NMIXX Shines at ‘K-Content Planet’ in Sydney with New Song “Blue Valentine”
At CarriageWorks, Sydney’s largest complex cultural space, on the 8th of the month, a crowd of 1,500 local audience members sang along to the girl group NMIXX as they performed their new song “Blue Valentine” on the ‘K-Content Planet’ stage. The title track from NMIXX’s first full albumBlue Valentinerecently topped the Melon Top 100 and various music show charts, marking their first music chart victory after 3 years and 8 months since their debut.
Before the performance, NMIXX shared backstage that the success still felt unreal. Kyujin mentioned, “Every day, the rankings kept rising one step at a time. We were so excited, we danced and celebrated every night.” This milestone was especially significant for Lily, who was born in Marysville to an Australian father and Korean mother. She said, “This is especially meaningful as it’s my first visit to my hometown after achieving a music chart 1st place.”
A Cultural Celebration in Australia
The ‘K-Content Planet’ event, hosted by the Korea Creative Content Agency from the 2nd to the 8th in Australia, aimed to promote Korean cultural content. Over 42,218 visitors passed through exhibition booths featuring brands like Jung Sam Mul and Isoi cosmetics, games such as Cookie Run and PUBG, and Otoki Jin Ramen. However, the most popular section was the ‘NMIXX Zone,’ which displayed music video costumes, a makeup tutorial video by member Sullyoon, and rhythm games using NMIXX songs.
Local fan Hera, 15 years old, who was filming herself dancing to K-pop with friends, said, “I heard about the NMIXX performance on social media and rushed here from Chatswood, an hour’s drive away. I love NMIXX’s energetic vibe.” On the event’s first day, long lines formed outside the building as fans tried to obtain 1,200 limited-edition photo cards and performance invitations, distributed only during the exhibition period through a lottery and first-come-first-served basis.
NMIXX’s Journey and Achievements
NMIXX, who debuted in February 2022, derives their name from the letters ‘N’—taken from ‘now,’ ‘new,’ ‘next,’ and the unknown number ‘n’—and ‘MIX,’ symbolizing diversity. It means “the ultimate combination to lead the new era.” Since their debut song “O.O,” they have emphasized ‘Mixpop,’ a genre that seamlessly blends melodies from different genres. However, some fans expressed regret, saying, “Due to its unfamiliar sound, it couldn’t reach the top of the charts, which require mass appeal.”
That’s why this 1st place is so welcome. Fans even use the term “bittersweet reward after hardship.” Leader Haewon said, “It’s a 1st place achieved after a long wait, so it’s truly heartwarming and an apt expression.” Member Bae added, “I cried a lot during this activity. Memories of everyone who supported us, the fans, and our hardworking members flashed before my eyes, and I couldn’t hold back tears.” Sullyoon also said, “The happiest and hardest moments were during thisBlue Valentineactivity. The preparation period was slightly tough, but receiving so much love made it all worthwhile.”
A Unique Sound and Strong Performances
The new song also received praise for “skillfully finding the intersection between Mixpop and mass appeal.” Ethereal synthesizer sounds and catchy guitar riffs flow, only to be contrasted by a faster boom-bap rhythm, captivating the ears. Jiwoo said, “During recording, it took a long time to get used to the sudden tempo changes,” but added, “Those parts became the song’s charm, and the autumn season complemented the mood perfectly.” Kyujin expressed pride in their music, saying, “Mixpop aligns well with our desire to challenge new genres and showcase diverse stage appeal.”
Among idol fans, NMIXX is nicknamed the ‘hexagonal idol,’ meaning they possess all elements. They are particularly praised for their high-note singing and beautiful a cappella harmonies. Haewon said, “We love harmonizing in our free time. Without anyone leading, we naturally layer third intervals when we sing. For every song we’ve released, the members recorded as much backing vocals as possible. We wanted to fill our songs solely with our voices.” Lily, who recently went viral for her vocal skills in a YouTube cover of theK-Pop Demon HuntersOST “Golden,” smiled and said, “Comments like ‘Lily truly opened the door to the soul’ were truly touching.”
Looking Ahead: World Tour and Big Dreams
NMIXX will kick off their first world tour,Episode 1: Zero Frontier, with performances at Incheon Inspire Arena on the 29th and 30th. When asked about their ultimate goal, Lily listed dream stages nonstop, and the members cheerfully chimed in, “Yeah!” “The Super Bowl, Grammys, Coachella, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza—we want to perform on all of them!”
