MUSIC
(G)I-DLE Returns with New Single 'Mono' Featuring Skaiwater: A Celebration of Unique Identity
(G)I-DLE, consisting of members Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua, is releasing their new digital single 'Mono (Feat. skaiwater)' today at 6 PM on various music platforms, marking their first full-group activity of the year.
'Mono (Feat. skaiwater)' delivers a message of tuning into one's essence, free from the gaze of others, through (G)I-DLE's unique musical style. The minimalist sound and sophisticated visuals teased earlier have piqued the curiosity of listeners worldwide, with the music video teaser climbing the ranks on China's QQ Music Korean Music Video Chart, proving its buzz even before release.
This new track is notable as it marks (G)I-DLE's first collaboration with an external artist on a group song since their debut. British rapper skaiwater, known for his addictive vocal tone, features on the track, showcasing a fresh musical synergy with (G)I-DLE.
Ahead of the release, the third concept photo revealed monochrome images of each member holding hands, conveying the song's meaning. The music video promises to deliver dynamic performances with a mega crew, enhancing the visual impact.
Below is a Q&A with (G)I-DLE ahead of the release of their digital single 'Mono (Feat. skaiwater)'.
Minnie: The song is about focusing on the essence by removing all effects. I hope listeners pay attention to the addictive melody and great lyrics.
Soyeon: It's a minimalistic song with (G)I-DLE's unique color. I hope listeners focus on the styling and vocals that only (G)I-DLE can deliver. The lyrics are also very captivating.
Shuhua: The song is straightforward, so it will resonate as it is. I believe it will be a song that conveys emotions without needing words.
Q. How do you feel about returning to group activities in Korea after a long time since your 8th mini album 'We are' last year?
Miyeon: I'm excited and looking forward to it. I hope 2026 will be a year where we can showcase many stages and great music!
Minnie: I'm so excited and can't wait to share this great song with Neverland. We've prepared the performance diligently, so I hope you enjoy it.
Yuqi: I'm thrilled! I'll work hard. I hope it goes well. It's a really good song with a great concept.
Miyeon: Since it's a minimalistic song, I thought the visuals and vocals that draw more focus were important, so I paid extra attention to these aspects.
Minnie: I remember repeatedly recording and modifying parts until the voice that fit best came out. We all worked hard on the performance, and I made a visual change by removing my bangs. I also worked out diligently.
Soyeon: We usually present flashy songs as titles, but this time we challenged ourselves with a new minimalistic song.
Yuqi: We prepared a performance with a different style than before. There were many parts where we had to sync well with the dancers, so we practiced hard!
Shuhua: I focused a lot on pronunciation to ensure the meaning of the English lyrics was conveyed well.
Q. What kind of synergy do you expect with rapper 'skaiwater', who is gaining attention in the overseas hip-hop scene?
Soyeon: I think skaiwater's style, which is free from prejudice, matches very well with (G)I-DLE. I hope it becomes great music.
Miyeon: It was really fun matching with the dancers. Thanks to many shoots together, it felt like we became one team. I'm really grateful.
Minnie: We filmed with foreign dancers, and they were all so unique and cute. There was even a Thai dancer, so I made a new friend. Every scene from start to finish is a must-see!
Soyeon: I hope you pay attention to our movements and expressions in the black-and-white shots.
Yuqi: It was fun to dance again after a long time. The music and music video are very minimalistic, which I personally loved.
Shuhua: Don't miss the parts where the members appear in the mega crew performance!
Soyeon: We're preparing really hard for the world tour. We're going to show a completely different nuance and performance from previous concerts. We've rearranged all the songs. I hope many people come.
Yuqi: There are so many stages I want to show you soon. We're preparing hard, so I hope you enjoy waiting for it. Please come and have fun!
Shuhua: I'm really looking forward to meeting fans from various regions after a long time. We'll come with great performances, so I hope fans look forward to it!
Q. Please say a word to Neverland, who have been waiting for the full group (G)I-DLE.
Miyeon: Neverland! (G)I-DLE will come to meet you soon. Please wait a little longer. I love you! We're working hard to show you a more grown-up side and more fun performances, so please look forward to the concert!
Minnie: Neverland, I've missed you so much. Since you've waited so long, (G)I-DLE has worked hard on this single, so please listen to it a lot and focus on the performance. I want to meet you soon. I love you so much!
Soyeon: Thank you to our Neverland for always waiting for our music for such a long time and loving it when it comes out. We'll become (G)I-DLE who can repay you with an even cooler side.
Yuqi: Neverland, you can look forward to (G)I-DLE's comeback after a long time. We'll show you a completely different side, so please love us a lot!
Shuhua: Neverland, thank you for waiting. (G)I-DLE has worked really hard, so I hope you love us a lot!
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr
