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| ▲ Co-ed group Urban Zakapa attends the media showcase for its new album "Stay" held in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- “The title track ‘Stay’ was actually written with actress Suzy in mind. I wanted to compose a melody that would suit her face, so I kept revising it until it felt just right,” said member Kwon Soon-il.
Co-ed group Urban Zakapa shared that singer-actress Suzy served as the inspiration behind their new mini album “Stay,” during a showcase held Monday at Ilji Art Hall in Seoul’s Gangnam District.
“This is the first time we’ve written a song with a specific person as our model,” the members said, adding, “Suzy became our muse.”
Released at 6 p.m. the same day, “Stay” marks the group’s first new release in four years since “This Star” in 2021. The album features seven tracks spanning pop, R&B, and ballad genres, with Kwon Soon-il composing all of them.
The title song “Stay” is a medium-tempo R&B track that highlights the members’ warm harmonies. Kwon said he adjusted the melody after hearing that member Cho Hyun-ah had invited Suzy to star in the music video.
“I thought it was an opportunity that might never come again,” Kwon said. “Rather than making the melody overly sad, I wanted it to be beautiful and lyrical, matching Suzy’s image.”
Cho shared, “Suzy is not only a close friend but also an actress who leaves a deep impression. She agreed to appear in the video without any pay, saying she wanted to help us. Her chemistry with actor Lee Do-hyun, who appears opposite her, was amazing—I think the video will leave a lasting impact.”
The album also includes “Our Winter,” which captures a wintry mood, and “The One,” a reinterpretation of 1990s pop sensibilities. The final track “Moment” features Cho’s whistling near the end, heightening the song’s sense of melancholy.
The members expressed high hopes for their long-awaited comeback.
Cho said, “We worked on this album with the mindset that it absolutely had to succeed.” Park Yong-in added, “It’s been so long since our last release that I’m both excited and nervous to see how people will receive it.”
Urban Zakapa will hold a domestic winter concert tour, starting in Gwangju on Nov. 22, followed by shows in Seoul (Nov. 29–30), Busan (Dec. 6), and Seongnam (Dec. 13).
“I’m confident that anyone who comes will have a great time,” Cho said. “It’ll be an easygoing yet enjoyable concert to wrap up the year.”
Since debuting in 2009, Urban Zakapa has won fans with relatable hits such as “I Don’t Love You” and “Thursday Night.” Known for their unique blend of voices and conversational lyrics, the group said they plan to continue writing songs that resonate with listeners.
“Our identity lies in storytelling,” Cho said. “We create music that feels like a natural conversation—neither too complex nor difficult—so that our songs can become everyone’s stories.”
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