In August 2023, EVERGLOW dropped an album, 'ALL MY GIRLS,' to cut off the two years of wait. Less than a year later, the girls were back with yet another single album, now with the desire of wanting to "show a mature side" of their artistry. This new facet shown by E:U, SIHYEON, MIA, ONDA, AISHA, and YIREN, is evident through the songs' message and lyrics, in addition to a new creative approach seen in their latest music video.

'ZOMBIE' is EVERGLOW's fifth single album, boasting three tracks "ZOMBIE," the focus song, "Colourz" and "BACK 2 LUV." "'ZOMBIE' has a completely different vibe from our previous title tracks," YIREN told allkpop. It's a bold song about love, hate, and pain, encouraging the listeners to embrace their true selves and find a way to bloom amidst the chaos. "I'm a zombie, breaking down but still in bloom," they sing in the song's chorus.

Organized by MyMusicTaste, the sextet is set to embark on their 'Pulse & Heart' tour in the U.S. and Latin America from September to October, and fans can expect the girls' performances of their latest album, in addition to a "different setlist arrangement" and "unit stages" according to the members. We sat down with EVERGLOW to talk about 'ZOMBIE' and tour.

Check out the full video interview here:

allkpop: It’s nice to be able to interview you again following our interview last year. You released a single album, ‘ZOMBIE,’ last June, and it took you much quicker than the nearly 2-year hiatus. How do you feel about returning with that album, and how long did it take you to prepare for ‘ZOMBIE’?

E:U: During the almost two-year break, it was really tough, so I was super happy when preparing for this comeback, knowing we could meet our FOREVER again sooner than expected.

MIA: I felt really happy and grateful to be able to come back quickly and meet our fans again. Because of the intense concept, I was a bit worried about whether fans would like it or maybe even find it scary... But they ended up loving it, so I’m really thankful for that. Preparing for the comeback went smoothly because we spent more time thinking about how to fully embrace this song and concept than actually preparing for the release.

allkpop: What did you think of the three tracks “ZOMBIE,” “Colourz,” “BACK 2 LUV” when you first heard them? Why do you think these three are the perfect fit to be together in one single album?

ONDA: All three tracks have different vibes, so I was really happy to show that we could present a variety of styles and genres. That’s why we decided to include them all in one album!

YIREN: "ZOMBIE" has a completely different vibe from our previous title tracks, so I was really excited when we decided to go with it. The other two tracks also felt perfect for summer.

allkpop: ‘ALL MY GIRLS’ is about you encouraging all the girls out there to be confident and true to themselves. For this album, what message are you trying to emphasize? What do you want to convey with ‘ZOMBIE’?

SIHYEON: I wanted to convey the message that even if you’ve been hurt by love, you should stay true to yourself and continue on your own path.

AISHA: For this album, we wanted to show a more mature side of ourselves compared to our previous albums. 'ZOMBIE' is about being hurt by love but still boldly moving forward.

allkpop: One fun question since the title is “zombie”: Which member do you think will be the last to survive a zombie apocalypse?

SIHYEON: I think ONDA would survive the longest. She’d probably avoid the zombies and survive by navigating like she’s in the Room Escape Game.

ONDA: I think E:U would survive the longest! She’s got great reflexes and can quickly assess situations, so she’d figure out how to survive and make it to the end.

allkpop: You’re set to embark on a tour in the U.S. and Latin America next month. What’s something your fans should expect from your shows?

MIA: I think fans should look forward to the new stages. Since this is our first tour after the comeback with 'ZOMBIE,' there will be stages that FOREVER haven’t seen in person yet, so I hope they will be excited about them.

YIREN: We’ve arranged the setlist a little differently this time, so we’ll be performing some stages that we haven’t shown before. There are also unit stages, so I think fans will really enjoy that!

allkpop: Some idols get tired and fed off listening to and performing the same songs over and over again, so I was wondering what your approach to that is. How do you make sure that every performance feels fresh and new for you even though you already performed that song a lot of times?

E:U: I don’t really get tired or bored of hearing the same songs over and over again. Maybe it’s because EVERGLOW’s songs are just that fun! (chuckles) I also try to give a different vibe to each performance by changing up our stage outfits and expressions. I want our fans to always enjoy watching EVERGLOW’s performances.

AISHA: Even though we listen to our songs a lot, I always think about FOREVER who comes to our concerts and sees us for the first time. That makes me want to show my best every time. I also believe that even if FOREVER has seen our performances many times, they’ll enjoy it as if it’s their first time. Our love for FOREVER keeps us motivated, so I don’t really worry about getting tired.

allkpop: What are your pre-show routines individually and as a group?

SIHYEON: I like to spray propolis on my throat to prevent soreness and help me sing better. I also drink a lot of water and do some joint exercises to avoid injuries.

MIA: Since I get really nervous before performances, the members always cheer me on, hold my hand, or give me a big hug when they see me being nervous. It really helps me be relaxed, and I’m really grateful to them for that.

allkpop: You celebrated your 5th anniversary earlier this year, congratulations on that milestone! Looking back, what’s one or two moments that stuck with you the most? And what else do you want to experience, goals you want to achieve, or memories you want to create with your fellow members and fans?

E:U: The moments that stand out the most to me are when I receive heartfelt letters from FOREVER. It’s so touching to feel their sincerity, and it really moves me. Moving forward, I want to create more fun and joyful memories with our fans. I also want to share special experiences and memories with the members, such as going on a trip together.

ONDA: Our debut showcase and when we first got the name FOREVER are the most memorable moments for me! Those were such precious moments that I can’t forget. I want to make even more meaningful and fun memories with our fans moving forward and create lots of happy moments with the members, like going on trips together!

Socials:

Twitter: @everglow_twt 
Instagram: @official_everglow / @everglow_everday
TikTok: @everglowofficial
YouTube: EVERGLOW

Special thanks to MyMusicTaste!