GOT7 has kept their comeback promise with fans!

On May 23 KST, the seven-member group is releasing their new album 'GOT7,' coming roughly one year and three months after their previous release 'Encore' back in February 2021. To commemorate the new release, the group held a global press conference, welcoming media outlets from both Korea and overseas, including allkpop.

According to the members, they began album preparations last year and wanted to use the new album to convey a new start for the group – or, as BamBam described it, "building a new home together." The same sentiment can be seen in the name of their recent fancon 'Homecoming,' which was held on May 21 and 22 and was the first time for all seven to greet fans face-to-face since their last promotions.

"I'm glad we're able to come back as seven," Jay B said when asked how he was feeling to finally make a comeback. "Thank you so much to the members, the company, and the people who helped out in this way. It's something like a dream. Us seven members all said, 'Let's do it!', but it's a dream-like and thrilling moment that it actually came to be."

"I missed the fans, and the company worked hard. Each of us has our own team and company, and [organizing the comeback] wasn't easy," Jackson added. "I'm happy that we were fortunate enough to get together like this."

When discussing the album-making process, Jinyoung shared that the members actually met quite often, adding, "We talked about when the album would come out, and we all kept our promise and came to this agreement together."

"All seven members were active," Youngjae continued. "Thank you so much for waiting for us at the concert. I was happy to be able to excitedly play around on stage. We'd appreciate if you gave our album a lot of love."

"During the period where we were preparing this album, I thought 'Us seven need to be together' even more," BamBam added, showing his deep love for the group.

During the event, the members often referred to the promise that they made to their fans when their contracts with JYP Entertainment ended, assuring them that they would not be disbanding and instead would continue to make music together despite the challenge of balancing their solo activities.

"We wanted to keep our promise with the fans and we wanted to prove that GOT7 hadn't disbanded, so we wanted to release this album," BamBam commented when discussing the comeback. "So we each took a break from solo activities to focus on our team activities."

"Thanks to the fans, we wanted to do it even more," Mark added. "There's also the will of our team. Our happiest and most enjoyable stages were the ones where there were seven people. We didn't want to give up. We're all really close with each other, so we really wanted to do this."

"I really didn't want to lose my focus," Jay B commented before touching upon something he wrote in the liner notes of the new album. "People grow and progress, and doing individual activities is fun and ambitious enough, but I felt that I shouldn't forget where I came from. Having the name of GOT7 and being able to release albums was a time when I didn't lose my original intention, and when things changed, we returned as GOT7 and got the mindset 'This is how we started.'"

Jay B also mentioned that he felt naming the album 'GOT7' came with a big responsibility.

"We left JYP and felt we should stick together, and we all agreed with the idea that a main focus point was necessary. We have to build up the GOT7 brand ourselves. We were proud of ourselves, and we had the mindset to make our team even stronger so that we would not be ashamed [moving forward]," he commented.

"The new album's concept is house-building. It has the meaning of a new start, like having built a new home. Let's live happily in this house," BamBam continued. "We will continue to return in the future, so I hope you can see this as a new beginning for us."

The new album's title track "NANANA," which was composed and written by Jay B, mirrors the group's trademark bright yet chill signature style.

"I worked on a lot of songs. 'NANANA' is a song for the fans. It contains the hope that we can be people who make our fans happy. I hope our performance and our songs can be healing during difficult and tiring daily life,” Jay B explained. "GOT7's 'GOT7' can be an album for us, but it's actually a gift for the fans who also bear our name."

'The fans' is a major theme in the album, and during the conference, the members often talked about their special affection for them. They empathized with the fans, knowing that from their perspective, waiting for their return must make them anxious. However, the group was also quick to assure the press that they are not leaving any time soon and are more than happy to return again at any moment.

"I was anxious and excited while working on the album. Meeting after such a long time and working together again had me feeling like I was back in my early 20s," Jinyoung commented. "Seven years is just the foundation. I think we should go further."

BamBam added, "We are who we are today because of the past seven years. We'll be making music as GOT7 in the future as well. We can't say exactly when, but we hope that you look forward to it."

"These seven years were like a photo album. They were built up step-by-step and were a precious time. It can't always be good. There are sad times and pitiful times too, but it is a time to learn from them. I feel like it's time to grow up once more. I think we have to work hard to keep up with the changes," Jay B continued.

Toward the end of the event, Jay B shared his thoughts about the future of GOT7, something he had been thinking a lot about after the successful 'Homecoming' fancon event.

"We won't be able to be active as before, but I want us to be able to appear as a group often, and I also want to focus on individual activities so I can show various sides of myself," Jay B commented. "In the future, I also think I would like GOT7 to make a celebration-like festival for the fans, maybe every two or three years."

Meanwhile, GOT7 will be releasing their new album on May 23 at 6 PM KST.

Photo Credits: Warner Music Korea