U SPEER isn’t stepping into the spotlight with answers — they’re stepping in with questions. The name itself, a mash-up of “us” and “speer,” hints at what they’re really about: moving forward together, side by side, not ahead of anyone. It’s a small shift in attitude, but one that sets the tone for everything they do.

They debut at a time when rookies are under pressure to arrive fully formed, but USPEER is doing the opposite by embracing the realities of becoming. Their debut single-album SPEED ZONE doesn’t waste time with a slow build. It shoots out of the gate with bold ambition, framed by high-octane tracks like “ZOOM” and unexpected flips like “Telepathy,” a B-side that trades bombast for a clean, UK garage groove. The contrast is intentional. This is a group not interested in playing one note.

Their energy is unmistakable — confident, urgent, wired for movement — but there’s also something quieter at play. A need to be real. A refusal to pretend they’ve figured it all out. Leader YEOWON puts it plainly: they’re here to grow, step by step, without losing themselves in the noise.

In this interview with KPOPWORLD, USPEER reflects on their debut era: the nerves, the trust it took to get through it, and the values they want to hold onto as they move forward.

Your name, USPEER, speaks to questioning the world and searching for truth together. In what ways does your debut reflect that mission? What truths are you hoping to explore through your music?

YEOWON Hello, I’m YEOWON, the leader of USPEER. First of all, I’m so happy to connect with our international fans through KPOPWORLD.

Our team’s name, “USPEER,” is a combination of the words “US” and “SPEER,” and it carries the message that we move forward together, asking questions and finding answers as one. Through music, we hope to become one with our fans and with K-pop lovers all around the world, working together for a better future and moving forward in a positive direction. Although we’ve just debuted, and we’re only at the beginning of our journey, we dream of the day when we can share our music with more people and stand united with fans across the globe. Please continue rooting for us.

SOEE For this album, we expressed the idea of growth and moving forward through the concept of “speed”. Our album title, SPEED ZONE, represents USPEER being ready to take off from the starting line. If this album showed us taking powerful steps forward, then in our next album, we’ll show you an even more mature and evolved side of us. Please look forward to it!

Your name carries a vision for a better future through music. What kind of future do you imagine USPEER helping to build – whether that’s for your generation, for fans, or for yourselves as artists?

SIAN The future I imagine for USPEER is for us to become amazing artists who always give our best and reach the highest level of our craft, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. To turn that vision into reality, we’ll continue working harder every moment and continue striving to deliver the best performances possible!

You have debuted under WM Entertainment, known for artists like OH MY GIRL and ONF. What legacy from WM do you carry forward, and where do you think USPEER breaks new ground?

SEOYU The senior artists at our company always make comebacks with amazing songs, and I think it’s truly impressive how perfectly they pull off different concepts each time. I’m also so proud of how they’ve managed to build long-lasting careers thanks to not only their incredible talent, but also their great personalities. It’s something I really admire and hope to reflect as well. Like our seniors, we want to become artists who are loved for a long time and who keep working hard with consistency and passion. Also, the path USPEER wants to pave is one where, even if we sometimes feel we could have done better, we still face each challenge boldly, with unwavering confidence and overflowing energy.

Your debut song, ‘ZOOM’, bursts with confidence. How did it feel the first time you experienced the full performance – did anything surprise you about how your identity came across?

DAON The very first thought that came to my mind was, “Wow, we really look like a girl group. This is so cool!” As I remembered all the hours we spent practicing and syncing on our choreography together, I felt so proud!

CHAENA The first time we completed the choreography for “ZOOM”, I felt this rush of excitement, and it really hit me with the thought, “This is truly our song.” That’s when our debut started to feel real for me.

The chorus of ‘ZOOM’ feels almost like a spell. What was the hardest part of mastering this song as rookies, and what came naturally to you?

