Contrary to the powerful image showcased in their debut album OVERSTEP, BADVILLAIN captured widespread attention with their track YA-HO(BATITUDE), which surpassed 20 million views on YouTube. The music video features a striking aesthetic that aligns with the group’s villainous theme. The members are seen in stylish outfits, often set against dramatic backdrops that emphasize their rebellious image. The visual theme combines elements of urban street style with futuristic and dystopian influences, creating a unique and memorable look. We spoke with these members, who, true to their name, seem to be ‘villains’ with a ‘bad,’ ‘hero’ quality, about their track YA-HO (BATITUDE).
ELLE: For fans who have already fallen for the charm of BADVILLAIN and for K-pop fans preparing to fall in love with your music, could each of you please introduce yourself?
Chloe Young: Hello, I’m Chloe Young of BADVILLAIN, and my role in the team is rap and laughter!
KELLY: Hello, I’m KELLY of BADVILLAIN, known as the chic yet adorable ‘Goneuki’ (combination of cat and wolf), and I’m the youngest!
EMMA: Hello, I’m EMMA of BADVILLAIN. My position on the team is that of a main dancer and rapper!
Vin: Hello! I’m Vin of BADVILLAIN, and I’m in charge of vocals!
Yun Seo: Hello! I’m YunSeo, known as the tallest and also the rabbit of the team! I think my charming point is that I look really different on and off stage! If this is interesting to you, please keep tuning in and you’ll get to know more about my two selves!
INA: Hello, I’m INA, a 20-year-old from Australia. I bring energy and power to the team, and I work hard to showcase my dancing, singing, and rapping skills! I hope you’re excited about the various aspects I’ll show you in the future!
HU’E: Hello, I’m HU’E of BADVILLAIN, and I’m in charge of vocals! Thank you!
ELLE: The title tracks BADVILLAIN and YA-HO (BADTITUDE) captivated audiences with the dazzling visuals and performances you showed in the music videos and various music broadcast stages. Please tell us about the story behind each music video for BADVILLAIN and YA-HO (BADTITUDE).
KELLY: For starters, the BADVILLAIN music video portrays members as proud figures who have established their own world outside the standards set by society. It tells us that BADVILLAIN will become heroes on stage, surpassing our limits. On the other hand, YA-HO (BADTITUDE) is a performance-focused music video that showcases BADVILLAIN’s bold and confident charm. It features choreography with movements like twerking and a group dance scene with a mega dance crew. In the music video, time shifts between day and night, emphasizing a stark contrast between scenes. This contrast highlights the joyous feeling of forging one’s own path and flying high, unhindered by misguided rules or ideologies, all the while shouting “Ya-Ho(BATITUDE)!”
ELLE: The mega dance crew scene particularly stands out from the choreography. It is such a grand and powerful performance, and it is truly impressive. What led you to adopt such large-scale choreography with a mega crew following your debut song BADVILLAIN and what part of BADVILLAIN’s identity does this choice symbolise?
Vin: I’d say we adopted large-scale choreography with a mega crew to enhance our BADVILLAIN performances and deliver more energy. With BADVILLAIN we aimed to showcase BADVILLAIN’s multifaceted talents, not only through performances but also with addictive melodies and powerful rap verses.
ELLE: The fashion choices in the daytime scenes of the music video YA-HO(BADTITUDE) are genuinely creative. The combination of rugby shirts, sports leggings, and skirts gives off a sporty and unique cheerleader vibe. Additionally, the choreography focusing on hip and waist movements subtly evokes elements of belly dance. Could you tell us more about the process behind creating the clothing concepts and choreography?
Chloe Young: The choreography and outfits are decided based on ideas we have during recording sessions and the images each of us has. Since we have a lot of bright and positive energy, I think the choreography naturally becomes energetic and dynamic as well. Throughout this process, there’s a lot of input from the members, which I think leads to better results.
EMMA: While maintaining the high-quality, intense performances that are characteristic of BADVILLAIN, we also made a concerted effort to focus on delivering strong live performances!
This group, which does not conform to conventional rules and values freedom, might clash with the world we currently perceive. However, the longing for freedom that everyone harbours is brought to life in the surreal yet enjoyable fantasy presented by the seven members in the YA-HO (BATITUDE) performance video. We look forward to the messages of hope and freedom that BADVILLAIN will continue to convey in the future.
