Our jolly interview with the successful girl group X:IN!

Debuting in 2023 with “Keeping the Fire”, X:IN quickly rose to become one of the most eye-catching girl groups on the global K-pop scene. Since then, they’ve earned huge praise with their albums Synchronicity and The Real. And now, they’re back with their brand-new track “RRRun”!

NOVA

1.First of all, hello everyone! Could you please introduce yourselves?

Nova: Hello, I’m the new star Nova!

2.Let’s go back to the very beginning! How did you decide to become idols? What steps did you take on your journey to becoming idols?

Nova: I used to film K-pop dance cover videos and upload them to my social media. One day, a fan suggested that I join online auditions to become an idol in Korea. At first, I was very doubtful because even I couldn’t believe that a girl from Russia could debut in Korea. But I took my chance, passed the auditions, and now here I am!

3.X:IN consists of multinational members. Which member’s hometown tradition do you find the most interesting?

Nova: I love the colorful festivals in Indian traditions! I haven’t had the chance to join one yet, but if I get the opportunity someday, I’d definitely love to try it.

4.What were your first impressions of each other when you first met? Did you expect that you would debut together?

Nova: Everyone was so sweet and warmhearted. Since I didn’t know Korean, they were very patient with me, explained everything, and even treated me to some really delicious food.

5.If you were not idols, what would you like to be instead?

Nova: I had won biology olympiads, and before coming to Korea, I studied biotechnology at university for two years. So, I’d probably have become a scientist.

6.After your very first stage performance, how did you feel once you came down from the stage?

Nova: I was extremely excited and full of energy!

7.In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being an idol?

Nova: I think it’s constantly being in the public eye. Sometimes not having personal space and being judged all the time can be exhausting.

8.What inspires you? Who or what is your main source of inspiration?

Nova: Always our beloved fans Readies! The love and support they give me means everything.

9.How does your comeback preparation process usually go? Could you tell us a bit about it?

Nova: We receive our new song, and our producer explains the concept to us. Sometimes I also participate in writing the lyrics. For our latest album Rrrun, I actually created the characters that were used in the album design!

10.What is a comeback concept that you would love to try in the future?

Nova: I’ve been doing ballroom dance since I was 4 years old. So I’d definitely love to try a passionate Latin concept.

11.If you could collaborate with another group or idol, who would it be?

Nova: I really love KARD’s music. Collaborating with them would be a huge honor for me.

12.What is your biggest dream at the moment?

Nova: To continue working together as a team for many, many years.

13.Who are your role models?

Nova: My mom, who is always by my side, supporting me, and the kindest person I know.

14.Your most recent comeback Attention Seeker was very well received by many! How did it feel to get such positive feedback for this comeback?

Nova: It was so exciting! Getting such reactions motivates us even more for our future projects.

15.If you were to recommend one of your songs to Turkish fans, which one would it be?

Nova: Of course, our new album Rrrun!

16.Have any of the members visited Turkey before? Which place in Turkey would you like to see the most?

Nova: Yes, I came years ago with my family. I was little, so I don’t remember much, but I only have beautiful memories. The food was incredible! I also watched Turkish dramas like Magnificent Century and Çalıkuşu, so I’d love to visit historical places like Topkapi Palace.

17.Turkish cuisine?! Have you ever tried Turkish food before? If so, which Turkish dish is your favorite?

Nova: I absolutely love baklava! I love it so much that I even order it online in Korea.

18.And what about a concert in Turkey? Would you like to perform on stage here?

Nova: Definitely! I’ve heard there are a lot of Readies in Turkey, and I can’t wait to meet them.

19.We have now reached the end of the interview. Thank you very much for sincerely answering the questions. Finally, what would you like to say to White Entertainment followers and your Turkish fans?

Nova: Thank you so much for this interview! I really love Turkey and want to come as soon as possible. Please listen to our new album Rrrun and continue supporting us!

ARIA

1.First of all, hello everyone! Could you please introduce yourselves?

Aria: Hello, I’m Aria from X:IN!

2.Let’s go back to the very beginning! How did you decide to become idols? What steps did you take on your journey to becoming idols?

Aria: I’ve been a K-pop fan since 2017. After finishing high school, I joined online auditions to try my luck and I won. That’s how I came to Korea and started training. Before debut, I went through an intense 6 month training period.

3.X:IN consists of multinational members. Which member’s hometown tradition do you find the most interesting?

Aria: Pepero Day! There’s nothing like it in India, so it seemed very interesting to me.

4.What were your first impressions of each other when you first met? Did you expect that you would debut together?

Aria: I first saw Nova on the online training platform. I thought she was tall because of her proportions, but I was surprised to see she was shorter than me. Esha seemed cold at first, but she turned out to be very warm-hearted. Hannah and Nizz were shy at first.

5.If you were not idols, what would you like to be instead?

Aria: I was a child actor in India, so I would probably return to acting or do something related to art and music.

6.After your very first stage performance, how did you feel once you came down from the stage?

Aria: I was so excited that my mind went completely blank. I often got lost in my thoughts backstage. But still, there was an incredible sense of awe and achievement.

7.In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being an idol?

Aria: Talent is very important, but I think having a strong mindset is just as crucial. No matter what happens, you need solid mental strength to perform on stage. That’s the hardest part for me.

8.What inspires you? Who or what is your main source of inspiration?

Aria: My family who believes in me, the artists I admire, and the little me who dreamed big when I was young.

9.How does your comeback preparation process usually go? Could you tell us a bit about it?

Aria: We are very involved in the album work. When we get a song, we write lyrics if needed. We hold meetings with our producer and team and share our ideas. Sometimes we also participate in choreography practice.

10.What is a comeback concept that you would love to try in the future?

Aria: I’d like to try a rock-style concept inspired by Avril Lavigne!

11.If you could collaborate with another group or idol, who would it be?

Aria: We really love KARD, and a collaboration with them would be amazing.

12.What is your biggest dream at the moment?

Aria: To create an album with songs and concepts in different styles, so that everyone can find at least one song they love.

13.Who are your role models?

Aria; BTS has been my role model from the very beginning. I want to be a musician like them someone who loves their work, continues making music for many years, and stays humble while growing.

14.Your most recent comeback Attention Seeker was very well received by many! How did it feel to get such positive feedback for this comeback?

Aria: We made a comeback after a long time, and our fans’ positive reactions and their efforts to understand the meaning of the album made me very happy.

15.If you were to recommend one of your songs to Turkish fans, which one would it be?

Aria: Definitely RRRUN! It’s my favorite X:IN song. I’m sure Turkish Readies will love it too!

16.Have any of the members visited Turkey before? Which place in Turkey would you like to see the most?

Aria: Unfortunately, I haven’t been yet. I don’t know much about Turkey, but I’d love to go anywhere where Readies are.

17.Turkish cuisine?! Have you ever tried Turkish food before? If so, which Turkish dish is your favorite?

Aria: Yes! I really love baklava. I would love to try the authentic version in Turkey someday.

18.And what about a concert in Turkey? Would you like to perform on stage here?

Aria: That would be amazing! As long as we are invited and Readies want to see us, we are always ready.

19.We have now reached the end of the interview. Thank you very much for sincerely answering the questions. Finally, what would you like to say to White Entertainment followers and your Turkish fans?

Aria: Thank you so much for your time. Please listen to our latest album RRRUN. Turkish Readies, it’s my greatest wish to see you up close and perform for you. Your support from afar means so much to us. Lots of love to all of you!

NIZZ

1.First of all, hello everyone! Could you please introduce yourselves?

Nizz: Hello, I’m Nizz, the voice of X:IN’s Tonyang!

2.Let’s go back to the very beginning! How did you decide to become idols? What steps did you take on your journey to becoming idols?

Nizz: When I was little, I started learning dance at a dance course my family sent me to so I could make friends. During that time, I became interested in the idol profession. I decided I wanted to perform on stage, so I chose to become an idol! I passed various auditions and was accepted by the company. During my trainee life, I worked very hard to develop my skills and finally debuted as Nizz of today’s X:IN.

