Their first world tour, it has been a long time coming for ITZY, who saw the pandemic strike barely a year into their career. It’s especially important in the context of their hyper-online existence, where opinions shift and multiply at the speed of light. Their sleek, genre-blending songs and sophisticated, perfectly executed performances have placed them firmly in the top tier of K-pop girl groups since their debut—and they maintain that energetic self-confidence on their fifth mini-album, CHECKMATE.

CHECKMATE - Album by ITZY - Apple Music ‎CHECKMATE - Album by ITZY - Apple Music

We all know that we have to have that mindset, but we know that it’s really hard when it comes to reality. Our fans, my members, my family, they’re my motivation,” she tells us, earning a resounding chorus of “awwws” from her bandmates.

Discussing the group’s fifth mini-album Checkmate (out this Friday, July 15) over Zoom with Billboard, Yeji states: “ITZY are always confident. To put your own sneakers on and jump out of [others’] expectations to freedom is the message of this track,” explains Ryujin, adding that, just like their past title tracks, ‘Sneakers’ is ultimately rooted in the message of self-confidence.

ITZY - Checkmate – K Stars ITZY - Checkmate – K Stars

It’s been a while since our last comeback, but we prepared a lot, so please look forward to our album and our performances,” says Ryujin in a final message to their fans. The EP, Itzy's first new music in nine months since the release of their debut studio album Crazy in Love (2021), was announced to be entitled Checkmate with the lead single " Sneakers". As we chat, it becomes clear how much the members of ITZY have grown to rely on one another over the years. Despite some of their personalities being worlds apart, they meld together seamlessly as a team, both on and off stage.e em 2020 com o lançamento do It'z Me, uma das piores coisas que já surgiram no kpop, as coisas não tavam nada bonitas no quesito b-sides. The music video is about girls awakening to the value of freedom through “SNEAKERS”, which draws attention to the presence of the girls who take big steps towards to better future.