If you've been in the K-pop scene for a while, then you know SISTAR. Formed in 2010, the girl group consisted of four members: Hyolyn, Bora, Soyou, and Dasom. Dubbed the "queens of summer" by fans, SISTAR won numerous awards, including Song of the Year, Best Female Group, and Best Dance Performance. The group even became one of five Korean artists to have nine or more number-one singles on the Circle Digital Chart, which ranks the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. Throughout its seven-year career, SISTAR made a huge impact on the K-pop industry and solidified itself as one of the greats.
While SISTAR was best known for its quartet act, it debuted a sub-unit, SISTAR19, consisting only of members Hyolyn and Bora, in 2011. As SISTAR19, the duo landed on the Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100 Charts with their hit song "Ma Boy."
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And now, STAR1 has gotten their wish! After an 11-year hiatus, SISTAR19 has returned with their latest release. And ever since it came out, we've had their single album No More (Ma Boy) playing on repeat.
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BuzzFeed sat down with SISTAR19 to chat about No More (Ma Boy), how it feels to reunite after 11 years, and more.
1. SISTAR19! It’s been a long time — we’ve missed you. How are you doing?
2. This is the first time in 11 years that you are meeting your fans again as SISTAR19. How does it feel to be reunited with them?
3. Describe your new single album No More (Ma Boy).
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Bora: No More (Ma Boy) is an album that we've released after a long time,
and I can say that it embodies how SISTAR19 has matured over the years.
Hyolyn: I tried to be conscious when working on this album so that
SISTAR19's color can show in our music and concept. Our title track, "No
More (Ma Boy)" is a sequel to "Ma Boy," and it's an attractive track with a
great hook that catches your ears. On the other hand, "Saucy" is a track that
can show emotions similar to "No More (Ma Boy)," and we wanted to show
different colors and differentiate the two tracks.
4. The title track of your new release, “No More (Ma Boy),” pays homage to your unit’s debut track, “Ma Boy.” What is different about this new track?
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Bora: When our debut song was released back then, it was an expression
of love that we were able to fully convey at that time at that age. A lot of
time has passed since, and now, with the release of "No More (Ma Boy)," it
reflects the experiences we've gathered over the years. So, in other
words, if we never had "Ma Boy," we would not have "No More (Ma Boy)."
Hyolyn: The title track expresses the sorrow of a breakup in a more
dignified and calm manner.
5. How have you grown since the release of “Ma Boy”?
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Bora: So many things have changed before and after the debut, so it
will be difficult to pick one thing to talk about. As environments change
and every human being changes, we also have gone through periods
of change. I would like to say thank you so much to our fans for
continuously sending us love throughout these changes.
Hyolyn: Our solo activities helped us grow and learn a lot. I’ve had some
solo concerts where I got to meet overseas fans, and those moments
always helped me grow. Those types of shows are the ones that make me
play even more freely on stage.
6. This new track’s theme is all about confidence — which SISTAR is known for having. What advice would you give to fans who are struggling with finding their confidence?
7. On that note, SISTAR has consistently received praise for great performance, which requires a great deal of confidence. Have you ever struggled with feeling confident? How did you overcome it?
8. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that your fans have greatly missed you. How does it feel seeing the huge support from your fans after such a long time?
9. This comeback has been dubbed the “return of the legendary unit.” What are your thoughts on receiving this title, knowing you’ve been labeled “legendary” in the industry?
10. Hyolyn, you’ve been working hard on your solo career for the past few years. How does it feel to reunite with your bandmate again?
11. Bora, you’ve been working as an actress during the sub-unit’s hiatus. Is there anything you missed about being an idol?
12. It must be exciting being able to work together after a long break. Was the transition of working together seamless, like no time had passed, or were there any challenges you faced while preparing for this return?
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Hyolyn: I think branching out to do more of our individual work has
brought us closer together this time around. Because of that, we were able
to become more genuine with the conversations we had together. But at
the same time, we never stopped talking or hanging out, so it also feels like
no time has passed. Of course, there will always be obstacles, but we’re
overcoming them together day by day.
Bora: We haven’t had any obstacles in communicating with each other
individually, but because we are working with different agencies, it’s
between them to make it work for this comeback. We’re looking forward to
having a lot of fun working together again — especially working with Hyolyn. I’m very excited!
13. The other track on this single album is called “Saucy.” Can you chat more about “Saucy” and the meaning behind this song?
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Hyolyn: We intended for "Saucy" to showcase a different side of us as
performers. We’re a little bit more independent now, and we also wanted
to show the chemistry the two of us have together.
Bora: Both tracks have different charms, showing a more mature side of
us, and "Saucy" shows that mature side in a more witty and lovely way.
14. With SISTAR’s 15th anniversary happening next year, fans are begging for a full group comeback. Do you think there will be a full SISTAR comeback one day?
15. Are there any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
16. Share a message with STAR1 and our readers!
