The nine-member girl group Gen1es, formed by the talent show 'Produce Camp Asia,' announced its disbandment less than two years after debuting. Malaysian member Elyn Leong spoke for the first time about her feelings after being released from her contract early at her second solo single 'Little Us' press conference on Friday. She admitted that when she first received the news, she felt lost, but after calming down, she instead saw this turning point as a chance to start anew.
Elyn revealed that the company informed the members about the decision around a month before the dissolution. “I really felt quite lost at the time, but after thinking it through, maybe it’s not necessarily a bad thing.” She explained that while her group career had come to an end, it also gave her the opportunity to replan her future and continue chasing her dreams as a solo artist.
After the group officially disbanded in February this year, Elyn took less than three months to get back on her feet. Following her debut solo single 'Call 911' that kicked off her solo journey with a bold, playful, and distinctive style, she has now released the completely different 'Little Us.' She described 'Little Us' as a song written for her inner child, and also for the dreamer inside her who always believed in the future. She hopes to use music to accompany everyone who is working hard in their own life journey.
Elyn, who started as a child star, admitted that she left her hometown to pursue her dreams at a young age. When facing an unfamiliar environment, she actually felt a lot of confusion and insecurity, but in order not to worry her family, she would only share good news and keep the bad to herself, doing her best to play the part of a mature adult. “After pretending to be an adult for so long, it feels like I really did slowly grow up.” However, when asked if she likes being an adult, she immediately shook her head and laughed, saying, “No! I don’t want to be an adult.” She misses the lively, cheerful, cute, and expressive version of herself from childhood, and hopes to retain that innocence and original passion in the future.