The six-piece girl group signed to FC ENM, ILY:1, recently made their first comeback, delivering new sounds that will please your ears. Despite having only two single albums and having only recently debuted in the K-Pop scene, the sextet has already demonstrated the potential that will help them continue to carve an illustrious path ahead of them.

Ara, Hana, Ririka, and Rona's names may be familiar to you as they appeared on Mnet's survival program 'Girls Planet 999' as they were former contestants, while Elva and Nayu were revealed as the group's two new faces. Their name is a combination of the word "I" and the suffix "-ly," with the "1" representing the joining of each member's distinct charm. Furthermore, "ILY" is an acronym for "I Love You," which represents the group's love for their fans.

With their latest release, 'Que Sera Sera,' the girls are ready to show you the confident side of them that can be seen in their fairytale-like and refreshing music video. Debuted on April 4, 2022, with the single album 'Love In Bloom,' which talks about their blossoming love that began with "AZALEA," ILY:1 continues to tell the message they want to deliver. The album's title translates to "whatever will be, will be" in Spanish, and it explores the established concept of love while also developing the emotion of love.

"Que Sera Sera" is an upbeat dance song with dreamy and energetic undertones in which all of the members demonstrate their dreamy and angelic vocal prowess. The music video screams summer, and the visuals that the girls display shows that ILY:1 is back and stronger than ever.

ILY:1 members spoke with allkpop to discuss their newest album, experiences on past reality shows, dream collaborations, and more. Keep reading to know more about the rising group!

allkpop: Congratulations on your first comeback! It's only been three months since your debut, and now you're back with a new album! How did you find your first few months as an idol? 

Hana: Since I'm still a rookie, I have a lot to learn, so I find new things every day. And thanks to the warm support of our fans, we're happily promoting. During our first comeback, our schedule was postponed due to COVID-19, but the six of us worked hard to prepare for this album.

allkpop: Could you please tell us about the creative process behind the album? Did you encounter any difficulties? If so, how did you overcome them?

Rona: We actually didn't have much time to prepare this time. But we worked and practiced really hard with good teamwork. The most challenging part of "Que Sera Sera" is the chorus part. The chorus is a little bit higher than I thought. And it's very difficult to sing live while dancing simultaneously, so we had to practice live performance a lot recently.

allkpop: The album's name 'Que Sera Sera' is in Spanish, and it means "whatever will be, will be." Can you tell us more about it? Does it relate to your debut album 'Love In Bloom,' or does it have a separate story?

Elva: Our second album, 'Que Sera Sera,' is a very summery album. It's a continuation of our debut album 'Love In Bloom.' This time we're telling you that our love for the fans has grown bigger and bigger than before. We hope that when people listen to the song, they will feel energetic and romantic love through the rhythm and lyrics. We hope people can enjoy our song this time.

allkpop: Are there any memorable behind-the-scenes stories from the recording of the tracks and filming of the music video?

Ririka: The day we filmed the music video was the summer solstice, so it was very hot! And everyone got sunburned! (everyone laughs) Personally, the most impressive thing was that I filmed with a puppy! The puppy was so fluffy and cute, so I forgot about the heat, and I had fun filming! I hope you love our music video for “Que Sera Sera.”

allkpop: Your debut song, "Love In Bloom," is a cute, refreshing, and lively song! Do you think your upcoming comeback has revealed an entirely new side of ILY:1? Are we going to see any new sides of you?

Ara: First of all, we changed our hair color! Is it pretty? ILY:1’s hair color has gotten fancy! What do you think? Do I look good? If we were innocent and pretty during our first album 'Love In Bloom,' I think we'll be able to show you a cute and confident side in 'Que Sera Sera.'

allkpop: What music genre or style do you want to try for the group's future releases?

Hana: Personally, I want to try some rock music like (G)I-DLE's "TOMBOY." I really love the song and the concept.

allkpop: Hana, Ara, Rona, and Ririka all appeared on Mnet's reality show 'Girls Planet 999.' Can any of you tell us about your experiences on the show? What did you take away from it that you were able to apply when you made your debut in ILY:1? For Elva and Nayu, what pushed you to take on the challenge of being a K-Pop idol? Who are your sources of inspiration?

Ririka: I had a lot of opportunities to perform on stage, so I was able to find the camera quickly.

And it was a very valuable experience to meet many friends who had the same dream and to practice hard together!

Elva: For me, the first K-Pop song I listened to was a Girls’ Generation song. I mean... They're everyone's idols. And I started dreaming of becoming a K-Pop singer after watching BLACKPINK's performances on stage. They are really cool, and they look stunning on the stage. They really inspire me, and I hope one day I can look as stunning as they are on stage.

Nayu: Since I was young, I really liked singing songs, and I feel confident when I go on stage, so I naturally dream of becoming an idol. 

Nayu: TWICE!

allkpop: How did the feedback you received from your reality series 'ILY:0' help you develop your skills? How do you work toward a goal, especially when it comes to becoming a better idol?

Rona: We followed the feedback that we received and corrected our weak points. While preparing for the missions, we also learned to practice more efficiently. We will work harder and become perfect but humble idols!

allkpop: Some of you already knew each other before debuting in ILY:1. Did you recall your initial reactions and impressions of each other? What were your initial reactions and impressions of each other?

Rona: When I first saw Elva, she looked very chic, quiet and smart, but now she's more talkative than I thought, and she's really cute!

Elva: My first impression of Nayu was that she was very nice and kept smiling. But now, I think she's a reliable leader who takes care of the people around her.

Ara: My first impression of Ririka was that she was a pretty raccoon with a pretty smile. Now, she's a Korean raccoon who speaks well!

allkpop: What new things have you tried recently? Do you have any other interests besides music?

Ara: Recently, I filmed a lot of videos on TikTok. And I enjoy having a meal and talking with the members.

allkpop: Are there any artists you would like to collaborate with?

Nayu: We want to collaborate with Oh My Girl and Ariana Grande!

allkpop: What is next for ILY:1? Do you have any more plans for this year?

Elva: For now, our plan for this year is to come back as soon as possible and as many times as possible. We would also like to meet our fans more often. Every time we come back, we will show you the different sides of ILY:1 and share all the good music and lovely performances with everyone.

allkpop: Do you have any music-related or personal goals you would like to achieve this year?

Nayu: We want to let the world know that everyone knows more about our group ILY:1, and we'll keep showing you various songs which fit our color.

allkpop: Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and your fans?

Elva: Thank you for inviting us for the interview, and I hope you can look forward to our second single album, ‘Que Sera Sera.’ We are trying hard to come back as soon as possible. This has been ILY:1! Bye! Thank you!