MAMAMOO are finally back, and this time, all four of them came together to make it happen. 4WARD marks the group's first full release as a unit since 2022's MIC ON, a gap of more than three years. Solar, Moonbyul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa spent that time building distinct, successful solo careers, each carving out a sound and identity separate from the group that made them.

The release is built around "4 Flowers," a single co-written by Solar and Moonbyul that turns the group's own time apart into its central image. Flowers bloom, fade, and return, the song argues, but they never stop sharing the same root system. It is a direct answer to the question every long-running group eventually faces: what happens when the members are able to bloom individually? MAMAMOO's response, at least according to the four of them, is that the root was never just professional to begin with.

Despite separate recording sessions, several members describe hearing the final mix as a moment of confirmation – proof, as Moon Byul put it, that 'this is exactly who we are.' Whee In compares the experience to recording a solo track right up until she saw the other members' names next to their lyrics. Hwa Sa says the first day wrapped so quickly she wondered if it was allowed to feel that easy.

The comeback now extends to the stage. The [4WARD] World Tour is the group's second world tour and opens with three consecutive nights in Seoul before moving through Asia and into North America, marking the first time in years that MAMAMOO will perform together at this scale. Solar's reaction to the tour reflects something closer to guilt than excitement – seeing fans respond with joy led the members to promise each other they would never leave it this long again. Whee In, who has since headlined her own solo world tour, describes a similar shift in perspective: where she once focused purely on technical precision, she now understands the connection with an audience as the thing that actually matters.

Across the interview, MAMAMOO are clear that twelve years in, they are a group still negotiating what MAMAMOO means now that each member has proven she can succeed alone. Their answers suggest that it was always more than a professional structure to begin with, built on a relationship between the four of them and an audience that never stopped waiting.

The concept photos for [4WARD] show all four of you together – a very meaningful visual after years apart. What did it feel like to stand in front of a camera as MAMAMOO again for a comeback?

Solar Since it had been so long, it felt a little awkward at first. But because we’ve shared over a decade together, we got used to each other again in no time. More than anything, it was truly wonderful to be back together.

Moon Byul I was so thrilled. Although the preparation process wasn't always easy, every single step of the journey felt incredibly precious to me.

Whee In Since it was our first shoot together in such a long time, my overwhelming emotion was pure excitement! I was also incredibly curious and a little nervous to see how the final cuts would turn out, haha.

Hwa Sa I honestly thought I’d be a nervous wreck since it had been so long, but it felt remarkably familiar and natural.

"4 Flowers" talks about blooming and falling, but always being connected through the same roots. When you look at the four of you today, what is that root? What has never changed?

Solar MAMAMOO is like our very roots. It is because of MAMAMOO that we are able to pursue our solo activities, and it is because of MAMAMOO that we were able to meet our MooMoos.

Moon Byul I think that’s exactly what MAMAMOO is. Because the four of us started together under the name MAMAMOO, no matter how each of us may change or evolve, the unchanging truth remains: MAMAMOO is, and always will be, four members.

Whee In I believe the members themselves are the very roots that keep us firmly grounded. Our shared desire to work even harder for MooMoos, who always cheer us on, remains completely unchanged. Even as time passes, the way we lean on one another and look in the exact same direction is something that simply never changes.

Hwa Sa The true roots of MAMAMOO will always be MooMoos. No matter how much time passes, their love for us has never wavered.

The song brings together four distinct voices into one sound. What was the first day in the studio like, recording together again?

Solar We actually tracked our vocals separately, but listening to the final mix where our four distinct voices harmonize seamlessly felt like a nostalgic trip down memory lane. I was incredibly happy to hear the members' vocals again, and I’m so proud that everyone did such a phenomenal job on the recording.

Moon Byul Due to our busy schedules, we had to record our parts individually. But when I listened to the finished track, it turned out so perfectly that it immediately made me think, 'This is exactly who we are, this is MAMAMOO.’

Whee In Since we tracked our parts individually, the session felt very similar to recording a solo track. However, seeing the members' names written next to their lyrics made me incredibly curious and excited to hear how the final version would all come together.

Hwa Sa We recorded according to our own comfortable schedules. On the first day of recording, it wrapped up so quickly that I actually found myself thinking, 'Wait, is it really okay for it to be this easy?

Solar and Moonbyul both worked on the lyrics for "4 Flowers." What did you want the song to say that only MAMAMOO – as a complete group – could say?

Solar Since this is the first time MAMAMOO is coming back together in 3 years and 8 months, it carries the meaning that each of us blossomed as individual flowers through our solo activities, and now, we have beautifully bloomed once again as one magnificent flower called MAMAMOO.

