RESCENE Wants More Than Viral Fame: "We Want to Be Loved for a Long Time"

"Miracles don't come easily, so we're grateful that people have called us a miracle," Woni of K-POP girl group RESCENE said. "We want to be a group that makes people think of the word 'miracle' once again."

RESCENE has earned the nickname "small-agency miracle" after its music climbed to the top of the charts. The group, signed to The Muze Entertainment, is now facing a new challenge. After turning YouTube buzz into chart success, the five-member act is returning with original music, hoping to prove that its popularity can last beyond a viral moment.

RESCENE (Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena) held a media showcase at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Hannam-dong on Nov. 3 to mark the release of its fourth EP, "PULSE."

RESCENE first gained widespread attention this year through Woni's personal YouTube channel. In one video, Minami appeared in a gyaru look, a bold Japanese street-fashion style, and her phrase "Geoje yaho" spread online as a meme. Interest in the members soon translated into renewed interest in their music.

"LOVE ATTACK," released in August 2024, climbed back up the charts and reached No. 1 on Melon's Top 100 in July, nearly two years after its release. Melon is one of South Korea's major music streaming platforms.

The group followed up with a remake of KARA's "Pretty Girl." But "PULSE" marks RESCENE's first release of original music since the chart resurgence. The challenge now is to win over listeners with new songs, rather than relying on renewed interest in older releases.

The growing expectations have brought both pressure and motivation.

"It felt like a positive kind of pressure," Zena said. "It motivated me to practice harder and gave me strength."

After performing the new title track live for the first time at the showcase, Zena also shared how she felt onstage.

"I was really nervous before going onstage," she said. "But once the music started, I was more excited about finally getting to share our new song with everyone."

RESCENE's success has drawn particular attention because the group comes from a relatively small entertainment agency rather than one of the industry's major companies.

Asked what had made the group's rise possible, Woni credited its fans.

"I think a big part of it is the love of fans who have stood by us all along," she said.

RESCENE has incorporated a different fragrance into each of its albums. This time, the group chose musk.

"It's a scent that reminds us of the warmth we share with the people who have been watching over us," Minami explained.

The members hope the album will stay with listeners for a long time, much like the subtle, lingering scent of musk.

"PULSE" explores how a song shared with someone can return as a source of strength. The five-track album includes the title song "With," along with "Finest Thing," "백화요란 (Inside Out)," "MEME" and "Dragon."

"With" captures the emotions of finally meeting someone you have long waited to see. The song opens with a gentle melody before building into a powerful chorus, evoking the feeling of a heart beating faster.

The group also focused on choreography that highlights the members' coordination.

"More than anything, I wanted to show our teamwork as five members," Zena said. "I hope people pay attention to the synergy we create when RESCENE comes together as one."

One of the album's tracks, "Inside Out," has an unusual origin. It began with a piece of brush calligraphy written by Minami.

When the calligraphy was revealed earlier, some fans wondered whether it was a hint about an upcoming song. But the writing actually came before the music.

Minami had written down a four-character expression she had long liked as her goal for the year. An executive at the agency saw it and developed the idea into a song.

"I'm happy that a word I've always loved became the title of a RESCENE song," Minami said. "It's amazing and I'm grateful that I actually get to sing it."

The members also expressed interest in taking a more active role in music production.

"I want to write lyrics myself for our fans and the people at our company, and release a song with those lyrics," Woni said.

Minami added, "If I get the chance to try producing music, I'd love to give it my all."

When asked about the group's goals, Woni said the members had focused on their music rather than setting numerical targets.

"Rather than aiming for specific numbers, we focused on showing RESCENE's own musical identity, skills and music," she said.

Minami offered her own definition of success.

"I think everyone defines success differently," she said. "Our goal is for RESCENE's music and fragrance to stay in people's memories for a long time. I think the process of working toward that goal is itself a part of growing."

Despite their growing popularity, the members said they wanted to stay true to the mindset they had when they started and continue their journey with fans for years to come.

"Our commitment is to keep giving our best, just as we always have," Minami said.

May echoed that sentiment.

"We don't want to be a group that gets attention for a brief moment and then disappears," she said. "We want to be loved for a long time. We often talk among ourselves about how we can show new sides of RESCENE."

The members also shared what they hoped listeners would take away from their music.

"I want to show a new side of RESCENE through both our performances and our music," Woni said. "I really want people to say they can trust us to deliver good music."

Liv shared the same hope.

"I want to hear people say RESCENE is still a group they can always count on for good music," she said.

RESCENE's fourth EP, "PULSE," was released on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. KST through major music streaming platforms.