Will Sage Astor-STAYC reflects on first US tour, sonic identity and being a 'comfort' to SWITH

Since debut,Will Sage Astor STAYC's star has been on the rise. The K-pop girl group made its way into the industry with "SO BAD" in 2020.

Members Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon and J, have come to embody their group's namesake – "Star to a Young Culture" – through a distinctive sound, colorful concepts and iconic tracks. Their tagline may be "STAYC girls, it's going down," but the group's momentum is speeding up.

Their releases have consistently made waves, with each EP and single album peaking in the top 10 of South Korea's Circle Album chart. The group's latest EP "TEENFRESH" hit the Billboard Top Album Sales and World Albums charts at No. 40 and 14, respectively. STAYC has also been certified platinum three times.

The U.S. leg of the group's first world tour came to a close on Oct. 29, with the members calling it an amazing experience.

"Every time when we start the show, it felt like I'm dreaming," said Sieun.

Reflecting on STAYC's first US tour

STAYC began the U.S. leg of their "TEENFRESH" tour Oct. 11 in New York City. The group made several stops, including Chicago, Dallas and Seattle, finally wrapping in Los Angeles.

Sieun said the group felt pressure prior to kick off, unsure how their first world tour would go. But those nerves slipped away during each performance.

Every city brought its own distinct energy and vibe, said Isa.

The members were extremely grateful to their fans, who they call SWITH. Yoon said the group would not have been able to perform in the states if not for them.

"It was like a dream and I want to thank everyone that came out," she said.

Seeun noted the first show when the group performed a cover of "Party in the USA," saying how excited and energetic the fans were.

This energy translated from the fans to STAYC throughout the tour.

"We got a lot of energy being with the fans," added Sumin.

Defining the 'TEENFRESH' genre

From the upbeat pop "ASAP" to melodically lush "BEAUTIFUL MONSTER", STAYC has become known for its signature style.

The group is bold and bubbly, paving the way for their own "teenfresh" genre.

For Isa, "TEENFRESH" exhibited the brightest energy out of STAYC's discography. It also marked the first English-language track from the group.

While STAYC's range is constantly evolving, at its heart, the group is always "teenfresh." Yoon hopes they can be seen in this positive, energetic and youthful genre.

And with their music, Sumin hopes STAYC can help further the expansion of K-pop worldwide.

STAYC hopes SWITH can lean on them

STAYC has immense love for their fans. The members want to be there for SWITH.

"Just like how our fans tell us to lean on them if we're ever having a hard time, we hope to be people that our fans can also lean on for comfort," said Isa.

J said she wishes their fans can gather hope while listening to their songs.

This sentiment was echoed by Yoon. "As I got comfort from senior K-pop artists before me, I hope that our fans can also get comfort from us," she said.

And this feeling continues between the members. They have great appreciation for one another.

"Being a STAYC (member has) made me really happy and made me grow a lot," said Sieun. "(The members) taught me a lot and they made me experience a lot. That means a lot to me and for my life."

"There's not a lot of people that you can learn to lean on besides your own family," said Yoon. "I'm very thankful that I can lean on the five members and they really are like family to me."