Warmup is over. The 4-member girl group MAMAMOO (Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, Hwasa) is launching its 2-person unit MAMAMOO+ (MAMAMOO Plus · Solar, Moonbyul) into full swing. They are preparing their first mini-album and an upcoming tour. In an interview with eDaily at the Over The Rainbow Cafe in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on the 1st, MAMAMOO+ stated, "We want to fill our fans' hearts with our bright and energetic activities."

MAMAMOO+ initially appeared as a unit in August last year with the song 'Better' in collaboration with rapper Big Naughty. After about seven months, they released the three-track single 'ACT 1, SCENE 1', signifying that they were not a one-time project.

Solar shared, "From our trainee days, Moonbyul and I have been in sync for 13 years. We get along well in many aspects, including food preferences, which led to our nickname 'Yongkong Byulkong'. Moonbyul often mentioned that it would be fun if we could perform together."

Moonbyul echoed this sentiment, saying, "It's fun to work with my sister, and we get along well. The fans liked our 'Yongkong Byulkong' duo, so we decided to have a fan meeting together, and Solar became the proactive one who dreamed big."

Surprisingly, there were frequent disagreements in the early stages. Moonbyul recalled, "Given that each of us has a distinctive color and it was our first time working as a duo, there were clashes. We needed time to find a common ground and direction." Solar added, "We smoothed out the rough edges by being considerate of each other."

After undergoing these processes, Solar and Moonbyul, who have developed exceptional chemistry, have compiled the best songs and styles that MAMAMOO+ can perform in their first mini-album, 'TWO RABBITS'.

Solar explained, "After releasing our first unit song, we decided to amplify the bright and vibrant vibe that MAMAMOO initially showcased when we debuted." She added, "As MAMAMOO matured over time, we became a team that exudes a ripe aura. However, Moonbyul and I wanted to resonate with the initial vibe a bit more."

MAMAMOO+ chose 'dangdang', one of the five tracks in the album for which they participated in writing and composing, as the title song. The catchy song humorously tells the story of someone's head ringing because of another person who runs around in their mind like a 'dangdang', a slang term for a puppy.

Moonbyul, who is known for understanding fan needs, said, "Our fans have always wanted 'refreshing' content, and considering that it's the summer season, we judged that 'dangdang' would be an appropriate title song." She humorously added, "I've been a fan of TVXQ and Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, so I understand fans' minds well. I even take a keen interest in idols active nowadays and review their album components."

The song 'dangdang' could have been a promotional song for the full MAMAMOO group. Solar revealed a behind-the-scenes story, "It was a song we considered for the title of MAMAMOO's mini-album released in 2018. At the time, I even made a chorus with Hwasa, who was listed in the credits." She added, "But I had a herniated disk then, so it was difficult to perform the choreography for this song, and it was a time when MAMAMOO needed to change our music style, so the title song changed to 'Starry Night'."

To meet the needs of fans with their performances, MAMAMOO+ prepared cute point dances, including the so-called '2023 Rabbit Dance', which involves making rabbit ears with both hands. They also plan to conduct a dance challenge. Solar mentioned, "When we did the pre-recording for Mnet's 'M Countdown' yesterday (July 31), we were sure that the fans liked our cute side by looking at their reactions."

In the album, they included the medium-tempo emotional track 'Save Me' with the theme of separation. This song allows listeners to experience another charm of MAMAMOO+'s music. They pre-released this song on the 31st of last month.

Moonbyul, who participated in writing and composing the song, shared, "Originally, I was planning to write a cheerful story about 'what would you do if you were left alone on earth.' However, it turned into its current mood after reflecting the opinions of Gyu-ik of OneWe, who co-wrote the song." She added, "Our CEO suggested that instead of just being a track on the album, it would be better to share the song with more people, so it was pre-released."

With the other Mamamoo members Wheein and Hwasa moving to other agencies, it's difficult for the 'complete' activities to be as active as before. Solar said, "There is no immediate plan for Mamamoo's group activities." The two are determined to quench the fans' thirst for

Mamamoo through their unit activities. "We're focusing on our unit activities for now, and we'll be working hard to show fans a great performance," Solar added.

Despite the changes, the bond between the members remains strong. "Wheein and Hwasa, who've moved to other companies, are very supportive of our unit," says Solar. "They cheer for us, give us advice, and sometimes even help us prepare for our performances."

Moon Byul echoed this sentiment. "Their support means a lot to us. It's a reassurance that despite our professional paths diverging, our personal relationships remain unchanged. We still eat together, talk about everything, and share our worries. And, of course, we listen to each other's music and give honest feedback."

On the future of Mamamoo+, Solar says they plan to remain active and continue to release music. "Our goal is to show different sides of ourselves through our music. We want to continue to experiment with various styles, concepts, and genres. Whether as Mamamoo+ or as individual artists, we'll continue to grow and evolve. And hopefully, through our music, we can communicate with fans and share our experiences, emotions, and stories."

Moon Byul added, "Our fans have always been there for us, supporting us through every stage of our journey. We hope to repay their love and support by continuing to work hard and delivering great music."

"We're always thankful for the love and support we receive from our fans," says Solar. "We'll do our best to give back through our music and performances. We hope our fans continue to enjoy our music and find joy and comfort in it."

Moon Byul concluded, "We are incredibly thankful for the ongoing support from our fans. We promise to keep working hard and creating music that brings joy and happiness. Thank you for always being with us."

The pair ended the interview by expressing their hopes for the future and their gratitude towards the fans who have continued to support them throughout their careers. Even with the changes to Mamamoo, their passion for music and their dedication to their fans remain as strong as ever. Mamamoo+ promises to continue bringing their unique color and energy to the music scene.

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