[INTERVIEW] Billlie Talks About Recent Comeback, Tour, and Group Growth from Their ‘cloud palace’

The Seoul Story had an exciting opportunity to talk with South Korean girl group Billlie, following the release of their new single cloud palace ~ false awakening. MOON SUA, SUHYEON, HARAM, TSUKI, SHEON, SIYOON, and HARUNA opened up about the comeback, tour experiences, and group growth in the new year.

Q: It’s been over a year since Billlie’s last full group comeback. How did the group prepare for the release of cloud palace ~ false awakening after so long?

MOON SUA: We spent a lot of time thinking about how to continue Billlie’s story and what kind of story we should tell at this point. Rather than rushing to one, we took time to fully understand and organise the emotions and message this song carries. I think that process naturally led to this track. We tried to stay true to what makes us truly ‘Billlie’ while showing who we are now. Artist Regina Kim worked on our artwork once again and put so much care into making sure Billlie’s colours came through beautifully, so I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to her.

Q: How did the song cloud palace evolve from being an unreleased fan-meeting track to an official comeback single?

SHEON: We first shared the song at a mini fan meeting, and we really focused on how honestly cloud palace could be conveyed, which reflects Billlie’s current perspective. As we prepared for our comeback, we worked to preserve the energy and feelings we shared with our fans at that time, while refining the sound, arrangement, and vocal details with greater care to elevate the overall quality. By adding richer sounds and textures that could be worked with in the studio, I think we were able to complete it as a full pre-release single.

Q: Do you have any favourite parts or lyrics from cloud palace ~ false awakening and why are they your favourite?

HARUNA: I think “어떤 길도 상관없어 뚫고서 네게 날아가” (“Which way who cares doesn’t matter because I can just fly straight to you“) are my favourite lyrics from the song. I like these lyrics because they give me the confidence that I can overcome anything, and they also feel similar to my heart reaching out toward our fans, Belllie’ve.

Q: cloud palace ~ false awakening presents an oniric yet unsettling atmosphere. How would you describe the concept of this single, and what emotions do you hope listeners experience when hearing it for the first time?

MOON SUA: This song contains Billlie’s genuine story that had been hidden deep within our subconscious. It feels like waking up from a dream but not quite feeling like reality. We wanted to express the emotion that exists between dreams and reality. I hope that first-time listeners can naturally experience those mixed, subtle feelings and take it as a moment to face their own honest emotions within them.

Q: If this track were your introduction to someone new, what would you want them to take away about Billlie?

MOON SUA: I hope listeners who are discovering Billlie for the first time can take this pre-release single as a way to experience our world and storytelling. I want people to feel that Billlie is a group that explores diverse music and narratives. Since this is the third part of the palace trilogy, I also hope listeners check out M◐◑N palace and $UN palace (Stroop Effect) along with cloud palace and experience that new feeling. This series holds many charms, so please listen to it!

Q: The phrase “false awakening” often refers to thinking you’ve woken up while still dreaming. How does this idea connects to the story you want to tell through this comeback?

SIYOON: A false awakening is when you believe you’ve woken up, but you’re actually still dreaming, existing at the boundary between dreams and reality. I think the story of this pre-release single shares that same idea. Through the subtle emotions where confusion and certainty coexist, we wanted to convey that growth doesn’t always come from a clear awakening. I believe cloud place is a song that symbolises the moment of facing your true self and stepping forward into the next chapter.

Q: It’s been almost four years since the release of the collective soul and unconscious: chapter one! How does it feel to revisit this series after so long?

SUHYEON: Since this story is directly connected to our debut album, I think it’s the series that most clearly represents Billlie’s colours. It’s honestly hard to believe that four years have already passed. Time flew by so quickly! With the experience and depth we’ve built over the years, we’re going to make our next album as exciting and impactful as possible.

Q: Looking back at the collective soul and unconscious: chapter one, what do you think has evolved the most about Billlie since then?

HARAM: If the first chapter was about searching for emotions and stories, I think our biggest growth now is that we know exactly how to express those emotions through music. Even if the genres or formats change, we’re building a solid, stable tone of Billlie. In that sense, this chapter will show a more mature side of Billlie.

TSUKI: I think the biggest growth lies in how much we got to understand about Billlie. Back then, it was more about the process of searching for what belonged to Billlie. Now, we can make our own choices in what story to tell and why. Musically, we have also learned how to convey our emotions with more depth and to utilise the atmosphere from negative space, and I believe that added to solidifying Billlie’s identity.

Q: So far, your EPs have been grouped under themes like the collective soul and unconscious and the Billage of perception. How does storytelling play a role in your concept and sound?

SIYOON: I think storytelling for Billlie plays the role of bringing sound, concept, and emotions together as one. When we’re making a song, once we clearly define what story to tell, the genre, vocal tone, and overall mood follow naturally. So even when we experiment with different sounds each time, everything can still be connected through a single flow and shared emotion.

Q: You’ve visited so many countries on your tour, what is your favourite part of connecting with such a diverse audience?

HARAM: Even when the language and culture are different, the moments we become one through our music and performances stand out the most to me. Seeing everyone sing along to our songs and sharing that energy are definitely the most memorable.

TSUKI: Seeing how audiences in each country communicate differently was also memorable. The crowd would cheer us with big screams in one place, and they would focus on watching our performances in another. Regardless, we could feel that all expressions were driven by their true feelings and support. Thanks to such differences, we felt like presenting completely new performances even when performing the same song, and it was great to learn that Billlie’s music can be taken in various ways.

Q: Has performing in different countries changed anything about the way you see or perceive your own country or identity as Billlie?

SHEON: As we toured different countries, there were definitely language and cultural differences. But seeing how so many international fans love K-pop made me realise that even beyond those language barriers, we are still able to come together as one through music, and that felt truly amazing to me.

Q: When creating new songs, how do you integrate the individual ideas of the members with the group’s artistic direction?

SUHYEON: We believe both are equally important. We work with a clear direction and story to develop, and within that, our members’ ideas and emotions naturally blend in. We consider how each element fits into the overall narrative and add our own interpretations or opinions to find balance. I think the music comes together when our individual perspectives align within the world of Billlie.

Q: These days, what brings you comfort or strength as you continue growing as artists?

HARUNA: I think it’s when I feel that our music is having an impact on someone. Whether it’s on stage, when we see our fans’ reactions after a performance, or when we hear that Billlie’s songs have given someone strength in their everyday life, it brings us a great sense of comfort. Those experiences really become the driving force that motivates us to create even better music and performances.

Q: Your comeback concepts are known for being unique, almost like they are from a scene of a movie. If Billlie was a movie, what would the plot be like?

SIYOON: I think of Billlie as a story about seven ordinary girls. It reminds me of a movie that captures moments where we live every day doing our best but sometimes stumble in awkward ways. There may be days we fall asleep happily and days that feel a bit disappointing when we look back. As those days pile up, we grow to understand and love each other more. I believe that’s the kind of youth Billlie portrays.

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The Seoul Story would like to thank Mystic Story and Billlie for the interview opportunity!

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