3.X:IN consists of multinational members. Which member’s hometown tradition do you find the most interesting?

Nizz: I found it very interesting that in Nova’s home country, Russia, bread is eaten instead of rice! I knew bread was eaten in Russia, but when I went there, I saw that every meal always included bread, and I felt that, just like rice in Korea, bread in Russia is really delicious. That’s why even in Korea, I always want to eat Russian bread. hehe

4.What were your first impressions of each other when you first met? Did you expect that you would debut together?

Nizz: I had seen Isha unni, Nova, and Aria on screen before, but when I saw them in person, I was surprised at how much shorter they were than I had imagined! On the other hand, I was surprised at how tall Hanna was. hehe The members really look out for each other, and you could feel that they wanted to debut together, which motivated me to work even harder.

5.If you were not idols, what would you like to be instead?

Nizz: If I hadn’t become an idol~ Recently, I thought I would like to live a normal university life! I would have studied psychology, which has always interested me, or pursued a profession like being a teacher who teaches students!

6.After your very first stage performance, how did you feel once you came down from the stage?

Nizz: I still don’t clearly remember my first stage performance. hehe I thought I would cry when I debuted, but I didn’t. After finishing the stage and watching the performance, I thought, “I want to do better.” It was more of a moment for self-reflection and thinking about my shortcomings rather than excitement.

7.In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being an idol?

Nizz: Not comparing myself to others… I realized that’s the hardest thing. I learned that I need to accept myself as I am and strive for better improvement! Also, I think it’s another challenge to stay strong despite irregular meals and sleep, so maintaining basic conditioning and health is very important.

8.What inspires you? Who or what is your main source of inspiration?

Nizz: I get inspiration from listening to songs by my favorite artists, and also from movies, TV shows, and books. After debut, I especially feel a lot of inspiration from the letters and messages sent by the Readies!

9.How does your comeback preparation process usually go? Could you tell us a bit about it?

Nizz: When a song for the new album comes out, we listen to its instrumental with our producer and members, discuss the mood and emotions of the song, and exchange ideas. When the demo is ready, everyone works individually and shares their parts through singing. We also discuss the album’s concept, theme, and many other topics together.

10.What is a comeback concept that you would love to try in the future?

Nizz: I want to make a sexy song like Catwoman~ with a clear concept!

11.If you could collaborate with another group or idol, who would it be?

Nizz: I would love to collaborate with Chung Ha sunbaenim!

12.What is your biggest dream at the moment? Nizz: I want to perform concerts in many countries! But especially, I really want to have a concert in my birthplace, South Korea.

13.Who are your role models?

Nizz: I learned so much by watching 2NE1 sunbaenims’ stage performances!

14.Your most recent comeback Attention Seeker was very well received by many! How did it feel to get such positive feedback for this comeback?

Nizz: Since it was a comeback after a long time, seeing the Readies so happy made me both proud and happy. I promised myself to grow even more and show my cooler side!

15.If you were to recommend one of your songs to Turkish fans, which one would it be?

Nizz: I want to recommend our new single album RRRUN because it’s very energetic and fits perfectly with the current season!

16.Have any of the members visited Turkey before? Which place in Turkey would you like to see the most?

Nizz: I haven’t had the chance to go to Turkey yet, but I want to go to every city where the Readies are!

17.Turkish cuisine?! Have you ever tried Turkish food before? If so, which Turkish dish is your favorite?

Nizz: I tried kebab! It was so delicious~ I also tried Turkish coffee, and it was really good hehe

18.And what about a concert in Turkey? Would you like to perform on stage here?

Nizz: Since I always want to meet the Readies in Turkey, if I can perform a concert, I definitely want to get on stage!

19.We have now reached the end of the interview. Thank you very much for sincerely answering the questions. Finally, what would you like to say to White Entertainment followers and your Turkish fans?

