AOA returns stronger after Choa’s departure

After hitting a rough patch with former member Choa’s departure last year, AOA returned even stronger with its summery fifth EP.

The EP “Bingle Bangle” is led by a lead track of the same title, a punky retro-pop song that boasts catchy refrains like “Bingle Bangle” and “Shake your hip.” Upbeat and vibrant in its synth and melody, the song is addictive due to its head-bopping whistle sound that augments the hook.

Now a six-piece act, the band’s return marks its first official activity since Choa left the group in June last year. 

“Many are still used to Choa’s voice, but other members, including Yuna, had also played big roles as vocalists. So six of us have put a lot of effort to fill the stage. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to one another and monitoring our past videos in the process of preparing the album,” said Chanmi during a press showcase for the new album in Seoul on Monday.

“Seven years have passed since our debut, and during that period, we became aware of each member’s strengths,” Yuna said.

The band also addressed its lengthy hiatus, which lasted more than one year and five months, the reason why its comeback required more practice and a stronger mindset.

“We’ve practiced until the wee hours for the comeback, just like in the past as trainees. We also gave up on wearing heels and chose sneakers instead, as the choreography for our new single is the toughest we’ve ever encountered,” Haejeong said.  

The event also saw Seolhyun opening up about a recent controversy over her personal Twitter account. She had stopped following some celebrities who had been embroiled in controversies related to gender issues, including Yoo Ah-in, IU and Yoo Byung-jae.

Many netizens interpreted her action as a show of support for feminism, which invoked criticism from male-dominated online communities.

“The unfollowing was merely part of re-arranging my follower list, as I had so many followers and I only wanted to communicate with my close acquaintances. But as soon as I heard of the controversy, I stopped unfollowing. I haven’t changed my (follower) list since the controversy,” Seolhyun said.

She also added that she has become interested in gender issues in the process of broadening her perspective on various social issues. 

AOA originally debuted as an eight-member girl group in August 2012. Equipped with vocal prowess and powerful choreography, the act rose to stardom with infectious hits like “Miniskirt,” “Short Hair” and “Like a Cat.”

In June last year, Choa, who had been embroiled in controversy over a prolonged break from activities, officially confirmed her departure amid rumors she was dating a game company CEO. Her agency FNC Entertainment, however, denied the dating rumors.

Now in its seventh year, the band said its next goal is to have the new single top local streaming sites.

“I think many people relate us with summer as we’ve released many songs in the summer season. I want our new single to be a representative summer song of this year,” Yuna said. 

The six-track EP, released Monday evening, also includes sultry retro-pop “Super Duper,” reggae-inspired “Heat” and disco-tinged “Ddu Ddu Ddu.” 

(lotus@heraldcorp.com)