Moon Byul While it definitely reflects MAMAMOO’s own story, we also wanted to convey a broader message about human relationships and love how a flower that withers, wanes, and then blooms all over again is ultimately the most vibrant of all.

When the members heard the song for the first time, what was that moment like?

Solar To be honest, I wasn't 100% sure about the song when I first heard it. But as we refined it piece by piece, I became increasingly confident that if we brought out the unique individuality of all four MAMAMOO members, it would turn into something truly incredible.

Moon Byul I absolutely loved the vibe and the lyrics because they felt so perfectly aligned with who we are right now.

Whee In While it might not feature an intense or flashy performance, I felt an immediate certainty that this is a song only MAMAMOO could pull off. The lyrics describe who we are so perfectly, and it highlights our vocals beautifully, so I absolutely loved it.

Hwa Sa It felt just like a special gift curated entirely for our fans.

The [4ward] World Tour takes you across Asia, North America, and beyond. When you saw the full tour map, what was your reaction?

Solar My heart was filled with so much joy and excitement. Since this is a rare opportunity for MAMAMOO to reunite with our fans all over the world after such a long time, I've been pouring my heart into the preparations, feeling that flutter of excitement every single day

Moon Byul I was incredibly thrilled at the thought of finally seeing the fans who have waited for us for so long. In fact, our anticipation was so high that all the members kept saying we wished we could visit even more cities.

Whee In My overwhelming emotion was deep gratitude. So much time has passed, yet so many MooMoos all over the world are still waiting for us. It made me feel an even greater sense of responsibility, and I promised myself to deliver performances that make every single moment of their waiting absolutely worth it.

Hwa Sa My immediate thought was that I needed to mentally prepare myself so I could tackle this demanding schedule in full health.

Going into your second world tour, what do you know about performing at that scale that you didn't the first time?

Solar Seeing our fans react with even more joy and excitement than we did upon our return made me reflect deeply. I felt deeply apologetic for making them wait so long. It actually led to a conversation among the members where we promised each other that we shouldn't make our fans wait this long ever again.

Moon Byul When we are genuinely having fun, our fans feel that joy too and in turn, their happiness becomes our own. Because of this beautiful synergy, we find ourselves pouring even more of our true, heartfelt emotions into every single performance on stage.

Whee In During MAMAMOO’s very first world tour, I was entirely focused on the technical quality of the stage, constantly thinking, 'We must do well, it has to be perfect.' However, after headlining my own solo world tour and performing at various other shows, I truly realized just how vital that synergy and connection with the audience is. Thanks to those experiences, I’ve developed my own way of communicating on stage and learned the know-how to genuinely enjoy the distinct cultures of each country.

Hwa Sa Honestly, none. I just try to live in the moment.

The tour opens with three nights in Seoul. Is there a particular moment on this tour – at home or abroad – that you are most looking forward to?

Solar Without a doubt, it’s communicating with our fans. Sharing that energy and connecting with them on stage is truly one of the most meaningful aspects of what we do.

Moon Byul I think the unique atmosphere and the memories we create together with our fans will hold the greatest meaning. Beautifully crafted memories stay in your heart for a very long time, allowing you to relive those emotions even as time passes.

Whee In For me, it’s the exact moment we first step onto the stage! Thinking about the members standing right there beside me, combined with the roaring cheers of our fans, always makes the opening sequence feel incredibly special.

Hwa Sa The exact moment when the distance between us and the fans completely disappears.

MAMAMOO has a strong reputation for live vocals. When fans come to a show on this tour, what do you want them to experience that they cannot get from just listening to the recorded music?

Solar You can definitely expect a stage and music that are quintessentially MAMAMOO; just pure, unfiltered MAMAMOO. Since every single member is incredibly passionate about performing live, we are confident that you will experience something far beyond just the joy of watching and listening.

Moon Byul Unlike listening to recorded tracks, I believe a concert is a unique space where you can experience the music with your eyes, ears, and your entire body. That is exactly why we want to deliver the raw, vivid energy of a live performance directly to everyone there.

Whee In When you experience music live at a concert, a riff might change one night, the fans might sing along in our place another night, or we might even end up tearing up on a different night, haha. These are elements you can only truly feel right there in the venue on that specific day. That’s why, rather than fans simply thinking, 'I really enjoyed the music,' I want it to be an experience where they feel, 'I was a part of the show, and I shared a distinct moment with MAMAMOO.’

Hwa Sa Absolutely. Our fans invest their hard-earned money and precious time to come all this way just to light up our venue. To ensure they return home completely filled with happiness, I leave everything on that stage without holding back physically.

