They’ve been through more than most rookie groups ever do: disbandment, reinvention, and a long stretch of silence that could’ve easily been the end. But ablume – ARAN, SAENA, and SIO – didn’t come back just to keep going, and this new beginning isn’t about noise. It’s about intention, mutual trust, and showing up as the artists they actually want to be.

Their debut single as a trio, “Echo,” doesn’t force a moment. Soft in tone, emotionally clear, and quietly assured, it’s a track that holds its ground. With over two million streams and five million views already behind it, the numbers land – but they’re not the point.

In this interview, ablume speaks plainly and with care about the pressure to keep up, the choice to slow down, and about the kind of self-belief that takes longer to build, but lasts longer too. What’s clear is this: they’re not in a rush to bloom, and they don’t need to be.

Congratulations on releasing “Echo,” which has already passed 2 million streams* and 5 million views*. What’s been the most surreal part of watching it take on a life of its own?

ARAN One of the most memorable moments for me was during our video call fansign. It had been such a long time since we saw the faces of our fans from all over the world, and when they said things like, "Echo is such a beautiful song, I listen to it every day," I felt this deep joy. It was the moment I realized that we had truly stepped out into the world. “Echo” was no longer something only we knew about. It had become a song that people everywhere were listening to.

SAENA To be honest, it still doesn't feel real. Even now, everything feels a bit dreamlike to me. After going through such a hard time, just being able to stand in this new place again fills me with so much gratitude. When I see all the videos and the growing number of views, I start to realize how far this song is reaching. That also brings a sense of responsibility. Knowing that our music is touching someone out there fills me with emotion, but it also makes me more careful with every step we take.

SIO When “Echo” was first released, I just felt pure happiness. I remember thinking, "I’m finally making music again." All the things I had gone through during our break flashed through my mind like a movie. More than the streaming numbers or charts, what felt the most surreal was seeing how the fans who supported us before are still listening and loving our music. That really meant a lot to me. I want to keep creating good music so we can give something back to those fans who believed in us and waited for us.

The “Behind the Scenes with ablume” series is unusually candid. Was there anything you were hesitant or nervous to show so openly?

ARAN I think it was during the interview segments. It took a lot of courage to talk about things that held real meaning for me, especially in my own natural tone and rhythm. Back then, whenever someone stared at me too intently while I was speaking, I would feel like running away. It wasn't because I said anything wrong. I just didn’t have confidence in myself. At the time, it felt like the camera was staring at me in that same intense way. And I knew that footage would eventually be seen by so many people. That thought made it even harder. But I told myself that gaining confidence and facing this feeling head-on was the first step to everything. I worked through it, and now, I don’t feel afraid to tell my story anymore.

SAENA There were a lot of moments when I hesitated or second-guessed myself. It was my first time showing such an honest side of myself as a person, not just as an artist, so I was really nervous about how it might come across. But at the same time, I truly wanted to share both the little moments and the deeper emotions with the fans who continue to support us. That’s why I decided to open up, even if it took a bit of courage.

SIO At first, I definitely had my doubts. I was worried that the focus might shift more toward our personal stories than the music. But because we had such a long time away, I also wanted to reconnect with our fans in a more genuine and personal way. After a lot of thought, I decided to go for it. Looking back, I think that series actually gave me a chance to understand myself more deeply than I expected.

Looking back at that footage now, what surprised you most about seeing yourselves from the outside?

ARAN Honestly, I looked exactly how I thought I would. What I was worried about, though, was that I might come across as awkward or too raw on camera. But watching it back, it didn’t feel that way at all. I just looked like a regular person. A young woman, being herself and feeling comfortable. Seeing that side of me on screen actually made me feel more at ease too.

SAENA I was really surprised to see how much I was enjoying myself while dancing. Watching that, I thought, “Wow, I was genuinely that happy in that moment.” That scene actually gave me energy just from watching it. On the other hand, in the interview clips, I did look a bit stiff and awkward, probably because I was trying to speak in a more polished way in front of the camera after such a long time. Still, I felt proud of myself for having the courage to show who I really was, just as I am.

SIO What I felt most proud of was the fact that I didn’t completely fall apart during that time. I kept going, even in small ways. There were definitely moments when I didn’t want to face the tough emotions, but working through them helped me build a habit of finding little bits of courage in myself. Looking back, that means a lot to me.

When did “ablume” start to feel real — not just a name, but a new identity you’d fully stepped into?

ARAN Honestly, it felt real from the very beginning. The moment the name “ablume” was decided, I felt this spark inside me, like something was starting to bubble up. I remember feeling so eager that I just wanted to run into the practice room and start rehearsing our demo track right away.

SAENA For me, it really started to sink in during interviews. When people began asking about our music and we had conversations about our direction, I found myself becoming more connected to what we stand for and the journey we’re about to take as a group. That’s when I started to put more care into everything I said and did. Every word and action contributes to how people see our team, so I wanted to be thoughtful about it.

SIO It truly hit me on the day of our debut, when I saw the music video for the first time. Before that, it didn’t feel so natural to compare myself to a flower, even though that was part of the concept. But after watching the video, I realized that ablume isn’t just about the word “flower.” It’s more about the act of blooming. When I think about our journey as something that’s still unfolding, like a flower coming into full bloom, it makes me love our name even more.

How have your relationships with each other changed during this chapter? Are there new layers of trust forming?

ARAN We’ve known each other for over five years now, but somehow every day still feels new. There’s always something to talk about, always something to share. We laugh and cry together, and being around each other never gets boring. That kind of energy has a huge impact when we’re making music too. The more time passes, the deeper our connection becomes.