ROA I usually love singing R&B and ballads, and that’s what I’ve mostly sung until now. So with “ZOOM,” it felt a bit unfamiliar at first, both in terms of the style and the way I had to articulate the pronunciation. It wasn’t a genre I personally gravitated towards before, so it felt a little awkward and challenging in the beginning. But with lots of advice and practice, I gradually improved. Also, the part in the bridge where I sing, “oh baby we got the moves,” has more of an R&B vibe, so I was able to practice that section more comfortably and make it my own.

YEOWON The most challenging part for me was keeping up that powerful energy from beginning to end. However, as I practiced more, the intense performance and various facial expressions started to come more naturally, and I was able to make that powerful energy stand out even more on stage.

Your B-side ‘Telepathy’ blends UK garage and R&B – an unexpected choice for a debut. What drew you to that sound, and how does it show a different side of USPEER?

SOEE I think “Telepathy” is the perfect song to show the fresh and bright side of us as rookies. Above all, I feel like it was a great way to showcase that USPEER can handle this type of genre really well, too. Please listen to both “ZOOM” and “Telepathy” a lot!

The ‘ZOOM’ music video feels fearless, free, and fast. How did it feel seeing yourselves in that light for the first time?

SIAN When we watched the music video together for the first time, the memories of all our hard work came flooding back. But more than anything, it felt incredibly moving because it was the very first USPEER music video being shown to the world. In the video, I look like I’m truly enjoying myself. Even though it was hot and the repeated takes were exhausting, we were all so happy because it felt like we were finally getting closer to our dream of debuting. I think that synergy really came through as confidence on screen!

Is there a moment in the ‘ZOOM’ MV that you feel perfectly captures USPEER’s essence – something you’d want new fans to replay again and again?

SEOYU There’s a scene at the end where we’re all lined up at the starting line, ready to sprint forward. I’d like to recommend that part because it captures our determined spirit and our mindset of boldly taking on any challenge.

CHAENA And at the very end of the music video, there’s a slow-motion shot of USPEER jumping together. I think that moment really shows USPEER’s vibrant energy, so I’d love for everyone to check it out!

Trust is a foundation for your teamwork. What did that look like in practice during this debut, especially under pressure?

SOEE I believe trust starts with the basics, like being punctual and showing the right attitude during practice. As we kept practicing together, these things gradually fell into place and helped us build trust with one another. And when things got tough, we were able to get through it because we know each other better than anyone else. We supported one another and worked our way through the challenges together.

SIAN Teamwork is incredibly important for us. As the trust we built over time grew stronger, we naturally turned to one another, whether we were facing challenges, sadness, or moments of joy. Sharing those experiences brought us even closer together and made us rely on and believe in each other even more.

What’s something you’ve learned from each other – whether it’s a mindset, habit, or strength – that helped you feel more confident or grounded during debut?

DAON I learned so much from SIAN, who’s really great at different facial expressions. Before, I didn’t really know how to make any facial expressions other than just smiling, but thanks to her, I discovered so many new ways to express myself and was able to use them on stage.

ROA I’ve always been quite shy and tend to feel nervous around new people. I’m the type of person who feels afraid to show people anything that I’m not completely confident in. However, most of the members of USPEER have this positive mindset of “Let’s just try it, no matter what happens!” Watching them, I realized how much I wanted to learn from that attitude. By observing my members, I’ve been slowly building up the courage to think, “Let’s just give it a shot.” I’ve experienced that when you try something instead of being afraid, you actually grow so much faster!

What message do you hope fans around the world hear most clearly in this debut?

SEOYU The strongest message I want to share is that you don’t have to necessarily prove yourself within set standards or molds. Each person has their own unique direction and pace, and even if that’s different from the usual expectations, I believe that anyone can truly shine as long as they move forward with confidence in themselves.

Now that you’ve crossed the debut starting line, what kind of journey do you imagine in terms of your sound, identity, or the pace you want to set as a team?

YEOWON USPEER plans to continue taking on new challenges, racing fearlessly towards the world with unstoppable energy. With our energetic and positive team spirit, we’re determined to leave a strong impression on many people. Please continue looking forward to us and supporting us!