Nizz: I’m so happy to have done this interview! I really want to meet the Readies in Turkey face-to-face, perform on stage, and create wonderful memories together.

HANNAH

1.First of all, hello everyone! Could you please introduce yourselves?

Hannah: Hello, I’m Hannah, X:IN’s little fox!

2.Let’s go back to the very beginning! How did you decide to become idols? What steps did you take on your journey to becoming idols?

Hannah: Actually, I wasn’t very interested in becoming an idol at first, but I started by chance and decided I wanted to be a singer. I trained as a trainee for about 2 years to become an idol.

3.X:IN consists of multinational members. Which member’s hometown tradition do you find the most interesting?

Hannah: In Russia, I found it very interesting that women are given flowers, especially on special occasions.

4.What were your first impressions of each other when you first met? Did you expect that you would debut together?

Hannah: At first, I only saw our members’ performances on screen, but when I saw them in real life, I thought they were much cuter and more radiant.

5.If you were not idols, what would you like to be instead?

Hannah: I could have become a dancer or a business professional.

6.After your very first stage performance, how did you feel once you came down from the stage?

Hannah: My debut happened faster than I expected, so it didn’t feel real. That’s why I stayed very calm.

7.In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being an idol?

Hannah: I think the hardest part is when I work hard but don’t see results or feel like I’m not free.

8.What inspires you? Who or what is your main source of inspiration?

Hannah: I used to get inspiration mostly from art, but now I also get a lot of inspiration from movies.

9.How does your comeback preparation process usually go? Could you tell us a bit about it?

Hannah: Actually, every comeback process is not the same. Sometimes we prepare two songs at the same time, sometimes one by one. For example, we prepared Attention Seeker and RRRUN simultaneously.

10.What is a comeback concept that you would love to try in the future?

Hannah: I want to try a masculine, sexy concept.

11.If you could collaborate with another group or idol, who would it be?

Hannah: I would like to collaborate with ATEEZ sunbaenims!

12.What is your biggest dream at the moment?

Hannah: I want everyone in the world to know X:IN and I want to be an influential person.

13.Who are your role models?

Hannah: My role models are Lisa sunbaenim from BLACKPINK and DPR Ian.

14.Your most recent comeback Attention Seeker was very well received by many! How did it feel to get such positive feedback for this comeback?

Hannah: Our Readies had high expectations even before we were officially introduced. After we were announced, they loved us so much, and I am very grateful for that.

15.If you were to recommend one of your songs to Turkish fans, which one would it be?

Hannah: Our first single album is RRRUN! It’s a fun song, and I think you’ll all love it!

16.Have any of the members visited Turkey before? Which place in Turkey would you like to see the most?

Hannah: I want to visit all the cities in Turkey! Especially, I want to go to Istanbul!

17.Turkish cuisine?! Have you ever tried Turkish food before? If so, which Turkish dish is your favorite?

Hannah: If I go to Turkey, I definitely want to try kebab. Actually, I’m not sure if the kebab I had in Korea reflects the true taste of it. hehe

18.And what about a concert in Turkey? Would you like to perform on stage here?

Hannah: If I get the chance, I definitely want to perform a concert in Turkey!! I want to meet Turkish Readies, share the stage, and have fun. I’m really looking forward to it!

19.We have now reached the end of the interview. Thank you very much for sincerely answering the questions. Finally, what would you like to say to White Entertainment followers and your Turkish fans?

Hannah: Turkish Readies! I hope the day we can meet comes soon. We really want to go to Turkey too, I wish we could go right away! Until the day we meet, please stay healthy. Thank you so much

E.SHA

1.First of all, hello everyone! Could you please introduce yourselves?

Esha: Hello, I’m Esha form X:IN!

2.Let’s go back to the very beginning! How did you decide to become idols? What steps did you take on your journey to becoming idols?

Esha: Since childhood, I have naturally encountered K-Pop and dance a lot, and I was always interested. I started learning through courses, and my dream of becoming an idol developed. I began working seriously in high school, trained as a trainee at various companies, and now I debuted as X:IN.

