Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage, and substance.
Every K-Pop group has a unique story to tell. Years of auditions and training lead up to the public unveiling of a group. Promotions and comebacks showcase new sides to the members and emphasise their unique skills. Beyond that, stories diverge. Many groups grow and expand, some artists in groups debut solo, and others unfortunately disband. However, some groups take a different path entirely, opting to re-debut and continue their story.
AWU is one such example. Originally the group was revealed as a duo, comprising of members DIA and LOLA. The visual teaser for the group offered an additional surprise in the form of a third member – U_Chae.
Trios in K-Pop are something of a rarity, but they offer an interesting group dynamic and composition – VIVIZ, 3YE, Orange Caramel, Girls’ Generation–TTS and EXO–CBX to name a few have all made their mark with unique music, concepts and promotions.
AWU have something further to offer that makes them stand out from other groups. All 3 members were previously members of K-Pop girl group PIXY, who were renowned for their dark fantasy concept. Their music was intense, story-driven and choreography focused, making them a real 4th generation standout. Sadly, in September 2025, their company announced bankruptcy, with many fans wondering what would come next for the group.
As AWU start their new journey, we sat down with them to discuss their new identity as a trio, the impact of PIXY, the members’ solo releases, and their future plans!
Q1. Please could you introduce yourselves and the inspiration behind your group name?
AWU: We can’t reveal it just yet because it is still a secret, but it is related to our fandom WINXY.
We will explain it later, so please look forward to it!
Q2. To DIA: You recently made your solo debut with ‘Dance!’. Could you tell us some more about this track and what you learned while making the song?
DIA: This song is my first self-written track, and it is based on a dance-pop genre. Since it was my first album, I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of message I wanted to deliver through music. Eventually I thought, “Why not turn what I want to say to my fans into a song?” That’s how the theme “Dance!” was created.
The message of the song is that I want to dance and enjoy music freely with our fans, without worries. I hope we can stop caring about other people’s perspectives and simply focus on each other, feeling alive and happy in that moment. It’s also about how much I have been filled and supported by my fans.
While creating this song, I learned more deeply about the different elements that make up a song, and I discovered how fun and meaningful the songwriting process can be.
Q3: To LOLA: You also debuted recently with your song “TATz”. Could you tell us about the creative process behind this track and the lyrics?
LOLA: When I first started working on this song, I thought it would be good to begin with the story behind it. The meaning of the lyrics is about expressing the feelings that many people — including our WINXY — might have at times.
Sometimes people want to say, “Please stop interfering in my life.” I thought that instead of holding it inside, I would be brave enough to express those feelings first through my music. That idea inspired me to write the lyrics for this song.
Q4. To U_Chae: You have released several solo projects and recently held a US fan meeting tour. What do you enjoy the most when performing and interacting with your fans?
U_Chae: Every moment spent meeting our fans is precious and enjoyable to me. But especially when everyone is enjoying my music together, those moments feel even more special and exciting.
Q5. AWU was originally revealed as a duo, however the recent prologue video revealed U_Chae being added to the group. How did the members feel being able to work together again?
AWU: Of course we were very happy ourselves, but it meant even more to us because we knew our fans had been waiting and hoping to see the PIXY members together again. Being able to show that reunion in this way feels very meaningful and precious to us.
Q6. How would each member describe AWU’s vibe and style as a group?
DIA: I think the biggest strength of AWU is that each member has a very different charm and color. Personally, LOLA has a playful personality but also a strong girl-crush charm. U_CHAE has a lovely side but also shows a growing maturity. As for me, I think I have a kind of hidden innocence behind a strong image.
U_CHAE: The current AWU members were actually the members who represented the “evil” side in PIXY’s good-and-evil storyline. Because of that, I think the chemistry between the three of us has a very powerful and charismatic energy.
LOLA: Compared to PIXY, I think AWU has a different kind of strong concept. We’ve also grown a bit more mature both personally and visually, so I think a more mature and confident style could represent AWU well.
