NMIXX members find inspiration in each other in new EP 'Strange Muse'

NMIXX’s members are wishing happiness for their fans and themselves in their upcoming EP.

The girl group’s sixth EP — “Strange Muse,” set for release at 6 p.m. on Monday — centers on the members wishing each other the best and striving to inspire one another. The album contains six songs, including the lead track, “Birthday Wish.”

It also introduces the band’s first subunit songs.

“We’re so excited to share our new music with our fans, Nswer, five months after our last release, ‘Heavy Serenade,’” the sextet said in a press release on Monday, ahead of the EP’s debut.

“‘Strange Muse’ tells a story of how we’re all each other’s muse in MiXtopia,” it added, referring to its fictional universe.

“MiXtopia is a space where diverse groups of people can shine in their true colors and inspire each other. The new EP will teach us how our differences can actually help us build a world that we want to live in.”

“I thought that [‘Birthday Wish’] was unique when I first heard it,” member Lily said when asked about the lead track. “The chorus and the narration were very touching. […] I remember having to rehearse a lot because it was our first time having rap sections in a lead track.” 

The EP’s three subunit songs consist of Lily and Haewon’s “Sing to the Moon,” a soft ballad; Sullyoon and Bae’s “Hot ’n Unbothered,” a groovy Latin-style track; and Jiwoo and Kyujin’s “Whip,” a rap song.

As a first-time lyricist, Bae found the process difficult.

“I was lucky enough to write the lyrics for both ‘RudE TaLK,’ the EP’s third track, and ‘Hot ’n Unbothered,’ my first unit song with Sullyoon,” she said. “I learned a lot through meetings with an expert lyricist and by talking to Sullyoon about the direction of the track. I remember calling her even when we were apart to exchange ideas and complete the lyrics.”

The group has been rising in popularity thanks to hits such as “Blue Valentine” (2025) and “Heavy Serenade.”

It also recently received the “Sound of the Year” award, the grand prize at The Fact Music Awards 2026, in September.

When asked if their success weighs them down, Jiwoo called it a “healthy pressure.”

“It makes us want to do better and pushes us to try harder, knowing that Nswer is always waiting for us,” she said. “We worked on this EP in the way that we always do — by giving it our all.”

“It was all thanks to the love and support from so many people,” Sullyoon added. “We want to repay [them] with even better music and stage performances, especially now that we’ve received the grand prize. Our journey as NMIXX is sometimes confusing and challenging, but this award will motivate us to trust and push ourselves.”

The upcoming EP keeps not only the fandom but also the singers themselves in mind. 

“I want to make a wish for those who make us happy,” the group said. “I wish for good health and happiness for ourselves, our families and […] Nswer. I hope that the era that we spend as NMIXX comes back as fond memories when we look back to this time in the far future.”

NMIXX debuted with the single “Ad Mare” (2022) under JYP Entertainment on Feb. 22, 2022. It currently comprises Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo and Kyujin.

BY LEE JI-WON [[email protected]]