My Eyes Open VVide: MEOVV Interviewed

2024 was a year of many highlights for the K-pop industry but, most notably, it emerged as a stronghold for industry veterans and newcomers alike. The year was a culmination of K-pop’s defining moments both culturally and musically and, needless to say, many of these were spearheaded by the women of the industry. There’s no denying that K-pop’s “Femininomenon” (courtesy of pop-princess Chappelle Roan) is here: from the mega success of songs such as AESPA’s ‘Supernova’ and ILLIT’s ‘Magnetic’, to the reunion of renowned trailblazers 2NE1, the year’s quintessential moments featured some of the industry’s best female talent. 

The most recent of these highlights is none other than a social media craze featuring a particular three-letter abbreviation – a collaboration whose sheer starpower has helped propel it to the top of the charts. Bruno Mars and BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ teamed up for pop rock track ‘APT.’, which pays homage to the latter’s favourite Korean drinking game. The song has rightfully garnered global success and serves as ROSÉ’s first release after signing to THEBLACKLABEL, helping to establish her sound as an individual: flirtatious, dynamic, and radiant. 

Alongside ROSÉ, THEBLACKLABEL is home to a number of other prominent soloists, but as of September 6th, the label flipped the script with the debut of their first-ever girl group, MEOVV (pronounced “meow”). Generally, establishing oneself as an artist within the K-pop industry takes time. It’s a combination of consistency, calculated risks, and pure faith, both in your company (the group is also signed to Capitol Records) and group members. But for SOOIN, GAWON, ANNA, NARIN, and ELLA, their climb to the top took all but a couple releases, and a slew of dedicated fans pre-debut helped make this possible. 

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Their debut track ‘MEOW’ gained 10 million views in just 48 hours, and in an era where views are valued currency, this is a noteworthy accomplishment. The song is a perfectly suited statement – a stripped down bass heavy anthem in which the message is simple but clear: “This is MEOVV”. A distinctive brand as an artist generally comes with time, and it can often be difficult to ascertain a group’s identity upon their debut, but MEOVV, ever charismatic from the start, has without a doubt made themselves known. Though these girls have a long way to go, it’s clear the group is bright-eyed and eager to prove themselves to the world.

“We just want to become a group where we are proud of the music that we create,” says GAWON, on a video call with CLASH. Having just begun their careers as artists, there’s a tenacity present that is heightened by their eagerness to perform live. After all, it’s what they do best: these girls are all tight formations and sharp lines. Their dancing is exceptional as a unit and acts as the final piece to a carefully designed puzzle, which is exactly what they happen to be.

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The members of MEOVV were hand-selected by TEDDY, main producer and co-founder of THEBLACKLABEL. GAWON recalls having listened to much of his music growing up, reflecting on now being able to work with him, citing him as one of her role models within the industry. “Sometimes I’m just like ‘Oh my god, what the heck am I doing?’ and I just have moments of realisation,” she chuckles. “I think in those moments I’m very grateful.” 

As newcomers to the music world, these girls know that the sky is truly the limit, and there’s nowhere to go but up. Like most artists, it’s their shared passion for music that motivated them to become idols. They hope to “make a long lasting impression,” says ELLA, the group’s youngest member. “When people think of MEOVV, I want them to think of this strong charismatic group. I don’t want them to forget our name.”

So far, they’ve not only been able to keep up but have held their own performing for crowds of tens of thousands just months after debut. While September 6th marked the official beginning of their journey as artists, many years of hard work have culminated in these moments, and the members haven’t taken a single second of it for granted. 

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“I was really happy that the five of us were able to debut together,” NARIN shares enthusiastically. The blood, sweat, and tears each member poured into their debut hasn’t gone unnoticed in the slightest, particularly by their fans. SOOIN recalls how surprised she was to hear fans chanting the group’s fanchant (an official cheering guide released by K-pop groups for fans) during their first-ever music show performance. “It wasn’t out for that long but our fans memorised everything,” she says.

