On October 15th, ITZY held a press conference at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul, to announce the release of their new mini-album, 'GOLD.'
This comeback marks ITZY’s first in approximately nine months since their mini-album 'BORN TO BE' was released in January. In the interim, ITZY successfully completed their second world tour, 'ITZY 2ND WORLD TOUR BORN TO BE,' which spanned 32 shows across 28 locations worldwide.
The title of ITZY's new album reflects their ongoing message of uniqueness, with the theme “Our World is still different.” The members expressed excitement about their new release, emphasizing their desire to show their distinct colors and artistry.
Notably, Lia, who had taken a break from activities due to health reasons, has returned, making this comeback a reunion of all five members. During the event, Yeji shared, “We’re thrilled to greet everyone again as a full group of five. We’ve worked hard on this album, so we’re both excited and nervous.” Lia added, “I’m grateful to the fans, the members, and everyone who waited and believed in me. I worked hard to return in a better form and am looking forward to sharing that with everyone.”
The album 'GOLD' features the involvement of top K-pop producers, including Ryan Jhun and Dem Jointz, along with lyricists Jo Yoon Kyung and Bang Hye Hyun. The sixth track, 'VAY (Feat. Changbin of Stray Kids),' was co-produced and features Stray Kids' Changbin.
ITZY also shared their thoughts on the album’s message, with Yuna reflecting on their debut song 'DALLA DALLA' and saying, “We still want to tell everyone that we’re genuinely different, just like from the beginning.” Yeji emphasized, “We’ve always talked about self-confidence, and this album aims to show that we’re still the same but in a new and fresh way.”
For the first time since their debut, ITZY is promoting two title tracks. The main title track 'GOLD' features a bold mix of rock, hip-hop, and electronic elements, while the second title track, 'Imaginary Friend,' offers a softer pop-dance sound with thoughtful lyrics. Chaeryeong shared, “We put a lot of thought into showing different sides through these two songs, which is reflected in the performances as well.”
'GOLD' will be available on various music streaming platforms starting at 6 PM KST today.
SEE ALSO: ITZY brings 'Imaginary Friend' to life in haunting new title song MV