MAMAMOO debuted in 2014. That is 12 years of making music together. How would you describe your artistry as a group in 2026 – what are you now that you weren't before?

Solar I believe MAMAMOO has been defining our own unique genre ever since our debut track, 'Mr. Ambiguous.' We have always strived to present music and performances that best represent who we are, and now, I feel we’ve added a layer of maturity and seasoned expertise on top of that foundation.

Moon Byul I don't think MAMAMOO’s core identity has changed much from the very beginning. We have always embraced an unchanging diversity, and if anything, I believe our unique colors have only grown deeper and more distinct over time.

Whee In I believe our identity lies in proving who we are through our raw, authentic charm and musical capability. Moreover, as our respective solo careers have flourished, the MAMAMOO of today has earned the title of a group where both the collective team and each individual member hold incredibly solid careers. I feel immense pride in every single one of my members.

Hwa Sa Without a doubt, it has to be our live performance. In the truest sense of the word, I feel like the entire identity of MAMAMOO is beautifully encapsulated within that single word, 'LIVE.’

Each of you has built a strong solo identity over the past few years. When you come back together, how do those individual experiences change the way MAMAMOO sounds or feels?

Solar Since each of us has gained a wide range of experiences as solo artists, I believe that when we reunite as MAMAMOO, our collective identity and team color become even more solid and undeniable.

Moon Byul Through our solo activities, we were able to showcase our individual strengths and distinct musical styles. Bringing those four unique colors back together as one is what truly makes MAMAMOO even more vibrant and dynamic.

Whee In Rather than trying to artificially alter the team’s overall dynamic, I find myself thinking deeply about how to beautifully blend each of our distinct, individual colors into the collective identity of the group while keeping those unique traits fully intact.

Hwa Sa The core dynamic of the team remains completely unchanged. It’s just that we have each achieved significant personal growth, and those individual experiences have made our collective teamplay incredibly solid and powerful.

Is there a part of your artistry – as performers or as a group – that you feel people still underestimate or overlook?

Solar Honestly, I’m just deeply grateful that people always view MAMAMOO in such a positive light and hold high expectations for us. It motivates us to do even better.

Moon Byul To be completely honest, I haven't really felt that way or noticed any pressure. I am simply full of gratitude for the continuous support and anticipation everyone sends our way.

Whee In When people think of MAMAMOO, vocal prowess, high-energy performances, and spontaneous ad-libs usually come to mind first. However, we have actually been continuously experimenting with a surprisingly wide spectrum of diverse genres. If you dive into our solo tracks and MAMAMOO's B-sides, you’ll definitely be able to discover a completely different side of our charm.

Hwa Sa Nothing in particular.

After 12 years, what still excites you about making music together as MAMAMOO?

Solar Without a doubt, it’s our fans. From the very moment we decided to reunite as MAMAMOO, our sole focus has been on our fans, from producing the music to planning the performances. That devotion will never change.

Moon Byul I think it’s the synergy of our four distinct colors. Even though our individual traits are completely different, they don't clash when we come together as MAMAMOO. Instead, they blend naturally into one. That harmony is incredibly charming, and it’s what keeps things so exciting.

Whee In I believe it is the boundless affection of our MooMoos. The passionate love and support they send for every single project give us the strength to keep standing on stage. In turn, their roaring cheers give us the courage to continuously reinvent ourselves and showcase new sides of who we are.

Hwa Sa It is, without a doubt, our MooMoos. Preparing for this concert was incredibly overwhelming, because we had to pull so much together in such a short window of time. But the exact moment the show started and the roaring cheers of MooMoos filled the air, it felt as though all the hardships and exhaustion just instantly melted away.

You have already built 12 years as MAMAMOO. If you could shape the next 12, what would you want that to look like?

Solar My biggest wish is that things don't change too much from how they are right now. I hope our fans will continue to stay by our side just as they do now, sharing joy and building beautiful memories together. As for MAMAMOO, I want us to always maintain this current passion for music and remain a team that consistently lives up to our fans' expectations.

Moon Byul I think I will always dream of us exactly as we are today. Rather than trying to paint a picture of a distant future, I just hope we can keep leaning on one another, laughing together, and moving forward just like this.

Whee In 12 years from now... I’ll be in my mid-forties, haha! Right now, our focus is naturally more on our collective title as 'MAMAMOO.' But in twelve years, I hope we will be leaning on each other through the simpler moments of daily life as sisters. More than anything, I want us to stay healthy, happy, and full of joy, while continuously sharing our lives and time with our MooMoos.

Hwa Sa I just hope to become someone who flows and lives in complete harmony with nature.

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This feature is taken from our fifth printed issue, available for purchase here.