STAYC Bring I WANT IT to Life on Their “Stay Tuned” Tour, Louder, Brighter, and Stronger Than Ever | [EXCLUSIVE]

Light, fun, and full of their signature sparkle, STAYC continues to share their global energy on the [Stay Tuned] Tour, which has made its way across North America following the release of their fresh and upbeat single album, I WANT IT.

As the six-member group, comprised of members SUMIN, SIEUN, ISA, SEEUN, J, and YOON, are approaching their fifth anniversary and showing no signs of slowing down.

Returning to the U.S. for their latest tour, STAYC is bringing high-energy performances and their unmistakable charm to fans across the country.

After attending the show, colorful, bright, and a full reflection of everything STAYC stands for, I can confidently say it was one of the most energetic K-pop concerts I’ve experienced in a long time. The following day, we sat down with the members to talk about their tour, growth, and what’s next for the group.

“It feels different this time,” said SUMIN. “When we’re on stage, we can feel that during this tour we have more fans and the cheering is louder!” Having been at their previous U.S. show, I can definitely attest to that; the excitement has only grown.

Whether it’s thanks to their catchy releases like “BEBE,” “GPT,” or their latest single album, I WANT IT, or through collaborations such as their appearance on KPOPPED! performing with icons like Boy George and TLC, STAYC continues to expand their reach. 

“Collaborating with artists like TLC was a great honor,” said Isa. “I’ve always loved R&B music and used to listen to their songs as a trainee to practice. It was such a meaningful experience.”

All of these moments reflect just how far STAYC has come, and why their global resonance keeps growing stronger.

Check out I WANT IT below for a glimpse into what STAYC has in store both visually and sonically.

As they wrap up the North American leg of their tour this October (find ticket info below), we chatted about their packed schedule, their “wants” for the rest of the year, and everything in between. Let’s dive in, ASAP! (Pun intended.)

(Conversation edited for clarity. Member SEEUN was present and enthusiastic during the interview, but didn’t have time to answer questions due to time constraints.)

As the six members sat together in sleek black outfits with silver gems and jewelry, it hit me how far they’ve come. Having followed them since their debut and seen every LA performance, getting to interview them in person felt completely surreal!

The Knockturnal: Welcome to Los Angeles! I’m Emma Salehi from The Knockturnal. I’ve actually seen you guys every single time you’ve been in LA I went to both KCONs, saw you on your last tour, and I also got to see you at the [Stay Tuned] Tour last night. My voice was completely gone by the end because you brought so much energy!

STAYC: Thank you!

The Knockturnal: You’ve already completed a few stops on your North American tour with many more ahead. What are you most excited to perform for your fans overseas? I know you’ve got your duo, trio, and solo songs. I’d love to hear which ones you’re most looking forward to.

SIEUN: I think our new songs, such as “BEBE” or “I WANT IT,” and also our unit and solo stages, we performed them for the first time in North America, so we were really excited for those stages!

The Knockturnal: You also just came off your comeback as well as your Asia and Oceania stops, a very packed schedule! How do you prepare mentally and physically for such a tight tour, while still bringing so much energy every night?

SUMIN: During the concerts, we have to perform, dance, and sing for a long time; it takes a lot of stamina physically. So it’s really important for us to rest, work out, and take supplements. I do everything I can to maintain stamina.

The Knockturnal: Now that you’re touring abroad, how do you plan to spend your time here? You’re visiting so many amazing cities, including performing at the Theater at Madison Square Garden! What is STAYC most looking forward to?

YOON: Whenever we’re on tour, what I’m most excited about is hearing the fans cheer. During the opening songs, the crowd is so loud and amazing, it’s such a fulfilling feeling for us. That energy makes me feel so recharged that I don’t feel tired. I’m tired during the show… though I feel it right after! But the cheers in the moment make me forget that I was even tired.

The Knockturnal: Now, let’s talk about I WANT IT, your most recent comeback. It was perfectly timed for summer, but it’s definitely a song for all seasons.  It has such a message of self-confidence and empowerment that really shines through. Why was it important to release a track like I WANT IT before going on tour?

SIEUN: The most important thing for us is to deliver positive energy to our audience and inspire them. We really wanted to tell them: “Don’t lose your identity, be true to yourself.” Life has no clear answers. Since our debut, we’ve always wanted to share positive influence and energy. That’s why we released I WANT IT.

The Knockturnal: That’s amazing. My next question is for Sieun as well, about your contribution to the lyrics on “반칙(Honestly).”  What inspired you to write that song? It’s such an emotional one. What did it mean to be part of it?

SIEUN: Actually, it was during the filming of our “GPT” music video. My producer came to me and said, “Why don’t you try writing lyrics?” and gave me a new demo. When I first listened to it, it was so mesmerizing. The melody was so romantic and jazzy, it made me imagine spending a night out with someone I had feelings for.

At first, I wrote about falling into first love, but when I sent my lyrics to our producer Rado, he asked for edits.

I kept refining them and resending them to him, and the theme gradually changed into the meaning of “let’s stop playing love games anymore” and “ no more tricks, let’s be honest.” That’s how “반칙(Honestly)” came together.

The Knockturnal: That’s lovely, thank you for sharing. It’s an amazing song; it’s on repeat for me!

The Knockturnal: Now, I want to talk about STAYC’s global resonance. You recently participated in KPOPPED and collaborated with artists like TLC and Boy George. Did that experience influence you as artists, and what did you learn reaching such a global audience before the tour?

ISA: Having these collaborations was an experience we had dreamt of. Collaborating with artists like TLC was a great honor. I’ve always loved R&B music and used to listen to their songs as a trainee to practice, so it was unbelievable to meet and work with them. It’s an experience I’ll remember and cherish for a long time.

The Knockturnal: That’s incredible. And your 5th anniversary is coming up in just over a month. Congratulations! You’ve grown so much since your debut. Reflecting on these five years, what have you learned as a group?

YOON: We’ve learned countless lessons. Since we debuted at such a young age, we didn’t know much about the world of K-pop, so we relied on each other a lot. We had to learn how to live as a team and a community, and as a group. Learning how to get energy for a single stage as a team. This applies to how to grow both musically and personally. What I learned most is how to love within this community of six girls.

SUMIN: Before debut, I only saw the glamorous side of this job, but after starting working in K-pop, I realized how many staff members work behind the scenes for just a single stage and experience. Without their help, none of this would be possible to have what we have!

The Knockturnal: Okay, my last question’s a fun one, based on I WANT IT. What’s something STAYC “wants” for the rest of the year and beyond your five-year mark

J: I want to make more amazing memories with our fans, and to be honest, right now, what I can think of is going on vacation. 

The Knockturnal: (Laughs) Well deserved!

SIEUN: I want our fans to feel positive energy through our music, and I hope all their wishes come true.

SUMIN: I want us to have even more fans! During this tour, we’ve really felt the energy; the energy is palpable. When we’re on stage, we can feel that during this tour we have more fans and the cheering is louder! Some fans come up to us and say, “Your music made me happy and gave me strength.” It’s incredible how music has this ability to connect us, and I want to continue giving hope through our music.

As SUMIN said, the energy around STAYC is truly palpable. You can catch the group on their [Stay Tuned] Tour, details below, or stream their latest music to experience it yourself. It’s absolutely worth the listen; you’ll find yourself energized, smiling, and wanting more.

Photo Credit: High Up Entertainment

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