Q7. Your fans, WINXY, have been patiently waiting for you all to come back together. What are some of your favourite moments from your time as PIXY?
AWU: I think the overseas tours remain the most memorable moments. Touring meant performing on many stages together and meeting our fans up close, which created many unforgettable memories.
Q8. You’ve each had some creative control over your new music. If you could choose any concept or genre for the next AWU song, what would you pick and why?
DIA: Personally, I would love to return with a more musically mature side of myself. I’m curious how AWU would sound if we tried a house genre. Dark and powerful music is great, but I also wonder what it would be like to create music that everyone can enjoy together in a more lighthearted and energetic way.
U_CHAE: It’s honestly a very difficult decision. We always want to show new and improved sides of ourselves, so I can’t choose just one concept right now. Whatever concept we decide on for our next songs will come after a lot of thought, and I hope people will love the music that results from that process.
LOLA: This is a very difficult question because there are so many concepts and genres I’d like to try. If I had to choose, I would say electronic music or maybe a softer band-style song. Since these are genres we haven’t explored yet, I’m curious to see how AWU’s charm might stand out when we try different styles.
Q9. Which Kpop artists inspire each of the members and why?
DIA: When I listen to ROSÉ’s music, I feel that it is very honest and relatable. It made me want to create music like that as well. Her vocal tone and style are very unique, but also the kind of voice you want to keep listening to. I also think she has great artistic sense in terms of concept and style, so there is a lot I can learn from her.
U_CHAE: Recently I’ve been listening to ROSÉ’s songs. Seeing how she expresses her own story honestly through music has been very inspiring to me.
LOLA: I have been very inspired by BLACKPINK. Not only as a group, but each member has such strong individual influence. I really respect how they shine wherever they are, and that’s something I would love to learn from as an artist.
Q10. If you could collaborate with any other artist who would you choose and why?
AWU: Since we respect BLACKPINK so much, we would love to collaborate with them someday if the opportunity ever comes. Like them, we want to continue working hard, growing as artists, and never losing our passion for music, performances, and our fans.
Q11. What do each of the members enjoy doing in their free time?
DIA: I like reading books, watching dramas, or writing down lyrics. I guess I don’t move around that much physically. (laughs)
U_CHAE: I like getting a lot of sleep or binge-watching romance dramas.
LOLA: Recently my hobby has been collecting Hangyodon goods from capsule toys. Every time I try the gachapon machine, it’s exciting, and when I actually get Hangyodon, the sense of accomplishment is huge!
Q12: Lastly, does each member have any messages to send to their fans?
DIA: WINXY! Thank you so much for waiting for us and always supporting and loving us with the same heart. Your love gives me strength every day. I will continue working hard to create music that can give WINXY hope and strength. WINXY are very precious and meaningful to me, and I hope I can also be that kind of person for you. I love you so much 🤍
U_CHAE: I’m so happy that we will have more time together with our WINXY as PIXY and now as AWU. I can’t wait for the day when we can meet more often with AWU.
LOLA: WINXY, you’ve waited for us for a long time, right? I think the time you spent waiting must have felt even longer than the time we waited. It made our hearts hurt too. From now on, we want to fill the emptiness, the longing, and the sadness you felt while waiting by showing you more of AWU. Thank you so much for waiting and welcoming us again. We love you, WINXY ❤️
Thank you so much to the members of AWU and their team for answering our pre-debut questions! AWU are a group with endless potential with talented members who possess a wealth of industry experience. We wish them the best on the next stage of their journey as they prepare for their new release!
Please support their upcoming releases and look forward to more coverage of AWU on our socials: @hallyutones on X and Instagram.
To support the members please check out the links below:
AWU Official X: @AWUofc
AWU Official Instagram: @awu_ofc
DIA Instagram: @xundorida
LOLA Instagram: @_ch0ice_uu
U_Chae Instagram: @iamuchae
HallyuTones 
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