.

Fifty Fifty spoke to GOODTiMES, exclusively on their recent record breaking spree, their distinct voice and bonding.

GT: Hello Girls! Many Congratulations. I personally love Cupid and am not surprised that it has struck a chord with listeners across, breaking records as well. So tell me how the song and the album The Beginning: Cupid were conceptualized?

SAENA: Aww thank you so much for your kind words! The album of this song acts as a prequel to the debut album, showing our inner selves as we are about to embark on a new journey.

SIO: From our last album THE FIFTY, we showed the real world and the ideal world of FIFTY FIFTY. If “Higher” portrayed a dream of an ideal future to be unfolded, “Cupid” shows our imperfect past as it marks the start of our journey, maturing and growing into our own selves.

ARAN: We thought it’d be ideal to express our current moments of putting in a lot of effort after our debut. We wanted to show our strong and independent growth process through this song as we continue our journey down the road.

KEENA: I hope people can feel the positive energy of FIFTY FIFTY as we navigate our ways without receiving a helping hand from Cupid.

GT: It’s less than a year since your debut and you have won great feedback with Tell Me and Lovin Me being listed as best K Pop songs. How has the past year been like for you all? Dealing with expectations, and the pressure to be the best and on top of your game?

SAENA: I’d be lying if there’s no pressure at all, but I want to enjoy the process of growing and developing as an artist. Overall, I think I’m having a lot of fun, practicing with my members and

being grateful every day for the opportunities to perform with great music in front of our precious fans!

SIO: First of all, I’d like to thank our fans for the love we’ve received for our title track and the rest of our songs. I don’t think the attention we’re getting from our fans is a burden, absolutely not! In order to manage any nervousness or pressure I feel up on stage, I try to calm myself down by believing in myself.

ARAN: We’re so thankful that we’re getting so much support and encouragement from people, allowing us to be more confident in dealing with such high expectations. The days leading up to the debut have been so dreamlike that it’s hard to believe this is all real!

KEENA: I’d like to think that it’s been a year of added responsibilities rather than increased pressure. I’m so grateful that our fans have been giving us so much love and attention over the last year, so I’m going to do my best to live up to their expectations.

GT: What makes Fifty Fifty different from the other K Pop girl groups?

SIO: What’s special about us is that we have a lot of different personalities and unique characteristics that produce great synergies when we get together as one. I think this is what makes our team so attractive and appealing to others.

KEENA: One of the biggest strengths of our group is the distinctive voice colors of each member, which enables us to deliver a wide spectrum of music to our fans. I’m so thrilled by the thought of various projects we hope to come up with in the future.

GT: Breaking into K Pop is not easy it’s a very competitive space, what does it really take to break through and make a mark?

SAENA: I believe the willingness to deliver the message is absolutely crucial. It’s important that you are aware of “what” kind of message you hope to get across to the other person. Also, you need to know “how” you’re going to express that.

ARAN: I think you need to have at least one thing that you can be confident about. Perhaps, a special talent or skill set that no one else can look down on you. I think having that one special thing makes you irreplaceable from others.

GT: Cupid is the god of love and attraction. What is your idea of romance?

SAENA: I’d say faith, love, and trust we have for each other.

SIO: Most of the time, love is a major factor that gets involved in romance. I personally love the way romance feels when it gets blended together with music. It’s interesting how everyone has a different take on love and can be interpreted in numerous ways, but you can feel the inner essence of the same feeling.

ARAN: Although I’m far from being romantic, I think romance is such a charming word. It sounds so sophisticated, and it reminds me of Beauty and the Beast!

KEENA: I don’t think there’s a perfect romance. I think imperfect love manifests itself in different ways for everyone in the realm of love. Thus, I think that’s why everyone has a different definition of love.

GT: Do you have favourite romantic movie or drama? Who for you is the ideal romantic couple on screen?

SAENA: I really enjoyed watching the movie “Notting Hill.” It’s one of my favorite romance movies because it shows the precious feelings that people have for each other.

SIO: If I could choose one in the romance category, my favorite movie is “On Your Wedding Day.” But in terms of an ideal couple, I personally think Shin-chan’s mom and dad from ‘Crayon Shin-chan’ series are the most romantic. They argue a lot but you can feel their love for each other.

ARAN: The movie ‘Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight’ has certainly left a lasting impression on me. It was truly captivating to witness the persistence of love despite the loss of memory. It’s a movie that made me think, “how much do you have to love someone to remember them in your heart?”

KEENA: When I watched ‘The Beauty Inside’, I was struck by the genuine love that existed between the characters Lee Soo and Woo Jin. Their relationship was based on accepting each other for who they truly are, rather than how they appear on the outside. It made me reflect on whether this is what true love is all about.

GT: What is it like with four girls making music together, what do you like to do in your free time when not making music?

SAENA: The fact that the four of us are together is so meaningful and important to me. We are capable of combining our thoughts and ideas to bring forth a more diverse and improved selection of music. During our off-days, we typically use this time to unwind and relax on our own.

SIO: Collaborating to create music is challenging, but working together as a team allows us to draw inspiration from one another and make more new music than we could on our own. I feel privileged to be part of this team! If my schedule allows, I try to keep up with my routine, which always includes practicing and reading.

ARAN: As we perform together more often, we tend to feel increasingly anxious, but we find ways to alleviate the tension by exchanging jokes and providing constructive feedback before

we go up on stage. This really helped me a lot! During our downtime, we either watch movies in our own rooms or take a stroll by the Han River.

KEENA: Sometimes, performing the music that the four of us made together can make me feel a bit overwhelmed and emotional. It reminds me of the process we went through to create the music, which makes me want to cherish those memories. During my free time, I’ve been broadening my perspectives by watching many movies that explore different values and life experiences.

GT: Who have been your musical inspirations over the years?

SAENA: Beyoncé. Her intense and captivating music inspires me deeply.

SIO: When it comes to writing lyrics or creating short melodies, I often read books for inspiration. One artist whose style I admire is Sam Smith, who fearlessly experiments with different sounds and expresses them through unique aesthetics and styles

ARAN: I feel like I’m always learning a lot from Dean and Crush. Whenever I listen to their songs, I’m amazed by their versatility and feel compelled to listen to them again.

KEENA: Listening to Lee Hi’s music has given me a lot of insight into genres I haven’t had the chance to explore before, allowing me to gain second-hand experience in the process.

GT: Your song is popular in India, any plans to visit and do you have a message for your fans?

SIO: We’d be delighted to visit any location where we have fans who appreciate our music. If the opportunity arises, we’d love to perform our songs for them in person. Thank you so much our Indian fans! We love you so much!

ARAN: Performing in India is something I’m passionate about and would take any opportunity to do so. It’s always a challenge to gain support from fans in other countries, so I’m truly grateful for our Indian fans’ unwavering support!

GT: What is your idea of a Good Time?

SAENA: Taking the time to express gratitude, even in small ways, is considered a “good time” for me.

SIO: While we often associate “time spent with no regrets” with having a “good time”, couldn’t every moment of being alive be considered a good time since it offers opportunities for personal growth and enlightenment?

ARAN: To me, “good time” is “my own time.” I think I have a good time when I have the opportunity to concentrate solely on my own thoughts and not get interrupted by anyone else.

KEENA: I believe that enjoying the moment and not having any regrets about my choices is what defines a “good time.”