ifeye The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover
By Hasan Beyaz
Photographer: DOO YOONJONG // Styling: SEO RIRA // Makeup: BAEK SONG YI, SUNG A YOUNG, LEE SU BIN // Hair: CHO CHUN IL, KIM YU MI, PARK SOO HYUN, CHOI HA NEUL // Video: TEAM EGO
With two EPs, a cult following, and a KCON LA set that turned heads, the six-member group ifeye spent 2025 building something real
ERLU BLUE introduced their range. "Bubble Up" was sleek and sophisticated; "NERDY" leaned into charm; "IRL" pulled somewhere else entirely, ethereal where the others were bright. It was a debut that didn’t settle on a single register – and for a new group announcing themselves to the world, that kind of confidence in their own variety was a statement in itself.
sweet tang, their summer 2025 follow-up, made their potential even clearer. Across "loverboy," "friend like me," and the slick confidence of "round and round," the group moved between dance-pop, pop-rock, and back again without losing their footing. Then came "r u ok?" – a vibrant house number – and the MV made their ambition plain: members dancing on tabletops while farmyard animals roam free, choreography performed inside the back of a moving truck in a visual world that feels gleefully unhinged. Running through it all is a recurring motif of eyes – trucks painted with giant pupils, a makeshift outdoor cinema. In 2025, ifeye were being watched as a new group with something to prove; "r u ok?" suggested they were entirely comfortable with that – and had every intention of making it interesting.
Now comes their third EP, As if. Taerin traces the title back to its origins: the album began with the phrase "what if" – things they had imagined which started to come true. Rahee points to Spring – the excitement, the newness, the feelings that are slightly unfamiliar and not quite settled – as the album's natural home. "I'll Be There" opens with warmth; the title track "Hazy (Daisy)" captures the giddy disorientation of falling in love; "Touch" subverts its own directness, turning out to be about friendship rather than romance; and "Forever Us" closes the album as a fan song – a sincere, unhurried expression of gratitude to ifory, the people who've been there through all of it.
Speaking to KPOPWORLD for our Digital Cover, the members reflect on a period of growth – of conversations that hadn't happened before, of individual skills sharpening during a longer break between releases. Kasia describes it as a time when the group grew closer. Hwayeon points to a conscious shift in how they think about music: less focused on execution, more focused on emotion, on making sure what they feel as artists actually reaches the people listening. It's a small adjustment in theory. In practice, it's the difference between performing and communicating.
For a group that spent their debut year proving they could hold a room, As if is the moment they start telling it something – and if this is what it sounds like, the world will certainly keep wanting more.
1. ‘As if’ is an interesting title for an EP – what does that phrase mean to you as a group right now?
Taerin This album began with the word "what if." It carries the idea of things we've only imagined actually coming true. Through this album, I think it reflects our hope to achieve the things we've been dreaming of.
2. The album is arriving in Spring. Does the season feel connected to what you were trying to express?
Rahee I think the feelings of a new beginning, excitement, and slightly unfamiliar and hazy emotions that young girls experience match well with both the season of Spring and the overall mood of this album.
3. I'll Be There opens the album. What does that kind of promise mean to you – as artists and as a group?
Kasia "I'll Be There" captures the moment when two people meet like fate, gradually grow closer, and become inevitable parts of each other. It reminded me of our fans. We're truly grateful that they've been with us through our growth, and I see that relationship as something destined, where we support and care for each other. Through this song, we wanted to express our gratitude and our desire to keep growing as artists and as a group.
4. “Hazy (Daisy)” is the title track. What feeling were you trying to capture with it?
Meu With "Hazy (Daisy)," we wanted to capture the excitement of falling in love. It expresses the feeling of being shy, yet confidently lifting your head and eventually finding love.
5. How did “Hazy (Daisy)” become the title track – was there a moment when you all knew it was the one?
Hwayeon The more I listened to "Hazy (Daisy)," the more I found it appealing. The repetitive chorus is very addictive, and I think its easy-listening quality is what makes you keep coming back to it.
6. “Padam Padam” is a phrase associated with a heartbeat or a rhythm. What does that word evoke for you when you hear it?
Rahee When I hear "Padam Padam," the first thing that comes to mind is the feeling of a racing heartbeat. It also reminds me of the girls' excitement that continues from the title track "Hazy."
7. “Touch” is one of the more direct titles on the record. What did you want listeners to feel when they hear it?
Hwayeon This song represents friendship. I hope listeners can feel warmth while thinking of a friend who comforts and embraces them through difficult times.
8. “Forever Us” closes the album. Why did you choose to end there?
Taerin The last track is a fan song dedicated to our fans, ifory. It reflects our genuine feelings, so we chose to end the album with it as a sincere way of expressing our hearts.
9. As a group, how do you make sure every voice is heard when you're creating together?
Meu This album especially includes a lot of our ideas. We worked closely with the producers, communicating and balancing both their opinions and ours as we created the album together.
10. What does music give you that nothing else can?
Rahee Music feels like the greatest comfort to me. Even during difficult times, I can find comfort through music, and being able to pass that same comfort on to others makes it very special.
11. What has changed in the way you think about your music between sweet tang and As If?
Hwayeon I think we tried to focus more on emotions this time. As we thought about how people could truly enjoy our music, we realised that it's important for the artist's emotions to be fully conveyed. That's why we paid more attention to emotional expression.
12. What does this era of ifeye look like to you, from the inside?
Kasia I think this is a period of significant growth for us, both as a team and as artists. During the long break, we had many conversations we hadn't been able to have before, which brought us closer. At the same time, we were able to grow individually in terms of our skills, so I believe this is a time where we've grown a lot and are continuing to grow.
Sasha of ifeye was not present for this interview or photoshoot