K-pop girl group, EVERGLOW officially entered a new era with the release of their fourth EP, CODE, alongside its powerful title track of the same name.
CODE marks the beginning of a new chapter for the group, presenting a clearer picture of EVERGLOW’s evolving identity and future direction. The album gradually intensifies in both energy and message, further cementing the group’s signature powerful style. The title track, “CODE,” encapsulates that evolution, giving a video-game, electric sound feel while looking absolutely fierce while EVERGLOW into their next phase.
Known for their commanding stage presence, dark, energetic sound, and fierce performances, the group of four has built a distinctive place within K-pop over the last seven years. Through lineup changes, shifting eras, and an ever-growing global fanbase, the group has continuously refined their identity while staying connected to their fandom, FOREVER.
Ahead of the release, The Knockturnal attended EVERGLOW’s [RE:CODE] world tour stop in Los Angeles at the iconic The Novo, where FOREVER filled the venue with deafening energy from classics like “Bon Bon Chocolate” to newer tracks from CODE. Fan-favorite moments ranged from explosive performances to unexpected standouts, including ONDA highlighting “SLAY” as one of the tour’s surprise favorites among fans.
Despite entering a new era, the members say their core passion remains unchanged. E:U shared, “The members’ hearts and passion haven’t changed since our debut, and our desire to explore new territory comes from wanting to grow even more and challenge ourselves with a variety of genres. We hope you’ll continue to support and show love for EVERGLOW as we take on new challenges moving forward.”
For EVERGLOW, CODE is more than an album title, it represents growth, reinvention, and connection. Sihyeon explained that the EP unfolds through four themes: “Break” (Awakening), “Focus,” “Code” (Decode), and “Connect.” Expanding on the message behind the project, Aisha shared that the group hopes listeners feel empowered to move beyond limitations: “We want to break out of existing frames and move forward in a new direction, rather than staying trapped within them.”
The members also approached the project with a heightened sense of responsibility, balancing excitement with intention throughout the production process. One standout favorite among the group is “Can’t Be Broken,” a softer yet deeply powerful track emphasizing growth, trust, and resilience, a song the members describe as feeling like a heartfelt letter to FOREVER.
Read the full interview below as EVERGLOW opens up about favorite tour moments, entering a new chapter, reaching their seventh anniversary, and the personal and group goals shaping what comes next. As Sihyeon puts it: “When people think of EVERGLOW, ‘powerful’ or ‘intense’ are often the first words that come to mind. But we’re a group capable of showing many different sides, and I want to show everyone a new kind of charm.”
Just a few months ago, EVERGLOW returned as a four-member group. This era doesn’t feel like a complete restart, but rather an opportunity for the four of you to highlight both your established sound from the past seven years and explore something new. For those who describe this as a “reinvented” version of EVERGLOW, how would you respond? Do you see this as a rebrand, or more of a new chapter that builds on both your past and current music?
E:U: I believe the EVERGLOW from seven years ago and the EVERGLOW of today are still the same EVERGLOW. The members’ hearts and passion haven’t changed since our debut, and our desire to explore new territory comes from wanting to grow even more and challenge ourselves with a variety of genres. We hope you’ll continue to support and show love for EVERGLOW as we take on new challenges moving forward.
SIHYEON: I think the current EVERGLOW is both a new chapter that connects our past and present, and the starting point of a rebranding that allows us to show a new side of ourselves under the name EVERGLOW. Since our fans have waited for us for such a long time, we truly want to repay that patience with the best version of ourselves. We hope you’ll continue to look forward to the new sides and future that EVERGLOW will create moving forward.
I recently attended your show at The Novo in Los Angeles, where Onda mentioned that this city really stands out for live music. How has the experience of touring for [RE:CODE] been so far, especially with more dates in Europe and Latin America coming up? What was the preparation process like, and what goals did you have for this tour?
ONDA: Although there were some performances that left us with a few regrets, I think what made us happiest was being able to communicate with so many FOREVERs and connect through music. Since the preparation process overlapped with our comeback promotions, we were very worried at first, but thanks to FOREVERs’ passionate support and energy, we were able to truly enjoy ourselves on stage. Based on the experiences we gained from this tour, I think our biggest goal moving forward is to create even better music and introduce EVERGLOW’s music to even more people.
AISHA: While preparing for this tour, I really felt so much gratitude toward the fans who had been waiting for us for such a long time. Because of that, even the preparation process itself felt exciting and meaningful to me. If I had one goal, it would be to put on performances and stages so good that everyone who came to see us would feel that they had no regrets.
Now that we’ve talked a bit about the tour’s goals, what kind of response have you received from the [RE:CODE] performances so far? Were there any reactions to specific moments or songs that surprised you, or matched what you were hoping for?
E:U: Since it had been a long time since our comeback and we were finally meeting our international fans again, I was actually quite worried. But seeing all the fans at the venue show such incredible energy and passion made me feel so grateful, and I was honestly really surprised as well. Personally, I felt that many FOREVERs truly love ‘LA DI DA.’ Especially when everyone sang along together to the line ‘EVERGLOW FOREVER LET’S GO,’ I felt so thankful and happy that it’s hard to put into words.
ONDA: This might just be my personal opinion, but I honestly didn’t expect fans to love “SLAY” this passionately. Seeing everyone know the song so well and enjoy it together, to the point of singing and dancing along from start to finish, made me love performing “SLAY” on stage even more.
I’d love to dive deeper into CODE, which really defines this new chapter and highlights your identity moving forward. The title track features a visually hypnotic music video and an intense, almost video game, inspired sound. What influenced the decision behind the name CODE and the direction of the title track’s sound for this era? Was there a member who felt especially excited about this concept and comeback?
SIHYEON: That’s right. The concept for this title track’s music video was expressed with a feeling as if [we] have entered a virtual world inside a game. Within that worldview, I think it was good to be able to show our further matured side and a dreamy atmosphere.
Also, I think the album title ‘CODE’ can be explained through the four included tracks. This album contains the meanings of ‘Break’ (Awakening), ‘Focus’, ‘Code’ (Decode), and ‘Connect’ as important points. Among them, I think ‘CODE,’ which contains the meaning of trying to well unfold our new image and story, inevitably had to become the title track.
AISHA: There is so much that I feel while listening to ‘CODE.’ Among those things, the message we want to convey through this song is to break out of existing frames and move forward in a new direction, rather than staying trapped within them. I think those who listen to the song will probably be able to feel that energy immediately.
Also, all the members made an effort to convey many things with a sense of responsibility during the production process. At the same time, I remember everyone being excited while preparing for the new song.
Speaking of CODE, the title track isn’t the only standout, every song on the EP shines. I’d especially like to highlight “Can’t Be Broken,” which emphasizes growth, trust, and resilience. I understand you were involved in writing this track, could you share more about its meaning and the process behind crafting the lyrics?
E:U: First of all, this is a song we worked on with the sincere heart of wanting to give it as a gift to our fans. From the moment I first received the song and began writing the lyrics, I wanted to pour into them the feelings I’ve wished to convey to the fans who have waited for us for so long. It carries a message of never losing our light, no matter when or where, and moving forward together. We also captured our deep gratitude in this song for the fans who always love and wait for EVERGLOW.
ONDA : Just like the title suggests, this song carries the meaning that the strong bond between FOREVER and us can never be broken. In my case, I really wanted to include the words I desperately wished to say to our fans, so I even wrote nearly four different versions of the lyrics. Although not all of them were used, I vividly remember being so happy that the keywords and phrases I had envisioned actually made it into the final lyrics.
I’m sure it wasn’t just me, all the members felt the same way. I believe this song is like a letter written by all of us while thinking of FOREVER.
Do each of you have a favorite track on CODE? What makes those songs stand out to you? And if you had to choose one track for fans to really “FOCUS” on, which would it be and why?
SIHYEON: ‘Can’t Be Broken’ is the track I cherish the most in this album. The lyrics written for our fans feel truly precious, and since the atmosphere of the song is so upbeat, it’s a great one to enjoy together on stage. Also, if there is just one single track I hope fans would listen to with extra focus, I think it would have to be ‘Can’t Be Broken.’
AISHA: I think it is ‘Can’t Be Broken.’ I wanted to convey my grateful heart to FOREVER, who believed in us in any situation, and I really wanted to make a song that could become a strength to many people and also to myself as we live life. So I am truly happy that this song was born, and I hope many people can well navigate their own situations and believe in themselves more while listening to this song.
Your official anniversary was March 18th, marking seven years since your debut. Looking back from then to now, what has changed the most? What feels new in this era, and what lessons have you “cracked the code” on as you step into this new chapter with a new tour and a new year?
E:U: First of all, as much time has passed, I think I’ve definitely become able to approach the stage with a heart of enjoying it more rather than being nervous, compared to before. Of course, even now, I still feel excited and also worried when releasing a new song and waiting for the reaction to it, but I think the fact itself that I can be together with fans through a new song is a truly happy thing.
Also, these days, I am feeling more and more how grateful of a thing it is that there are fans who have been together with us for a long time. So, I have made a resolution that I should continue to deliver happy energy to our FOREVER in the future as well.
SIHYEON: Comparing the time of debut and now, I think the point that has changed the most is personally that I have gained more confidence and ease on stage. I feel that I have improved a lot myself in that I have become able to enjoy and play on stage more freely than before. Also, as we welcome a new tour and a new year, I think the members and I have gained the lesson to ‘enjoy the moment of performing on stage to our heart’s content without any regrets.
ONDA: Personally, comparing to the time of debut, I think I have become able to control and care for myself. I have come to know better in what way my body and mind need recovery, and at what kind of condition I need recharging, and I think I have become able to produce better performances and results through such a process.
Also, the bond between the members has deepened so much that if it was 100% before, I feel it is 1000% now, so we are becoming a great strength to each other.
The biggest lesson I think is that all four of us still want to continue this team, EVERGLOW, and want to keep communicating with the fans. Actually, continuing a team is not something that can be done with only one person’s will. The fact that we know we have the same heart and are drawing the future together remains a truly meaningful lesson to me.
AISHA: I think I have become a bit more solid and have gained more ease compared to before. If I was busy just looking at what was right in front of me at the beginning of debut, now my heart to want to look further and see the future has grown. While touring, I especially felt so much gratitude for the existence of FOREVER, and I felt that they are the reason I can move forward and grow. That is why I really want to make the future even better.
Thank you EVERGLOW! Lastly, what are your goals for 2026, both as a group and individually? And do you have a message you’d like to share with your FOREVER fans as you continue this new chapter?
E:U : I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to FOREVER for staying with us for such a long time. I hope we can continue to share happiness through great songs moving forward. EVERGLOW will always be a team that never gives up and keeps running until the very end. FOREVER, I love you.
SIHYEON : I hope we can meet even more fans, and that our music can bring peace and healing to many people around the world. FOREVER, thank you so much for always being with us, and I love you. Let’s keep having fun and being happy together going forward.
ONDA : As a group, I hope many people listen to our music, get inspired by it, and love it—to the point where just by hearing the first three seconds, people can say, ‘Oh, this is definitely an EVERGLOW song!’
Personally, my goal is to become a better version of myself, growing both internally and externally compared to last year. I want to learn something new every day so that I won’t have any regrets by this time next year, and I want to improve enough to be a source of motivation for everyone. I also want to try many new experiences that I haven’t had the chance to do before.
Lastly, to our FOREVER. Thank you so much for always being there for us, supporting us in whatever we do, and sending us so much energy with your love. We will do our absolute best to become an even prouder and more amazing group to repay that love.
I love you more than words can express!
AISHA : Personally, I’d love to try a solo performance at a concert—a new challenge for me—or explore the kind of music I personally enjoy. I’d also like to do some modeling and show that I have this side to me as well.
As a group, I want us to take on various music genres that we haven’t tried before. When people think of EVERGLOW, “powerful” or “intense” are often the first words that come to mind. However, since we are a group capable of showing many different sides, I really want to show everyone a new kind of charm.
