Rescene's 'Glow Up' inspired by clean scent of soap

Rescene members pose for a photo during a press conference held in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. (Park Ji-eun/The Korea Herald)

Five-member girl group Rescene is back to prove its growth over the past year with a bright and refreshing charm.

On Wednesday afternoon, Rescene held a press conference in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of its second mini-album, "Glow Up." It marks the group's return approximately five months after the group's first mini-album, "Scenedrome," released in August last year.

"Scenedrome" was recognized by Billboard as one of the “Best K-pop Albums of 2024,” while its title track, “Love Attack,” was listed among Grammy’s “10 K-pop Songs That Heated Up 2024.”

“We received way more love than we ever imagined, even from international fans. Being recognized by Billboard and Grammy made us realize how important this album is, so we worked even harder to prepare for it,” said leader Woni.

The new album, "Glow Up," includes the main track of the same title, as well as “Crash,” “Going On,” “In My Lotion” and “Cotton Candy.”

The title track, “Glow Up,” is a dance song featuring Rescene’s signature dreamy yet uplifting chorus melody and a catchy, playful hook. The song “Glow Up” carries a dual meaning -- symbolizing both shining brightly and growing confidently.

Woni explained that the smell of soap inspired the album's concept. “We wanted to express our renewed selves through the pure and refreshing scent of soap,” she shared.

“Each of our albums has a specific scent as a theme. We spent a lot of time deciding on the fragrance this time. While we considered a fresh and fruity scent, we ultimately chose the clean and familiar scent of soap.”

Since its debut single in March last year, followed by its first mini-album, "Scenedrome," the quintet has rapidly gained attention as a rising group. The multinational act, composed of four Korean members and one Japanese member, made history as the first K-pop idol group to perform at Tokyo Tower, one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks.

Japanese member Minami reflected on the milestone, saying, “I visited Tokyo Tower often when I was younger, so performing there was beyond anything I could have imagined. It was such an honor to receive so much love, not only in Japan but from international fans as well."