Urban Zakapa Returns with New EP 'STAY' Featuring Suzy and Lee Do-hyun

"We prepared this album with the determination that it must succeed." (Jo Hyun Ah)

Urban Zakapa is back with their new EP 'STAY', featuring Suzy and Lee Do-hyun.

The group, consisting of Jo Hyun Ah, Kwon Soon Il, and Park Yong In, held a media showcase on the 3rd at Ilji Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their new EP.

Returning with a new EP after four years, Kwon Soon Il expressed, "I'm nervous and excited since it's been a while since our last album." Park Yong In added, "I'm very nervous and curious about how the public will receive it. I have mixed feelings." Jo Hyun Ah shared, "As the representative of Andrew Company, I'm thrilled to release an EP as Urban Zakapa."

Jo Hyun Ah, who is also the co-representative of Andrew Company, revealed, "While preparing the album as the core producer, I often thought, 'I must not lose my focus.' I even got sick from holding back so much. But seeing everyone, including artists and staff, working towards the same goal healed me. The experience was more touching than difficult."

The new album boasts a cinematic composition, with each track seamlessly connecting the flow of sound and emotions. Kwon Soon Il explained, "When creating the tracklist, we prioritize making it sound cohesive. We strive to ensure that when you play the album from track 1 to 7, it feels balanced and flows naturally."

The title track 'STAY' is a medium-tempo R&B song with deep rhythms and sensual sounds. Jo Hyun Ah's close friend Suzy served as the muse for the title track. Jo Hyun Ah mentioned, "It's a song that retains much of Urban Zakapa's original color, so listeners might recall our early days." She added, "It's the first time I've written a song with someone specific in mind." Kwon Soon Il said, "I wanted to create a beautiful melody that matches Suzy's face. I thought the music would sound better with Suzy's face and a beautiful melody together."

The music video for Urban Zakapa's new song features Suzy and Lee Do-hyun. Jo Hyun Ah expressed, "I wanted the music video to leave a lasting impression, and I hoped for actors who could do that. Suzy, who is a dear friend, decided to participate with an open heart. Lee Do-hyun, whom I thought was the most charming male actor recently, joined us right after his military discharge, which was an honor." She added, "Both Suzy and Lee Do-hyun appeared without any guarantee."

Kwon Soon Il shared, "I usually don't revise songs much, but this song underwent the longest melody revision in Urban Zakapa's history. We focused on making it 'beautiful and lyrical.' We put a lot of effort into casting and wanted to create a song that perfectly fits this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wrote the song while thinking of Suzy's face, and I looked her up so much that my algorithm was filled with Suzy."

Throughout the event, Jo Hyun Ah continuously expressed her affection for Suzy. She described Suzy as "a singer who sings very well, an actress who acts well, a friend who takes good care of people, and a colleague who excels in her work. She is a person living admirably in many ways."

Urban Zakapa will embark on a national tour starting in Gwangju on the 22nd. Jo Hyun Ah stated, "We are preparing a setlist that I can confidently say 'Isn't it fun?' to anyone I bring to the concert. We are investing generously in stage production. It will be a performance that is visually enjoyable and emotionally uplifting, perfect for wrapping up the year."

Urban Zakapa's new EP 'STAY' will be released at 6 PM today.

Kim Ji Won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr