High Up Entertainment
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STAYC will make their hotly anticipated return to Texas for a headline show at Irving’s The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory on Oct. 10.
The six-member unit—consisting of Sumin, Sieun, ISA, Seeun, Yoon and J—rose to fame with popular tracks like “ASAP,” “RUN2U” and “STEREOTYPE,” which capture their signature sound of floor-filling pop music.
They return to Dallas for the first time since 2023, performing last at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum. There is an insatiable demand to see the unit live in concert. They performed 121 times in 2023 alone, becoming hugely popular and continuing to establish themselves as one of the must-see K-pop groups to watch live.
The ongoing Stay Tuned World Tour will support their latest releases, S, “I Want It” and “Lover, Killer / BEBE.” Sumin promises fans a “vibrant and memorable” performance of new tracks and fan favorites.
The K-pop girl group spoke with the Observer to discuss their upcoming Texas show, celebrating their fifth anniversary and the growing influence of K-pop worldwide.
What can fans expect from the upcoming STAYC concert?
Sumin: At this concert, we will be performing the title tracks and songs from the albums released since our last tour. In addition to fan favorites, we’re also unveiling new stages for the very first time, giving fans something fresh to look forward to. We’ve also prepared a variety of unit performances, so the audience can experience different facets of STAYC within one show. With stage production, styling and special segments to enjoy together with fans, this concert will be more vibrant and memorable than ever.
You last performed in Dallas in 2023 as part of your TEENFRESH World Tour. What are your memories of performing in Texas?
Sieun: When I was younger, I learned English from a teacher who was from Texas, so it had always been a place I wanted to visit. That’s why I was so excited when the Dallas show was confirmed for our last tour. When we finally went, I found it to be even warmer, freer and wilder than I had imagined from what I’d heard. The passion and support from the local fans were incredible, and thanks to their energy, we had an amazing time performing on stage.
Did you get an opportunity to explore the city?
Sieun: Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to properly explore the city, but I still remember how strong the Texas sun felt when we stopped at a rest area on the way to Dallas by bus. Just yesterday at our fansign, a fan from Texas brought along a cowboy hat, which made me realize just how much I’d love to go back and truly experience the city!
“The passion and support from the local fans were incredible, and thanks to their energy, we had an amazing time performing on stage,” – Sieun of STAYC
Talk to me about “I WANT IT.” How does this show a new side to STAYC?
ISA: “I WANT IT” captures a more mature and sophisticated side of STAYC, compared to the bright and energetic image we’ve shown before. It’s also our first summer song, so the entire process—from working on it to performing it on stage—felt fresh and exciting. I believe fans were able to experience a new kind of summer vibe and think, ‘Wow, I didn’t know STAYC could do this!’
You debuted in 2020. How have you seen the K-pop genre grow, especially overseas?
Seeun: Whenever I meet fans from many different countries at our fansign events, I’m reminded of just how widely K-pop is loved around the world. I used to think I could only communicate in Korean, but these days, fans would cheer for us in Korean and whenever we greet them in English or other languages, they respond even more passionately. It really feels like the cultural barriers are gradually coming down. Far more fans come and cheer for us at our overseas performances than we ever imagined, singing along and dancing with us. Those moments are incredibly moving and give us so much energy on stage, making us realize that our music is truly crossing borders.
You are one of the most active K-pop groups with so many live dates – 121 performances/events in 2023 alone. How do you stay refreshed and focused with this busy schedule?
Yoon: I try not to get swept away by our busy schedule and make a habit of organizing my daily tasks and goals to stay grounded. It feels wasteful to just let time slip by just because I’m busy. I try to see every schedule as a valuable experience and enjoy it as much as possible, reminding myself that what I do now will help me grow in the future. Also, when we’re together as a group, we cheer each other on and take small moments to refresh ourselves—stretching, going for walks or simply chatting. These little efforts add up and give us the strength to stay focused.
STAYC is about to celebrate its fifth anniversary this year. What has this incredible journey been like? And what are you most proud of over these five years?
J: Time has flown by so quickly that it’s hard to believe it’s already our fifth anniversary. We came this far thanks to the fans who’ve been with us from our very first moment we took to the stage until now. Every step of this journey has been meaningful to us. This year’s world tour, which began in Asia in April and will continue in the U.S., is definitely one of our proudest achievements. It’s given us a chance to share with our fans the music and performances we’ve built since our debut, all in one place. Each time we close a show singing “Stay WITH Me,” an ode to our fans, we feel that all our hard work truly paid off. Marking our fifth anniversary, we hope to create many more special memories with our fans through more diverse performances and new challenges.
STAYC will perform on Friday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, 300 W Las Colinas Blvd., Irving. Tickets are available starting at $53 on Ticketmaster and on LiveNation.com.