It’s no secret that the nature of K-pop fans is relentlessly loyal but MEOVV has continued to match this intensity with ease. The group’s name is an acronym: “My Eyes Open VVide” is meant to not only allude to their distinct feline framing but to express their goal of showcasing a duality seen with our beloved furry companions – going from playful and spirited to fierce simultaneously. “Fierce” is one of the many words they’d use to describe themselves as a group, along with “multifaceted”, “variety” and of course, “cats”.

Their second release, a single featuring songs ‘BODY’ and ‘TOXIC’, helped to further their goal of being versatile in their musicianship. While the former can be closely aligned with debut ‘MEOW’ performance-wise, ‘TOXIC’ provides a stark contrast as an R&B ballad in which the members’ vocals take centre stage. Their first full release brings the promise of exploring more genres. When asked which genres they’d like to dip their toes in, ELLA’s quick to respond: “I definitely want to try reggae!”

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“We’re always focused on challenging ourselves, trying new things and experimenting with new sounds,” NARIN adds. While they’re relatively tight-lipped about their future output, the girls make it known they’ve been experimenting in the studio and are just as eager to release new songs as fans are to hear them. Everything MEOVV unleashes serves a purpose, with dernier cri aesthetics and clever lyricism making their music universal. Their sound is pleasantly electrifying, and it’s no wonder it’s been widely enjoyed by new generations of fans.

Though it’s late in South Korea, the girls’ energy is unwavering throughout the call and they often speak in tandem or encourage each other to speak with light banter. MEOVV’s chemistry is apparent to anyone witnessing their interactions, and it’s something that helps to strengthen their performances. “We’re obsessed with each other,” GAWON shares emphatically. In their downtime, the girls aren’t spending their time much differently from other teenagers. Having only first met as a unit after joining THEBLACKLABEL, they quickly found a home within each other, spending just about every waking hour together.

“We’re our best friends, so I think recently we’ve really liked watching movies together at the dorm,” GAWON says. NARIN reveals the group’s plans for Christmas, an annual Secret Santa they’re preparing to host. The members are all excited about their gift exchange, but also find joy in the everyday moments they spend together. Whether it’s watching a movie together or sharing a meal, MEOVV’s bond is unbreakable, and it helps that the members have shared interests. 

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Their social media is filled with highlight reels of each member’s fashion, and each of them light up when asked what some of their staple items are at the moment. ELLA notes that the members’ individual styles are quite distinct: she tends to favour clothing with characters and bright colors, while the rest generally prefer black ensembles. “Since it’s winter, I’ve been really obsessed with fur jackets,” SOOIN says about her trendy but functional choice. NARIN, however, favours a pair of black jean shorts that she wears despite the weather. 

GAWON’s obsession is to accessorize, and she never leaves the house without her adornments. “I could be in my PJs but I need to accessorize everything,” she laughs, holding up her purse from which a multitude of charms dangle. “I’m always wearing my black hat,” ANNA follows, swiftly slipping it on to show it off. Collectively, the members have enjoyed getting to test out their just-released group merchandise.

MEOVV has reached incredible heights in just a few short months but by no means do they intend to rest on their laurels. Upon attending their first Mnet Asian Music Awards, the group was awarded Favourite Rising Artist, an impressive accomplishment for any rookie group. It’s a humbling experience, especially having looked back on the effort it took to make it to where they are today. “I’m very happy we were awarded Favourite Rising Artist,” ANNA says. “Even though at the moment we only have three songs, I hope fans look forward to our upcoming songs and new performances!”

MEOVV have continuously shared their gratitude towards their fans. ELLA notes how surreal it is to have achieved so much in so little time. “We’re all so grateful because it’s only been a few months since we’ve made our debut, but we’ve accomplished more than we thought we would in this short amount of time. I’m really thankful to all the fans who made that happen.”

So if you haven’t already, now is the time to tune into MEOVV. For those looking for an idea of where these girls are headed, NARIN’s line in ‘BODY’ says it best: “Tag, it girls, MEOVV, babe.”

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Words: Natalia Kabenge / @nataliakabenge