SF9 member Dawon “First comeback after discharge, I hope you love it”(Q&A)

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Group SF9. Photo courtesy of|FNC Entertainment

The group SF9 returns with a special album filled entirely with ballads.

At 6 p.m. on the 25th, SF9 will release via various music platforms all tracks from the special album ‘About Love’(About Love) along with a live video for the title track ‘Love Comes Slowly’(Love Comes Slowly).

The special album ‘About Love’ by SF9 captures diverse stories about love. In particular, as SF9 marks the 10th anniversary of its debut this year, the group looks back on the past decade and expresses feelings for the precious people who have walked that path together in varied languages of love.

The title track ‘Love Comes Slowly’ is a pop ballad in which gentle synth sounds add emotion over a subdued piano line, depicting love that deepens slowly as two people become part of each other in daily life through SF9’s delicate vocal harmony. This special album contains seven ballads in total, including the title track, ‘If I Become Longing (Fade Into Memories)’, ‘You Think Too Much’, ‘Last of Us’, ‘Whether It Hurts or Feels Empty (Hurt & Hollow)’, ‘By Your Side (By Your Side)’, and ‘Broken Way’, allowing listeners to experience SF9’s varied vocals.

Group SF9. Photo courtesy of|FNC Entertainment

Q1. How do you feel about making a comeback with a special album after a year?

Youngbin : This year is the 10th anniversary of our debut, and I am glad we can share good music with a special album for the 10th anniversary.

Inseong : I am truly grateful to be able to greet you with such good news. Thanks to Fantasy, the staff, and our members who keep believing in SF9 and help us continue to release music, we were able to do this. My resolve to work diligently and humbly for a very long time has grown even stronger!

Jaeyoon : Because it is a special album released after a long time, it feels new, and I am excited because it seems to announce the start of our 10th anniversary.

Dawon : It is our first album together in a while after my discharge; I hope our fans like it a lot.

Hwiyoung : It has been a while since our last special album, so it feels fresh, and not only the title track but also the b-sides are really good, so it is an album I want to share widely with people around me.

Chani : We are meeting fans with an SF9 album for the first time in a year, and I am very happy to greet you with this album as the start of our 10th anniversary!

Q2. What should listeners focus on in this album?

Youngbin : I would like you to focus on the members voices throughout this album. Dawon’s voice, returning after a while, and the harmonious blend of the members voices will be key listening points. And because the tracks are built around messages the members wanted to convey, I hope you focus on each song’s message as you listen.

Inseong : First, the title track ‘Love Comes Slowly’ is in the pop ballad genre, and I think it is a great song for feeling the delicate vocals unique to SF9. You can hear members whose voices are becoming more mature and who are finding their own musical colors, and across the album you can feel an upgraded expressiveness from SF9. I think what each of us wants to say through the music has become even clearer.

Hwiyoung : The songs on this album are overall good for easy listening, and because many tracks have a moody vibe, it is good to play when you want to lean into the atmosphere.

Q3. Besides the title track, is there a b-side you would like to recommend?

Youngbin : ‘By Your Side (By Your Side)’. It contains the message I want to convey to our fans, so I feel more attached to it, and as a classic ballad you will feel a deep resonance.

Jaeyoon : Personally, I think ‘You Think Too Much’ is the best. There is a bit of my personal preference in it, and it was my pick from the moment I received the guide version. It lets you hear our distinctive vocal sensibility, so I think you will feel a different side of SF9.

Dawon : Aside from the title track, all the songs are calm and lyrical, so they are easy to listen to without pressure, and because every track has its own charm, I hope you try each one.

Hwiyoung : When working on the song ‘Last of Us’, I tried to include many dreamy and pop melodies, so among the b-sides you will feel a slightly different mood. I recommend listening to it when your everyday favorite starts to feel stale.

Q4. The album is filled entirely with ballads. Was there anything you paid special attention to during production?

Jaeyoon : I literally ground my teeth while recording this album. Because there are many emotional songs, I focused a lot on delicate delivery, a range of vocal skills, and detail. Personally, I enjoyed recording this album.

Dawon : Since it is a ballad album, I felt that conveying emotion would be important, so I worked to fully realize what the composer and lyricist intended.

Chani : I sang while thinking about Fantasy with gratitude, and to convey the message of each song well, I focused closely on the lyrics.

Q5. Do you have any memorable episodes from preparing the album?

Youngbin : We worried because it was cold when shooting the concept photos, but I was happy because I thought our faces came out nicely. And since it had been a while since Dawon joined us on an album, the occasional awkward yet fresh moments were fun.

Inseong : I worked happily with the thought that we reached our 10th anniversary together as members, and I remember the food truck on the day of the live video shoot being incredibly delicious. Honestly, I wanted to pack up all the leftovers and keep eating them at home for a long time.

Chani : When we filmed the live video, we talked about old times, and after a long while those memories felt wistful, fun, and warm.

Q6. Is there a message you want to convey with this album?

Youngbin : I hope you focus on the lyrics, because this album makes the messages each member wants to convey stand out clearly, and I hope you listen with your ears more than with your eyes.

Inseong : I hope this album shows a much more mature musical side of us and the steady, diligent side of SF9.

Jaeyoon : To celebrate the start of our 10th anniversary, we filled it with songs like small gifts for Fantasy, and I hope you enjoy them a lot!

Dawon : At times I thought I would like this album to be a comfort in hectic, busy daily life. I do not know how much solace these songs will bring, but we prepared them with thoughts of you who are reading this and with love.

Hwiyoung : I hope that, at least while you listen to this album amid busy and chaotic days, it becomes a moment when you can feel some calm.

Chani : This album contains various stories about love that SF9 wants to tell. I think many people will find it easy and familiar to listen to.

Q7. Lastly, a word to Fantasy (the fandom name).

Youngbin : Fantasy! We wanted to show our many directions with this special album, and I hope that was conveyed well. Please enjoy it comfortably. I miss you, Fantasy!!

Inseong : We will hold our place forever, so it is fine to rest a little; just do not stay too far away.

Dawon : Fantasy, thank you so much. I hope you are always happy with us without worries.

Hwiyoung : Personally, there are songs I sometimes return to or that come to mind, and I think this special album has many such songs. You will not get tired of them, so I would be grateful if you listen for a long time!

Chani : Fantasy!! Thank you so, so much for being with us for 10 years, and let us keep making lots of fun stories together. Thank you for your hard work all this time. Please continue to take good care of us!!