TWICE Reflect on How Their K-Pop Brand Connects Around the World at KCON 2018 Los Angeles

The girl group stole the show at the world's biggest K-pop festival. Here they talk teamwork, songwriting and what's coming next.

TWICE is arguably Asia's most in-demand female act, and it’s easy to get a sense of their domination from sales stats on Twitter, videos of airport mobs on Instagram and fancams that collect millions of views. The nine-member girl group have taken over their home base in South Korea with eight consecutive number one singles, boast chart-topping success in Japan, China, and and even America. And after performing as headliners at KCON 2018 Los Angeles — the world's largest K-pop festival and convention that brought out a reported 94,000 fans on August 11 and 12 — it was more than clear that Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, Momo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu are primed to take on an entire arena stateside, too.

Before the full group appeared for their set, Jihyo, Momo, and Tzuyu delivered a cover of Beyoncé's "End of Time" — a song the trio is performing on their TWICELAND ZONE 2 Fantasy Park tour that currently only has dates in in Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Wearing flapper-esque dresses, Jihyo nailed a slew of impressive ad-libs and Momo slayed a chest bump-heavy dance break to mark a moment American fans though they might only ever see live if they flew halfway across the world. Later in the night, Jihyo and Mina went into the crowd to introduce fellow performers Wanna One, earning meme-ready reactions from standing next to fans on the verge of tears.

By the time the full group hit the stage, TWICE fans — affectionately known as ONCE, get it? — were treated to the full-stan experience as they delivered recent hits like "Dance the Night Away," "What Is Love?" and "Likey" complete with the group's precise-yet-fun-to-follow choreography and adorable plays to the camera that overseas supporters usually only experience through YouTube. Momo, Dahyun, and Sana seemed to earn the biggest cheers from the SoCal crowd, with the latter member's famously adorable "Shy Shy Shy" lyric in "Cheer Up" earning an eruption of screams from the arena. It was a mini-trip to TWICELAND, but it was just long enough for ONCE and K-pop fans to get a visible sense of the superstars that make up the continuously growing phenomenon.

Less than an hour before hitting the stage, the ladies appear more than used to the chaos of lights being taken down and cameras shuffling through press junket–style interviews backstage at the Staples Center. Instead of allowing themselves to be distracted, the group makes direct eye contact, and cracks each other up when they look around to see who will answer a tougher question. That same personable energy seeped into the KCON crowd to earn TWICE the type of screams most expect to hear for America's biggest pop sensations and act as a thunderingly audible reminder to why TWICE is one of K-pop's global leaders.

Teen Vogue: TWICE was last in Los Angeles in August 2016 when your careers were just starting to take off with 2016's "Cheer Up," which went on to be Korea's most-downloaded song of the year. Take us through what's changed.

Jihyo: In two years, we released a lot of new songs. The first time we were here it was only our second release but this time we have a lot of songs under our belt [that have found success].

Nayeon: We haven't been here in Los Angeles in two years, but when we went out shopping and went to eat, a lot of people recognized us. We were so surprised! [Laughs]

TV: TWICE most recently released your album Summer Nights, led by "Dance the Night Away.”. How do you describe that sound in comparison to your past singles*?

Jihyo: "Dance the Night Away" is the first time we've released a single during the summer so we had high expectations and prepared a lot [to make sure it fit the season]. It's really a refreshing song [when you’re] like, going to a swimming pool. It’s a great track to play when going on a drive.

TV: The "Dance the Night Away" music video sees all nine of you stranded and partying on a desert island. But if the situation was real, who would be least likely to survive?

Jeongyeon: Jihyo wouldn't survive because she doesn't like bugs.

Jihyo: I probably wouldn't survive because of boredom. [Group laughs]

TV: When you look at your social media numbers of YouTube views, it's clear TWICE connect with many people around the world. Why do you personally think that is?

Jihyo: As the group's leader, I believe our team is overflowing with energy when we're on stage. But I think it's all possible due us getting along and our teamwork being so great. I think that's why our team has this atmosphere of being really energetic in a way that we can feel like we're friends with fans.

TV: You have a lot of famous fans in Korea and Japan, and most recently Camila Cabello gave you a shout out, because couldn't stop singing your single "Candy Pop" after meeting you in Japan. Are you fans of her too?

Nayeon: We met her at a Japanese music show, Music Station, and we're also really big fans of her single "Havana" so it was an honor to meet her.

TV: As you've grown in your careers, you're also growing as songwriters. On Summer Nights, the song "Shot Thru the Heart" saw Momo, Sana, and Mina earning their first writing credits. Can you tell us about polishing this part of your craft?

Chaeyeon: All the members are writing and or trying to write now. If Tzuyu just writes then all members will have been involved in at least one song on a TWICE album! I think it's great that everyone wants to be involved in participating in the production of the album.

Mina: And specifically with "Shot Thru the Heart," the three of us would meet up every night, talk about it, and think about the song and the lyrics. It was a really fun time for us and now we have a song we've written.

TV: You must be very busy these days. Can you give us a hint of what's coming next, as well as how you deal with your busy schedules?

Tzuyu: My favorite ways to relax are eating with the members and watching movies. As a major self-care tip, we try to get as much sleep as possible whenever we have time.

Jihyo: We could tour or not. If people really want it, we could be coming to your country.

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