SISTAR19, Comeback in 11 years as Sexy-confident ‘Cowgirl’

Q: Congratulations on your comeback in 11 years! Please introduce us to your album and what is the concept.

BORA

After wrapping up SISTAR, I focused on various works as an actress. As for “NO MORE(MA BOY),” it’s an extension of “Ma Boy.” While “Ma Boy” expressed emotions closer to a young girl's heart, this album portrays a more mature and confident image continuing from “Ma Boy.”

HYOLYN

As it's our comeback after 11 years, the album expresses a more mature and feminine side than the previous SISTAR19 appearance. There are two songs in this new single, NO MORE (MA BOY), and the title track, "NO MORE (MA BOY)," is an extension of “MA BOY” and has a catchy hook melody. On the other hand, "SAUCY" is a song that shows the same emotions as “MA BOY.”

Q: What made you decide to go with the cowgirl concept and how does it relate to the song "NO MORE (MA BOY)?"

BORA

When we were preparing for the album, the company suggested the 'cowgirl' concept, and there was a point in the lyrics of the song that went so well with the 'cowgirl' concept that we thought it would be a good idea to go with it.

HYOLYN

I was inspired by the message of the song. In the title track, there's a lyric that says "I'm aiming for you," and when I heard that SISTAR19 would be expressing that lyric, I thought it would go well with a cowgirl who can express something cooler and wilder.

Q: After all, when it comes to girl crush, I can't forget SISTAR19, and I think this concept also goes very well with the image of SISTAR19. Do you have a favorite outfit that you wore in this album?

BORA

There is an outfit that consists of a white top and short pants, and I think this outfit most naturally represents SISTAR19. I also like the black cowgirl outfit because I think it shows what kind of album this album is.

HYOLYN

The white top and short pants outfit with SISTAR19 on it is my favorite because it shows off the healthy and sexy beauty that only SISTAR19 has.

Q: What are the main fashion points you focused on in this concept and how did you express the musical identity and concept of SISTAR19?

BORA

I think the main fashion point is the concept of the album, 'cowgirl' itself! Through this concept of 'cowgirl', we tried to show a bold and regal attitude towards the breakup expressed in the title track, “NO MORE (MA BOY).”

HYOLYN

Since it's a cowgirl concept, we accentuated it with Western-inspired looks. We toned down the colors and gave it a Western feel, but still made it look cool. You can think of all the choreography and costume concepts starting from the message of the title song "NO MORE (MA BOY)" (cool breakup).

Q: HYOLYN and BORA, do you have any personal colors or images that you like to explore through your fashion?

BORA

I think my style has naturally calmed down since I started acting, but I still love colorful and accent pieces, so if I see something in purple, I'll buy it.

HYOLYN

I think I'm influenced a lot by singing and choreography because I'm often seen on stage, so I focus on outfits that can show off the choreography, but the one thing I always keep in mind is sexiness. As a girl, I think I should have a certain amount of sexiness that I can show, so I try to keep it as a basic base while still being cool and hip and keeping up with the latest trends.

Q: You've done a lot of styles since your debut, so what was the process of deciding on the concept for this album?

BORA

When the company explained the concept of this album, there were some parts that we immediately agreed with while listening to it, so I think we decided on the concept naturally without much thought.

HYOLYN

A lot of people wanted to see us, so we were most concerned about whether we should show the SISTAR19 look that the public has been waiting for or a different, fresh look, and which one they would like more. We tried to mix the two appropriately, and I hope it came across well.

Q: There are so many steps in the process of putting together an album, from the music to the concept, what is your main focus and why?

BORA

I think our main focus was how BORA and HYOLYN’s chemistry would be expressed on stage and how we could better showcase our chemistry to the people who have been waiting for us.

HYOLYN

I think the most important thing is music and mindset. The flow of music is changing at a fast pace, and I've been trying to keep up with the trends while doing solo activities, so I've learned a lot about the people who like this kind of music, and I think I prepared for SISTAR19's music while thinking that those times would be helpful. I thought we should show that we've grown a little more musically as we've been active for a long time. We are the ones who deliver the message of the music in the middle, so I think our attitude and mindset towards the music is very important to deliver it correctly and well.

Q: How does the title of "MA BOY" and the subsequent song "NO MORE (MA BOY)" continue SISTAR19's worldview?

BORA

“NO MORE (MA BOY)” is an extension of "MA BOY," and while "MA BOY" expressed feelings closer to a young girl's heart, in this album, we continued those feelings from "MA BOY" and expressed a more mature and dignified side.

HYOLYN

Just like changing from a girl to a woman, the way we love has matured as well. If “MA BOY” was a young love song where we expressed our feelings for the man we loved, “NO MORE (MA BOY)” is a more mature parting song where we express our feelings for the man we love and send him a cool goodbye.

Q: How have you changed as an artist and personally over the 11 years between "MA BOY" in 2013 and "NO MORE (MA BOY)" in 2024?

BORA

I think I've matured a lot as an artist and as a person, and I think those times have made me mature because I have to think about things and make decisions by myself more than before.

HYOLYN

I think I've made a lot of efforts to grow as an artist while being a solo artist, and while I've learned a lot through various projects, I think I've broadened my horizons a lot by working on projects where I'm not just going on stage and performing and coming off, but I'm also working on projects where I'm drawing and planning the whole picture.

Q: After debuting as a group, HYOLYN, and BORA, you are now active as solo artists. What are some of your most memorable moments from your debut to now?

BORA

There are so many memorable moments that it would be too difficult to choose just one, but I think the present is important, so I think this time as we prepare for our album and stage as SISTAR19 will be memorable in the future.

HYOLYN

My recent solo concert, ‘2023 HYOLYN SHOW,’ was different from my previous solo concerts because I planned and created it with the concept of a show, and I really enjoyed it, and I hope that this show will continue in the future.

Q: If you had a time machine, would you want to go back in time? Would you want to go to the future? If you could go back, when would you most like to go back?

BORA

I would like to go to the future because I'm curious about my future in 2-3 years! I'm very curious about what I would be doing and what I would look like.

HYOLYN

I would like to go to the future because I wonder what my future self would be doing and living, but it's not that far in the future. I wonder if I would have gotten married at 40 or if I would still be doing what I'm doing now and how I would be living because I wonder if my life would change much after marriage.