K-pop girl group H1-KEY is setting its sights on a fresh chapter this summer with the release of “Summer Was You,” the lead single from their upcoming fourth EP, “Lovestruck.” Scheduled to drop on Thursday at 6 p.m. KST, the album seeks to capture cherished moments and emotional highs.
“In ‘Summer Was You,’ summer symbolizes the brightest and most passionate moment in someone’s life,” said Riina during a press interview held June 20 in southern Seoul. “The song tells the story of our most beautiful memories.”
Staying true to their signature band-infused sound, H1-KEY delivers what the members call a “classic H1-KEY-style” song. The four-member act — Riina, Hwiseo, Seoi, and Yel — debuted in January 2022 with “Athletic Girl,” but rose to prominence with their breakout 2023 hit “Rose Blossom,” a sentimental pop-rock anthem known for its message of resilience and self-discovery.
“Summer Was You” continues in that emotional, rock-tinged direction.
“The moment I heard this song, I thought, ‘Ah, this is a H1-KEY song,’” said Yel, recalling how the track instantly resonated with her. “Even in the demo, I could already imagine our voices bringing it to life.”
Rather than trying to surpass the success of “Rose Blossom,” the group hopes their new song will stand beside it as another career-defining track.
“We’re not focused on outdoing ‘Rose Blossom,’” said Riina. “We just want ‘Summer Was You’ to become H1-KEY’s summer anthem — something that represents who we are.”
The “Lovestruck” EP includes a total of five tracks: “Summer Was You,” “Good for U,” “One, Two, Three, Four,” “Let Me Be Your Sea,” and an instrumental version of the title track.
Earlier this year, the group held their first fan concert, “Find My Key in Seoul,” celebrating their third anniversary. The experience only fueled their ambitions.
“After the concert, I started dreaming of a longer, large-scale concert — maybe at a stadium like Jamsil,” said Hwiseo.
“I’d love to perform overseas more, maybe even at a festival like Coachella someday,” added Yel, laughing shyly.
As they build their discography, the members say they want H1-KEY to be remembered as a group with unique energy and lasting impact.
“We want to be the kind of group where people say, ‘It’s H1-KEY? Of course we can’t miss this,’” said Seoi. “We want to leave a strong impression — not just for our fans, but for anyone who hears our music.”
Sayart / Kang In sig insig6622@naver.com
