Introducing HITGS: A Story of Heart, Hip, and Honest Beginnings
By. Alicia Zamora
In an exclusive interview conducted by Alicia’s Studio, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the vibrant members of HITGS, a rising South Korean girl group whose name stands for Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, and Story. With their debut single Things we love : H, the group steps boldly into the spotlight, channeling youthful charm, honest emotions, and a refreshing sense of individuality into every note and lyric.
During our conversation, each member opened up about how they personally embody a piece of the HITGS identity—from "Hip" and "Innocent" to "Teenager" and "Story"—offering a heartfelt glimpse into the personalities behind the music. They reflected on the challenges and joys of preparing for their debut, the meaning behind their debut track’s celebration of everyday love, and the small but meaningful joys that keep them grounded—like a comforting bowl of hotpot.
Throughout the interview, the girls radiated warmth, authenticity, and a shared excitement for the journey ahead. With sincere passion and an unshakable bond, HITGS is more than just a group—they’re a story in the making. Stay tuned as we delve into the inspiration behind their debut, their dreams for the future, and the powerful message they hope to share with the world.
Diving In
Alicia: First off—congratulations on your debut! How does it feel to officially introduce HITGS to the world?
Seojin: We’re so happy that we can now share songs with everyone that were once just for us. Seeing people enjoy them makes all our practice and effort feel truly rewarding!
Alicia: HITGS stands for Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, and Story. Can each of you describe how you personally relate to one of those words?
VV: Preparing for my debut after coming from China wasn’t easy, and I think the word “Story” really reflects my journey. I’m working hard on dancing these days, and as I continue to grow and discover new sides of myself, I feel that “Hip” is the word I’m still developing into.
Seojin: I think “Innocent” suits me well, as it captures my soft and pure image. And since our story has just begun, I want to continue building the “Story” part of HITGS.
Seohee: “Innocent” is the word I chose, because I think I have the purest charm in the team. Since we just debuted, I’m putting in a lot of effort to express “Hip” better—through my expressions, movements, and presence on stage.
Hyerin: I’m still a teenager, so “Teenager” definitely fits me best. And as a rookie, I’m working hard to grow into the “Hip” side of our identity.
Iyoo: I’m most confident in dancing, so I think “Hip” describes me well. Since I’m still young, I also relate to the word “Girls” and want to embody it more fully.
Alicia: Your debut single is titled Things we love : H. What inspired the theme of love—especially the everyday kind?
Seojin: This debut album is full of the things teenagers love. It’s honest, youthful, and captures our emotions in a very real way. Just like the theme of our album, we aimed to visually express the sweetness of being a teenager.
Alicia: You’ve mentioned wanting to celebrate the small things in life. What’s something small that each of you loves right now?
VV: Hotpot! I feel so much joy when I eat hotpot. I absolutely love it.
Seojin: In our debut album, there are tiny stickers and lucky charms that the members of HITGS personally designed. I thought our fans would really love discovering those. I hope they keep them close and think of HITGS when they see them.
Seohee: Watching my favorite dramas while eating delicious food always makes me so happy!
Hyerin: I love resting. I really enjoy taking time to recharge.
Iyoo: Chocolate is my favorite snack! I’m the happiest when I’m eating it.
Alicia: What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from this debut?
Seohee: I hope they feel warmth and emotion in my voice. More than anything, I want them to feel the atmosphere of the song and the message I’m trying to share—softly and sincerely.
Alicia: SOURPATCH has such a catchy groove and unique vibe. What was it like recording this track for the first time?
Seohee: During recording, the director told me to sing in a lighter tone. As I practiced singing that way, I realized that sometimes singing lightly fits the song better than pouring all my strength into it. That was when I learned a new vocal technique, and I think it helped me grow.
Hyerin: When I heard the finished track after all of us had recorded our parts, and our voices were layered together—it really moved me. That moment is unforgettable.
Seohee: I had a lot of vocal lines, so it felt like a lot of pressure at first. But I’m proud of how much I grew through the recording process.
Alicia: The lyrics of SOURPATCH reflect teenage emotions in a conversational way. Were any of the lyrics inspired by real experiences?
Seohee: As teenagers, we go through a wide range of emotions, and we wanted to reflect that honesty and variety in our music right from the beginning.
Seojin: We aim to sing lyrics that can relate to everyone listening. Even if they weren’t written from a personal experience, we want to make sure it’s relatable for our fans. As HITGS, we’ll continue to do our best to express the full range of emotions that teenagers experience!
Alicia: Never Be Me brings a totally different energy—brighter and more confident. How do you personally connect to this song?
Seohee: It’s a song that reveals a different charm of HITGS—more in tune with our teenage spirit and honest emotions.
Alicia: Ryan Jhun produced your debut—what was it like working with such a legendary figure in K-pop?
Seohee: As we recorded and took Ryan Jhun’s direction, we gradually refined each part and could see the songs becoming something unique to HITGS. It was such a proud moment, and throughout that process, I felt I was also discovering who I am as an artist. He gave me great direction—what to emphasize and what to let go of—and helped me grow as a vocalist.
Hyerin: I was a bit nervous at first, but he made us feel comfortable. Thanks to that, we were able to enjoy the recording process. He told us to be bold and confident, even if we made mistakes. That encouragement really helped us shine.
VV: I was nervous and scared since it was my first-time recording.
Alicia: Can you share a behind-the-scenes moment from filming the SOURPATCH music video?
Hyerin: It was our first music video, so we were a bit awkward at first, but we quickly got used to it and had so much fun. The scene where we danced while getting splashed with water is especially memorable!
