(Yonhap)

As if to cool down listeners from the summer heat, ITZY returned with its new single “Icy,” a fiery and energetic song that fronts the act’s first EP “It’z Icy.”

Continuing the legacy of the band’s successful debut single “Dalla Dalla,” a rambunctious hip-hop track released in February, the bombastic “Icy” is themed around the topic of “confidence.” Powered by sing-song swagger and cheerful chants, the bandmates self-assuredly sing about how they trust in themselves with lines such as “I don’t want to be put in your box” and “I am the one who knows the answer.”

“’Icy’ is an extension of ‘Dalla Dalla.’ Those two share similar meanings, but ‘Icy’ sounds more seasonal and festive,” said Lia during the act’s showcase for “It’z Icy” in Seoul on Monday.




The group also shared the excitement of having worked with JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young, who composed and wrote a song for the band for the first time.

“It’s been our great honor to have worked with Park so early in our career, as it was something we’ve always longed for. He divided our parts in the song by himself,” said band leader Yeji.

Chaeryeong chimed in to add, “Park was always smiling when he coached us. He advised us to sing the song with our natural confidence and rhythm. We’d like to express our cool energy with it.” The ITZY bandmate, whose sister Chaeyeon is part of project girl group IZ*ONE, also commented on having a K-pop star sibling, saying, “I’m glad and feel proud to see her actively working. We are family and K-pop co-workers who support each other, rather than rivals. I’d like to tell her to keep up her confidence.”




As newcomers on the scene and the first girl group coming out of JYP since Twice debuted in 2015, the five-piece act made a big splash with debut single “Dalla Dalla,” which received over 14 million views within 24 hours of its release on YouTube. The record made ITZY the first-ever K-pop act to surpass the 10 million view mark within 24 hours on YouTube. The music video for “Icy,” out Sunday, garnered over 5 million views on YouTube in just 10 hours upon its release.

And the promising girl group expressed the hope to keep the winning streak going.

“‘Dalla Dalla’ gave us many names that tag along us, and with ‘Icy,’ we’d like people to think, ‘Itzy means summer and summer means Itzy,’” said Yuna, while Ryujin added, “We tried to enjoy working on the new album rather than feeling burdened by the huge success of ‘Dalla Dalla.’”

The five-track album also features “Cherry,” “It’z Summer,” “Want It?” and a remixed version of “Dalla Dalla.”

By Hong Dam-young (lotus@heraldcorp.com)