Kwon Eun-bi talks about her new single, fan name DANBI, future albums, her struggles before debut, and hopes for an IZ*ONE reunion.

Kwon Eun-bi, formerly of IZ*ONE, spoke about her feelings toward a group reunion. Last month, Kwon Eun-bi released the digital single “DEJAVU” through various music streaming sites. In this work, based on the three keywords CLICHE, CLASSIC, and CLOSET, she expressed in one flow the musical tastes and images she has accumulated over many years, what remains there, and new changes. “DEJAVU” begins with the familiar image of Kwon Eun-bi that remains in people’s memories, as if going back in time. As time passes, it looks back one by one at the tastes and styles that remained as Kwon Eun-bi’s own “classic.” Things that do not change even as time passes, and newly added tastes and styles. Such “familiarity” and “newness” coexist freely, forming the current Kwon Eun-bi. The title track of the same name as the single, “DEJAVU,” is a refreshing and sensuous disco-pop track. Over a rhythmic bass and light guitar sound, Kwon Eun-bi’s charming vocals are layered, showing a charm that is somehow familiar yet fresh. Before her comeback, Kwon Eun-bi announced her official fan name, “DANBI,” in August. “DANBI” contains the wish that, like a blessing rain that falls after a long wait, it will bring joy to a dry daily life, and that Kwon Eun-bi and her fans will be the most joyful and precious existence to each other. It is also a fan name that naturally harmonizes with Kwon Eun-bi’s name. In a recent interview held at a cafe in Gwangjin District, Seoul, for the new song release, Kwon Eun-bi said, “I feel really sorry that I made you wait for so long. That is why from now on, I want to release albums without making any blank periods and deliver happiness to everyone.” She continued, “There were many candidates for the fan name, but among them, the one I thought was the best was DANBI, so I conveyed my opinion to the company as well. It was named with the meaning that DANBI (blessing rain) falls when it is needed, and that we spend a long time together and have happy times. Since it was a comeback after a long time, I thought that name suited it even more.” Around the same time, not only Kwon Eun-bi but also female solo artists such as BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Jisoo, and Kim Chung-ha, were making comebacks one after another. When asked what she thought her own strength was in the midst of that, Kwon Eun-bi answered, “I think each person’s charm is different, but my strength is my bright energy that never gets tired. It can show up on stage, but until now, I think there were times when my original charm was not fully conveyed because I only showed stronger images than usual. Through this new song, I think people will be able to feel my true charm as well.” She said, “What I originally like is this kind of cute sensibility. I can show a charismatic side on stage, but when I think back to myself when I am alone at home, I like cute things more than I thought. Maybe that is my sensibility. I think that sensibility is a little different from my image. I think I can still do many things. My sensibility is cuter than I thought,” she laughed. Following the digital single, she is also preparing a new album. Kwon Eun-bi revealed, “I want to put more of my story into the next album, so I think I will probably participate in songwriting as well. I am preparing an album now and doing various sessions, and I think it will be an album filled with my story as much as possible. This time it is a digital single, but it has been quite a while since I released a CD, so I want to release an album with as much volume as possible. I definitely want to release a full album too.” When asked what kind of story she planned to include, she answered, “While I have been active for a long time, there were various trial-and-error moments, and I plan to include the emotions I had at those times. Looking back on the many experiences of falling and getting back up again, I think it would be good to capture the process of how I have walked as Kwon Eun-bi so far.” Kwon Eun-bi, who drew attention through Mnet’s survival program “PRODUCE48,” which aired in Korea in 2018, debuted that same year as a member of the project group IZ*ONE. After the group disbanded, she has continued working as a solo singer since releasing her first mini-album “OPEN” in 2021. She has been active not only on music programs and performances in Korea and abroad, but also in university festivals, festivals, and advertisements across a wide range of fields. When asked when the most difficult crisis was during her eight years of activity, Kwon Eun-bi looked back and said, “The turning point in my life was my debut as IZ*ONE. Before that, because I was a little older than other idols, I had even thought about quitting. I think the hardest time was before debuting as IZ*ONE. It was when I had gone through a long trainee life and could no longer see the future.” Kwon Eun-bi said, “Since I was a child, my parents opposed it, and I also had the sense of responsibility that I had to do it no matter what. As I kept falling and getting back up, I thought that since I kept falling, there would come a time when I would go up someday. I think I endured with the feeling that since I was always down, all that was left was to go up.” She continued, “I always like trying new things. I also like hiking and trying various new things in daily life. Repeating the same thing is not interesting to me. If I only show the same appearance and visuals as before, viewers might think, ‘It’s the same feeling again,’ so every time I release an album, I want to do many new things. I like house music, and I also really like band music. I want to try genres that make people think, ‘That’s unexpected?’” As her words about enjoying new challenges suggest, Kwon Eun-bi has worked not only as a singer but also in film, musicals, as a radio personality, and on variety shows. When asked if there was any field she wanted to try in the future, Kwon Eun-bi answered, “I have done musicals, acted a little, done radio, and music, but I have never tried voice acting. I am interested in expressing myself only through my voice, so I want to try it.” When asked about the driving force that kept her active without stopping for eight years, she first mentioned her family. Kwon Eun-bi said, “First, I think my family, who opposed me becoming a singer, became my driving force. I think I worked hard with the feeling that I had to show them. Next was myself. I think I endured while thinking about why I had to succeed and what I wanted to do. I fell many times, so like a roly-poly toy, I got back up and endured again and again. I am simpler than I thought, and I seem to have very strong power to quickly change my mind and get back up.” She said, “Now my family is very happy. My family did not acknowledge me when I first debuted (not as IZ*ONE). At that time, I think a stubborn desire was born in me to absolutely see it through. When my name was called as IZ*ONE, my whole family came to the audience seats, and when I saw my parents’ tears then, I received great strength. I think that was the first time I strongly felt, ‘Our daughter really did it.’” She continued, “Even now, I think I have succeeded enough. If I have a goal I want, it is not tremendous popularity or huge success. While continuing entertainment activities, I felt that continuing steadily and without accidents, and continuing activities without anything happening, is more difficult. My current goal is to keep working for a long time while maintaining a healthy mind as I am now.” She also showed willingness for an IZ*ONE reunion. Kwon Eun-bi, who recently met with IZ*ONE members, said, “After seeing the senior I.O.I members gather again and work happily, we talked about how, when we reach our 10th anniversary, we would like to release an album together. We also talked positively about wanting to work again and, if everyone’s situation allows, to do it together again.” She continued, “I really want to do it too. If we can gather again like that, I think it would definitely go very well. Because everyone is in a very beautiful and happy period, I thought it would be nice if we could work together even once, whenever we can and whenever there is an opportunity. I think I also gained a sense of responsibility that I have to take action myself in order to reunite.” Finally, regarding her goal for the new song’s activities, Kwon Eun-bi said, “There are not many songs that are known as widely as I thought. ‘Underwater’ also ranked 99th or 100th, but I think that ranking itself is a very big success,” and added, “After all, I am a performance-type singer who dances, sings, and shows visuals, so I want to become someone people can say, ‘You can trust and watch Kwon Eun-bi’s stage.’”