3.X:IN consists of multinational members. Which member’s hometown tradition do you find the most interesting?

Esha: When I first encountered Bollywood films from India, I was really surprised. In my country, songs and dances are very rare in movies, but in Bollywood films, almost every movie has them. It was very interesting when I first watched one.

4.What were your first impressions of each other when you first met? Did you expect that you would debut together?

Esha: I never thought I would debut with foreign friends. Especially, I never imagined I would have members from India and Russia. My first impression was, “Wow, a real foreigner!” Although it felt a bit foreign at first, over time I felt they were like my siblings of the same age. Now I even forget they are foreigners, and then suddenly remember, “Ah yes, they were foreign!”

5.If you were not idols, what would you like to be instead?

Esha: If I hadn’t become an idol, I would have wanted to be a profiler. I’m very interested in crime and psychology, and I would definitely have tried that path if I weren’t an idol.

6.After your very first stage performance, how did you feel once you came down from the stage?

Esha: My first stage was on a music program, and it felt like I was the main character of a drama playing an idol. Seeing things on stage with my own eyes was very strange. Even after getting off stage, I was thinking whether it was real or a dream.

7.In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being an idol?

Esha: The hardest part is maintaining good condition in irregular circumstances and always needing to look good in front of cameras and on stage.

8.What inspires you? Who or what is your main source of inspiration?

Esha: I usually watch performances of other idols and foreign pop singers. I get inspiration by imitating their gestures and expressions to improve on stage.

9.How does your comeback preparation process usually go? Could you tell us a bit about it?

Esha: For a comeback, we roughly set a goal, first get the song, and while practicing it, we start recording preparations, and usually dance practices begin simultaneously. After finishing the preparations, we record, then film the MV. MV filming usually takes several days. After filming, we keep practicing dance and live performances to prepare for music programs. And then, suddenly, the comeback day arrives!

10.What is a comeback concept that you would love to try in the future?

Esha: I always say I want to try a concept like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An energetic summer song like RRRUN but with a dreamy, magical vibe.

11.If you could collaborate with another group or idol, who would it be?

Esha: If I get the chance, I definitely want to work with Hyolyn sunbaenim.

12.What is your biggest dream at the moment?

Esha: My biggest dream right now is to go on a world tour and meet all the Readies.

13.Who are your role models? Esha: My role model is Hyolyn sunbaenim.

14.Your most recent comeback Attention Seeker was very well received by many! How did it feel to get such positive feedback for this comeback?

Esha: It was a comeback I approached with both worry and expectation. I felt proud that it was liked, and at the same time I thought, “Oh.” I experienced mixed emotions.

15.If you were to recommend one of your songs to Turkish fans, which one would it be?

Esha: I want to recommend our song Creamy – X:IN to our Turkish fans because when I think of Turkey, sweets come to mind first, so I think Creamy fits perfectly.

16.Have any of the members visited Turkey before? Which place in Turkey would you like to see the most?

Esha: I haven’t been yet, but isn’t Pamukkale very famous? Even the photos look beautiful, I definitely want to visit.

17.Turkish cuisine?! Have you ever tried Turkish food before? If so, which Turkish dish is your favorite?

Esha: I learned to make kaymak through a program and tried it at a Turkish dessert shop in Korea. It was very good. At that time, I also tried künefe, which was very delicious. I really want to go to Turkey to see how the original tastes.

18.And what about a concert in Turkey? Would you like to perform on stage here?

Esha: Of course, if I get the chance, I would love to perform a concert in Turkey~

19.We have now reached the end of the interview. Thank you very much for sincerely answering the questions. Finally, what would you like to say to White Entertainment followers and your Turkish fans?

Esha: Our Turkish Readies! We know very well that you constantly support us and send love even from afar! Until we meet face to face, don’t get sick, stay healthy and love X:IN! Thank you always, and please continue to support us.

Interview: Ceyda Gökçe, Eda Gökçe

Translated: Rabia Sarı

Organized by: Rabia Sarı