SAENA We’ve built a bond that only the three of us truly understand, and because of that, we’ve become much more open about our emotions. We encourage each other a lot, but we’re also not afraid to give honest feedback when it’s needed for growth. That’s why I really feel like we’re moving forward with the same heart and mindset. Each of us is doing it for ourselves, but also for the group as a whole.

SIO The moment we decided to move forward as ablume, I felt like our relationship had entered a new chapter. We’ve made a conscious effort to treat each other with respect and care, and I think that shows in the way our dynamic comes across to fans. There’s a comfort and closeness between us that feels genuine, and I’m proud of that.

You’ve spoken before about not rushing. What does slowing down actually look like in an industry built on urgency?

ARAN For me, saying I won’t rush is the same as saying I want this to last. Fire burns out faster when it burns too strong. We want our flame to last as long as possible, even if it’s small. Of course, the reality is that our days are packed. There’s always something to prepare, something to practice, and coming home late at night has become part of our routine. But I try to remind myself, even if I don’t achieve everything today, it’s okay. I still have tomorrow. I still have a future. That mindset gives me the strength to keep going and keep making music.

SAENA I think “slowing down” can mean a lot of different things. For me, not rushing means walking at our own pace. Instead of comparing myself to others, I try to focus on how I’ve grown compared to my past self. Even if I’m not the best, I want to give it my best. That’s how I believe we create something lasting… something we can truly feel and remember.

SIO There are definitely times when I feel anxious watching how fast others are moving. But I’ve realized that if I try to match someone else’s speed, I end up losing sight of what really matters to me. Even when I start to feel impatient, I try to stay grounded and focus on what I genuinely want to express. That process is essential for my music. I also hope that by doing so, I can show our fans a more sincere and authentic version of myself.

What’s something you’re actively unlearning as you move into your next release?

ARAN I’ve been consciously working on building confidence. For our next release, confidence is going to be a key element. So I started asking myself some big questions. What does it really mean to be confident? Who am I, really? The more I thought about it, the more I started learning about myself. I realized that just spending time trying to understand who I am is already an act of confidence. That led me to a personal conclusion. Knowing yourself is what confidence truly is. I try not to forget that and continue to stay aware and keep exploring who I am.

SAENA I’m trying to let go of the pressure I put on myself to always get everything right. I’ve often trapped myself in this strict frame of expectations, and that’s made things even harder for me. It makes me overly sensitive, and eventually, it starts to show. There were times I couldn’t do anything properly because I was overwhelmed by that pressure. These days, I’m learning to appreciate the little things more and trying to be kinder to myself. On the musical side, I used to rely too much on my neck muscles when singing, which sometimes made my tone feel a bit heavy. I’m now working on softening that so my voice blends more naturally.

SIO When something important doesn’t go the way I planned, I tend to get really stressed out. I’ve realized that this need to have everything under control ends up putting too much pressure on me. But now that I’m working with the team as part of ablume, I’ve come to see how important it is to stay flexible. So these days, I’m trying to ease up and not get caught up in that pressure. I think my mindset is gradually becoming more open and relaxed, and that’s helped me focus on what really matters.

What kind of artistic risks are starting to feel more possible now?

ARAN Our next album itself is the artistic risk I’ve been wanting to take. I’m trying things I’ve never done before, and it might sound and look completely different from anything you’ve seen or heard from me. Of course, there’s a bit of fear that comes with that. But even so, I’m taking this step for myself. No matter what others might say, I’m doing my best to create something that I can truly be proud of. I hope you’ll look forward to it.

SAENA There’s no guarantee that everything will go well, but what I do have is the confidence that I can try. And if something doesn’t suit me, I’ll figure out another way. By doing that, I’m slowly learning more about what direction fits me best and what I personally enjoy. That, in itself, feels like a meaningful step forward.

SIO I’ve been trying to push myself to be more adventurous when it comes to creating. At the end of the day, being an artist means expressing who you are, so I think it’s really important not to stay stuck in a box. These days, when I write songs, I try to let my imagination play a bigger role. Mixing real-life experiences with a bit of fantasy often leads to better results. One day, I’d love for us to perform a song that I wrote together as a group.

If “Echo” was about planting roots, what direction is the next chapter reaching toward?

ARAN I think this next chapter is about making it loud and clear that we've planted our roots right here. Through our next album, I want more people to really recognize who we are and remember us. This is our way of stepping out and saying, “We’re here!”

SAENA The key words for this chapter are challenge and growth. We’re not putting limits on genre or style. We’re staying open to everything. That’s how we end up facing our limits, and that’s also how we can push past them. I believe that kind of openness is what helps us grow the most.

SIO I think this will be the chapter where we really start to showcase the full range of what ablume can do musically. We’ve always kept an open mindset when it comes to music. Within that space, we feel free to dream big and think outside the lines. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been working on and where we’re headed next.

Now that “Echo” is out in the world — do you feel seen, or still slightly misread?

ARAN I think “Echo” was a beautiful beginning. As a starting point, it was more than we could’ve hoped for. Now that we’ve opened the door with such a happy start, it’s time to move forward and show what’s next. Even if I get misunderstood sometimes, I’ll make sure that our music never is. That’s something I’ll always protect.

SAENA I feel like we’re starting to show more and more of our true selves. This is still just the beginning, and there’s only so much you can see from the surface. But moving forward, we’ll keep showing the direction we truly want to go in through our music.

SIO Misunderstandings happen everywhere, so I try not to let them get to me too much anymore. The way I see it, “Echo” came out into the world, and through it, we were able to reconnect with our fans. That alone makes it a successful debut in my eyes. That said, we’ll definitely be showing more of our range and our sound in the future, so I hope you’ll look forward to what’s coming.