Setting Their Own Tempo
So here's the thing about izna β this group does not do things quietly. On July 8th, the six-member K-pop girl group held a media showcase at Blue Square's WooriWON Banking Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to mark the release of their third mini album, SET THE TEMPO. And from the moment they took the stage, it was clear this was not just another comeback. It was a statement.
izna β made up of members My (λ§μ΄), Bang Jimin (λ°©μ§λ―Ό), Koko (μ½μ½), Yoo Sarang (μ μ¬λ), Choi Jungeun (μ΅μ μ), and Jung Sebi (μ μΈλΉ) β debuted in 2024 under WakeOne, a label under CJ ENM. Since day one, they've built their identity around the concept of authenticity and self-determination. But with SET THE TEMPO, they're taking that message further than ever before.
"We want izna itself to become a genre," said Yoo Sarang at the showcase, summing up the group's ambitions in one clean, confident line.
That's not just a catchy quote β it's the throughline of everything this album is trying to do.
From Bubbly to House: A New Sound Takes Shape
What's really interesting is how izna has evolved musically with this release. Their previous tracks β think "BEEP," "SIGN," and "Mamma Mia" β leaned into bright, energetic dance-pop that showcased their more playful side. SET THE TEMPO shifts gears. The title track, "METRONOME," is a house music-influenced banger, and it marks a deliberate pivot for the group.
House music, for those less familiar, is an electronic dance genre rooted in Chicago club culture from the 1980s. It's been making serious inroads in K-pop recently, with EDM and house-based tracks gaining strong traction on charts like Melon β South Korea's dominant music streaming platform β and on global playlists alike. izna is clearly reading the room, but they're also making the genre their own.
The production on "METRONOME" comes courtesy of Teddy (real name: Park Hong-jun), one of K-pop's most influential behind-the-scenes figures. Teddy has been working with izna since their debut and brought in fellow producers from The Black Label β his label imprint β to flesh out the album's sound.
Choi Jungeun explained the reasoning behind the genre choice: "I felt that house music matched well with the message of finding our own rhythm even in the midst of chaos. I wanted to show a more mature and confident side of us than before." Japanese member My added that the track is also a showcase for izna's performance strengths: "It's a song that lets us show izna's charm to the fullest, performance-wise."
The "Protractor Dance" and the Power of Precision
izna has always been known for what fans describe as their "power dreamy" performance style β sharp, synchronized choreography with an almost hypnotic quality. With "METRONOME," that style gets refined even further.
The standout point choreography this time around has already earned a nickname: the "κ°λκΈ° μΆ€," or "protractor dance." The name comes from the way all six members move their upper bodies at the exact same angle and the exact same speed β like a protractor measuring a perfect arc. It sounds simple, but getting six people to move as one organism takes serious work.
Bang Jimin recalled the rehearsal process: "At first, each member's speed and angle of descent was different, but through continuous monitoring and adjustment, we naturally became one." Choi Jungeun also highlighted another element: "The dance break includes vogueing, and combined with the members' long limbs, it creates a dynamic and powerful performance."
Vogueing, originally born from New York's Black and Latino LGBTQ+ ballroom culture in the 1980s, has become a recurring element in high-concept K-pop choreography in recent years β and in "METRONOME," it adds a bold, expressive layer to the group's already commanding stage presence.
Members Step Into the Studio as Songwriters
Another notable development on this album is how much more involved the members were in the creative process. On the track "Infinity," Bang Jimin and Yoo Sarang co-wrote the lyrics β a first of its kind moment for the group.
"It's a precious and beloved song because it contains our sincerity toward our fans," Bang Jimin shared. Yoo Sarang, meanwhile, revealed the deeper purpose behind the lyrics: "It's the first fan song for our fandom Naya. I wrote each line wanting to repay the warm words they've always sent us."
The fandom name "Naya" (λμΌ) in Korean can mean "it's me" β a reflection of the group's self-identity theme. It's a small but meaningful detail that speaks to how carefully izna constructs every layer of their artistic output.
"We Are the Standard" β A Declaration of Identity
Throughout the showcase, the members kept returning to one central theme: self-defined identity. The album's core message β "not the standard the world expects, but I become the standard" β isn't just marketing language. It's a philosophy the group has been building toward since debut.
Bang Jimin laid out the arc clearly: "In our debut album, we showed the challenge of a new world. In the second, we showed breaking existing frames. This time, we've captured the conviction that we ourselves will become the standard β not the one set by the world."
Koko added that this confidence isn't just performative: "Our strength is the confidence to pull off any concept in our own color. We share a lot of positive energy among the members, and I think that teamwork is also part of what makes izna, izna."
Jung Sebi, perhaps the most personal in her reflection, spoke about her journey from survival show contestant to assured performer: "During the survival audition, I was nervous because I felt I couldn't make mistakes. But recently, through various stages, I've learned how to find confidence β and now I enjoy it, feeling like I'm flying."
izna was formed through the Mnet survival program I-LAND 2: N/a, which aired in 2024. That origin story adds weight to Jung Sebi's words β these are performers who earned their place through one of the most grueling formats in the industry, and they haven't forgotten what it took.
Eyes on the Global Stage
The timing of this comeback also coincides with a significant business development. On July 10th, WakeOne announced a strategic partnership with Republic Collective β a division within Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company. The deal is designed to support izna's push into the American mainstream market.
It's worth noting that Republic Records, which falls under the same UMG umbrella, already works with major K-pop players like HYBE and JYP Entertainment β two of the biggest agencies in the industry. WakeOne's move to partner with Republic Collective separately, distinct from their existing arrangement with Virgin Music Group for labelmates ZEROBASEONE, signals a deliberate, artist-specific approach to global market strategy.
izna already has the international receipts to back up the ambition. Grammy.com named them one of the K-pop rookies to watch in 2025. British music outlet NME included their track "Racecar" in its list of the 25 best K-pop songs of 2025. Their official YouTube channel has crossed 500 million total views, with YouTube Music streams surpassing 400 million.
Moving at Their Own Tempo
There's something genuinely exciting about where izna is right now. Nine months between releases is not a long time in any industry, but the growth on display β in the music, the performances, the songwriting, and the sheer confidence of six young artists β is hard to miss.
As My put it: "There are still so many genres and concepts left to show." And if Yoo Sarang's declaration holds β that izna wants to become a genre unto itself β then SET THE TEMPO might just be the moment we look back on as the turning point. The metronome is ticking, and izna is setting the pace.
This article is based on reports from Ohmynews, Nc, View.
