SISTAR19, renowned sub-unit of K-pop sensation SISTAR, continue to dominate the K-Pop scene with their first release in over a decade. Showcasing an evolved and mature musical experience on their new album No More (Ma Boy), the legendary duo comprising of vocal powerhouse, Hyolyn, and the dynamic rapper Bora step into a new and exciting chapter in their career.
Offering up a sophisticated blend of luxury vocals and captivating performances, the album’s title track, "No More (Ma Boy)," pays homage to their 2011 debut single infused with their tremendous growth over the years.
Poised to take us along on an inspiring shift from anxiety to confidence as they express themselves confidently and fearlessly, the duo chat to Earmilk about the release, their sonic evolution and dealing with pressure to deliver their best.
- No More (Ma Boy) marks your first release in over a decade. What can we expect from it?
Bora: There are two tracks on this album, and each track has different charms, which I think will be fun for our fans to listen to. No More (Ma Boy) will show the mature side of us, and Saucy also shows the mature side but in a wittier way.
Hyolyn: We intended for Saucy to showcase a different side of us as performers. We’re a little bit more independent, and we also wanted to show the female chemistry that the two of us have together.
2.How would you say your sound and style has evolved in such a large gap of time? Where do you see it going from here?
Bora: For me personally, I’ve been an actress for some time, and now that I’ve made a comeback as a singer there are definitely a lot of things I’ve learned over the years. Naturally after such a long time there’s been a lot of personal and artistic growth that we are both applying to this comeback. Hyolyn and I have more creative control and are able to communicate more freely to each other throughout this whole process. We feel even closer this time around, which in turn makes the music even better. We hope our fans can see that and enjoy this ride with us!
3. Was there a spark of inspiration that made you feel like this album and 2024 is the right time and release for SISTAR19’s return?
GROUP: We are really excited to be working together again! It wasn’t planned for now, but things just fell into place, and it feels like the perfect time. We’ve talked about doing this project for a long time, and now we, along with our separate companies, think it’s the right moment to make it happen. Everything just worked out perfectly!
4. Talk me through the creative process for this album and how it was different than your previous records?
Hyolyn: Because I performed as a solo artist for a while, I had to think about the entire picture as a group, which is different from performing alone. I tried to be conscious about this while working on these 2 songs. Our title track No More is a sequel to Ma Boy, and it’s an attractive track with a great hook that catches your ears. On the other hand, Saucy is a track that can show similar emotions as Ma Boy, and we wanted to show different colors and differentiate the two tracks.
5. Given the long wait and anticipation for your music do you feel any pressure to deliver the best? How do you overcome such moments if you do experience them?
Bora: It’s hard not to feel any pressure, and I think Hyolyn will agree. But since it’s an album we are releasing after a long time, I would like to use this pressure to be even better and give an even better performance.
Hyolyn: I often wondered and am worried whether we will be able to be loved a lot again, whether people will like it. But we are working hard and enjoying the process.
Connect with Bora : Instagram
Connect with Hyolyn : Instagram
