it was well past working hours when I logged on to speak with FIFTY FIFTY. The connection wasn't perfect. My Wi-Fi fought with theirs, audio cut in and out, and at one point we were all laughing about technology refusing to cooperate. In hindsight, it felt strangely fitting.
After all, the K-pop group's latest EP is called Imperfect-I’mperfect, a project built on the idea that flaws, uncertainties, and messy moments aren't things to hide but things that make us who we are.
For many people, FIFTY FIFTY will always be the group behind Cupid, the dreamy, whimsical earworm that seemed to exist everywhere in 2023. Whether you were a devoted K-pop fan or someone who couldn't name another Korean group, chances are you've heard the song. It dominated social media feeds, playlists, car rides, gym sessions, and countless Instagram reels. The success was unprecedented, turning them into global names almost overnight.
But success stories are rarely as simple as they appear from the outside. The years following Cupid brought immense visibility, but also scrutiny, misconceptions, and challenges that would have tested any young artist. Rather than allowing those experiences to define them, FIFTY FIFTY chose to channel them into music. Their response to all of that arrives in the form of Imperfect-I’mperfect—an EP that argues that perhaps perfection was never the goal in the first place.
Living In The Shadow Of Cupid
It's impossible not to start with the song that changed everything. Cupid became a cultural moment. For many artists, that kind of success can become both a blessing and a burden.
When I ask Keena, who has been in the group since the start, what that period taught her about success, and about the misconceptions that followed—the answer is measured, thoughtful and notably free of bitterness. "It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities," she says. "To see that level of success with a track was something we're incredibly grateful for. We're thankful to all the fans who continue to love the song."
When it comes to misconceptions surrounding the group, however, Keena prefers to focus on the future rather than the noise. For her, the answer lies in continuing to tell their story through music.
"Through the tracks that came afterwards and through what we continue to do, we want to communicate with fans and tell our story through our music. We're constantly creating new music and content, and we hope the songs that come after Cupid will continue to resonate with listeners."
It's a perspective that runs throughout our conversation.
Why Imperfection Became The Message
The title Imperfect-I’mperfect feels like a direct challenge to the impossible standards often placed on young women, particularly women working in entertainment. When I ask what inspired the concept, Chanelle reveals that the idea emerged through extensive conversations with the group, their company and their wider creative team.
"We talked a lot about what message we wanted this album to have," she says. "Eventually, we came to the conclusion that it should be about how it's okay to be imperfect." As they worked on the record, that message became increasingly personal.
"We looked a lot into ourselves while making this album," Chanelle continues. "And I realised that imperfections are what make people the perfect person that they are. Everybody being different is what makes them perfect. That's their perfection."
It's a simple thought, but one that sits at the heart of the entire project. In an era dominated by carefully curated feeds and polished online identities, FIFTY FIFTY are proposing something far more radical: maybe the things we spend the most time trying to hide are exactly what make us unique. "Imperfections are what make the perfect result," Chanelle says.
The Courage Of Being Vulnerable
The EP actively embraces emotional complexity. The songs move beyond easy optimism and acknowledge feelings that aren't always comfortable to discuss. I ask the group whether it felt vulnerable to reveal those emotions while simultaneously growing up in an industry where every action, decision and public appearance is scrutinised.
Yewon immediately acknowledges that this project required them to show a different side of themselves. "We definitely showed a more vulnerable side of ourselves this time," she says.
Part of that vulnerability came through experimentation.
The group intentionally stepped into genres and sounds they hadn't explored before. One example is the B-side track Took It Too Far, which pushed them into unfamiliar musical territory.
"We tried different tones and different parts that we haven't necessarily tried before," Yewon explains. "We worked really hard to study those styles while recording." But the emotional challenge extended beyond genre experimentation. Chanelle adds that the group felt a responsibility to embody the album's message themselves before expecting listeners to connect with it.
"We felt this message was really important," she says. "In order to honestly convey that message, we first had to do it ourselves." She pauses before continuing. "We had to feel comfortable with ourselves first so that others could feel comfortable with themselves too."
It's perhaps the clearest articulation of what Imperfect-I’mperfect is trying to achieve. "We knew it could be difficult," Chanelle says. "But it felt important."
The Songs That Stayed With Them
Naturally, every album has the songs that become personal favourites and the ones that present unexpected challenges. For Athena, the biggest hurdle arrived in the form of Genie Magic. "This time it wasn't just Chanelle singing the high parts," she explains, laughing. "Everyone had to participate in singing the higher notes."
The process became an opportunity for growth. "We all improved a lot while preparing for it, and Chanelle helped us so much. I'm really thankful." Yet if Genie Magic tested their technical abilities, Carry On seems to have touched something deeper. The song was initially introduced to them as a fan-focused track—a message directed toward the people who have remained with them through every chapter.
“We really related to Carry On,” Athena says. The group’s tone immediately softens when discussing it. “When we first got the song, it felt like a message about the journey we’ve shared together, our friendship, the moments we’ve experienced as a team, and the people who’ve been with us along the way.” More than any other track on the EP, ‘Carry On’ seems to capture the emotional core of that shared connection. “We really wanted to express it from the bottom of our hearts,” she says. “Through the lyrics and the emotions.”
What Success Didn't Teach Them
When artists experience global fame at such an early stage in their careers, people often assume the biggest lessons revolve around success itself.
For FIFTY FIFTY, however, the most surprising discovery has been something far simpler. Teamwork. When I ask what has surprised them most since debuting, the conversation quickly shifts away from chart records, streaming numbers and international recognition.
Instead, Chanelle talks about listening. "I think we've learned the importance of listening and the process of making music together," she says. The answer feels particularly telling given everything the group has experienced. "We came in with big dreams and ideas. But hearing what other people have to say made those ideas even bigger and better." Working as a team has changed not only their creative process but also their understanding of one another. "It made us more open-minded," she says. "And more intuitive about how to create better performances together." It's the result of learning. "I think our teamwork has gotten a lot better since debut."
A New Beginning
Towards the end of our conversation, I ask the members to imagine someone revisiting this era of FIFTY FIFTY five years from now.
What do they hope Imperfect-I’mperfect represents in their story? For Keena, the answer comes quickly. If Cupid was the moment that introduced FIFTY FIFTY to the world, this EP is the moment they hope people recognise as the start of something new. "If there's one thing we've kept repeating, it's that we wanted to show a new side of ourselves," she says. A new artistic direction.
"We hope people see this album as the starting point of our journey to continue trying new genres and showing new music and performances." More than anything, they want listeners to understand that FIFTY FIFTY aren't interested in standing still. "We hope people will think of us as artists who aren't afraid to try something new and who can continue broadening our spectrum as artists."
It's a fitting note to end on.
After all, the group that once gave the world one of the biggest viral songs of the decade now finds itself in a very different position. They're no longer introducing themselves through a single hit. They're introducing themselves through evolution. And perhaps that's the real message behind Imperfect-I’mperfect. Not that perfection doesn't exist. But that growth is often far more interesting.
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