Alicia: Each of you brings something special to the group. How would you describe your own role or personality within HITGS?
Seojin: I'm Seojin, the mood maker and energy booster of HITGS! When I lead group practices, I try to keep the energy high.
Hyerin: I'm Hyerin, the one with the lovely visuals that’ll make you fall for HITGS at first sight!
Seohee: I’m Seohee, the vitamin of HITGS, always full of bright energy.
Iyoo: I’m Iyoo, the entrance fairy of HITGS—I'm the reason you'll keep thinking about us all day!
VV: I'm VV, the Barbie of HITGS with doll-like visuals.
Alicia: What do you think is HITGS’s biggest strength as a group?
Seojin: I think our biggest strength is our lovely and refreshing vibe. The songs really match our group’s style, and the visuals and talents of each member come together perfectly to express HITGS’s unique charm.
Seohee: I believe HITGS’s biggest appeal lies in the visuals of our five members, the fresh energy of being teenagers, our great chemistry, and our unique sense of style.
Alicia: If you had to describe HITGS’s debut in three words, what would they be?
Seojin: I can’t pick just three, so I’m going to say: HIP, INNOCENT, TEENAGER, GIRLS, STORY. That’s what HITGS stands for! We want to represent the stories of hip and pure teenage girls, and we hope our debut showcased that.
Alicia: How do you hope HITGS grows and evolves from this first release?
Seojin: Our debut album is filled with the emotions of teenage girls falling in love. In the next chapters, we’d love to show HITGS’s growth through music that reflects our unique colors.
Hyerin: I’m looking forward to growing with my fellow members and communicating with fans through different stages and performances. I can’t wait to show the many different sides of ourselves in the chapters to come.
Alicia: What’s been the most surprising or touching reaction you’ve received since your debut was announced?
VV: I was so moved when my parents reached out to tell me, “You can do this.”
Seojin: Fewer fans can attend the live broadcast of music shows compared to the pre-recorded tapings, but when they cheered so loudly that the venue echoed, I was truly touched.
Seohee: After our debut, I was so overwhelmed when I received a surprise celebration party that I got choked up.
Hyerin: My older sister—who usually just teases me—wrote me a long, heartfelt letter after we announced our debut.
Iyoo: I find the way our fans cheer for us so enthusiastically incredibly moving!
Alicia: As a group made up of teenagers, how do you balance being artists with being young people still growing and learning?
VV: I balance my life as an artist and a teenager by having fun with the members like we’re in school—it makes everything so much more joyful.
Seojin: Whether we’re waiting backstage or spending time at the dorm, we have this fun, high school girl vibe among us. It helps us strike a happy balance between being artists and teenagers. It’s always a good time.
Seohee: I go to school and live my life as a teenager and student, and outside of that, I dedicate myself to working hard as an artist.
Hyerin: I do my best to follow our schedules well as an artist, and as a teenager, I focus on attending school diligently and doing my best there too.
Iyoo: I think it would’ve been hard to find this balance on my own, but thanks to being with the other members, I’ve been able to manage both my life as an artist and as a teenager.
Alicia: Are there any artists or role models who inspired you while preparing for debut?
VV: I was inspired to become an idol after watching BLACKPINK’s Lisa sunbaenim perform. To me, singing on stage is another form of acting—it’s all about expressing something.
Seojin: I’ve always wanted to live a life that’s anything but ordinary. When I first saw TWICE sunbaenims on music shows and variety programs, I was captivated by their charm as idols and inspired to follow this dream myself.
Seohee: I really look up to IU sunbaenim’s presence on stage and the way she fully immerses herself in each performance. These days, I’m studying how to make the stage feel like it’s truly mine.
Hyerin: Karina sunbaenim from aespa! I’m a huge fan of hers. Watching her performances taught me so much—she’s the kind of artist I aspire to become.
Iyoo: I’ve been deeply inspired by BLACKPINK’s Jennie sunbaenim. Her performances are so powerful yet elegant and detailed—it’s amazing.
Alicia: What’s one dream stage or goal you hope HITGS can reach someday?
Seohee: Our biggest goal is to win Rookie of the Year and to share the charm of HITGS with more people.
Alicia: If your debut single were a color, what color would it be—and why?
VV: Blue. There’s a blue outfit in the music video that looked great on all the members. It’s pretty and fits the vibe of the song really well, so that’s why I chose it.
Seojin: Blue. SOURPATCH gives off a soft and refreshing light blue vibe, while Never Be Me feels more like a deep blue—chic and captivating. That contrast made me choose blue.
Seohee: A zesty yellow! It reminds me of spring, and I think it perfectly captures the bright and refreshing feeling of our debut song.
Hyerin: I’d choose a bright pastel color. SOURPATCH is a song that expresses the feeling of love from the perspective of teenage girls, so I thought a bright and refreshing color would suit it perfectly.
Iyoo: I’d choose sky blue. It feels fresh and youthful, and I think it really suits the image of our group.
Alicia: What would you like to say to the fans who are meeting HITGS for the first time?
Seojin: We've shown you our lovable teenage sides and things we enjoy, but we’ll be showing you so much more—please stay with us!
Hyerin: I hope to become closer with our fans and meet you often—let’s be together for a long time!
Seohee: Thank you so much for loving HITGS. We’ll work even harder to return that love.
Iyoo: I’ll do my best, so please continue to support and love us!
VV: I hope you’ll watch me closely as I grow and show you my true self.