I.O.I, the project girl group from Mnet’s Produce 101, released “I.O.I: LOOP” today at 6 p.m. KST, nine years after their last group activities and exactly 10 years since debuting on May 4, 2016. The album follows a pre-release single ‘Goodbye With A Smile (Recorded in 2016),’
“Like an emotion that arrived without warning—a story reconnecting with time that had stood still.”
This album captures the moment when emotions, frozen in time for a decade, finally reconnect. It encapsulates the memories and feelings that suddenly surface amidst the rapid flow of time, as well as the relationships that are being rekindled.
‘I.O.I (Where My Girls At)’ is an upbeat pop-dance track built upon a foundation of house rhythms. The blend of addictive synth sounds and the members’ refreshing vocals delivers a surge of excitement that erases the 10-year hiatus, offering a vibrant energy unique to their reunion. Jeon Somi personally participating in both lyrics and composition to fully capture the essence of I.O.I’s energy.
The title track, ‘Suddenly,’ is a synth-pop piece that delicately captures feelings of longing and nostalgia. Member Jeon Somi contributed to the lyrics, infusing the song with the sincerity of the time they shared and the tender affection of their rekindled bond.
Amidst the fast-paced rhythm of daily life, emotions that arrive abruptly and without warning—echoed in the repeated lyric “Suddenly”—transport us back to those days of the past. The outro, which richly fills the latter half of the track, leaves behind a complex resonance—a lingering impression that feels as though long-dormant emotions are finally reawakening.
‘SPF 100+ (Summer Pop Fantasy)’ is an Afrobeats track distinguished by its lively grooves and refreshing soundscape. The track wittily captures the intense emotions of a long-awaited reunion, drawing a clever parallel to “Sunblock.” Going beyond the scope of a simple summer song, it reconnects us to the seasons of the past that suddenly come to mind, offering a radiant and refreshing “Fantasy” to be shared amidst the weariness of daily life.
‘IF I’ is a rock-based track that blends straightforward band instrumentation with synth elements. It sings of the realization that—despite moments when they drifted apart while navigating their own individual paths—they ultimately remained right where they started, always in the same place. The song captures the moment of reunion following a ten-year hiatus, painting a cinematic portrait of a relationship that remains unchanged and seamlessly continues, even as time flows on. Yoo Yeon-jung participating in both lyrics and composition to complete its narrative,
Written and composed by member Chungha, ‘Then, Us, Now’ is a ballad track distinguished by its warm piano accompaniment and lush string melodies. It encapsulates a heartfelt wish: that our time together might begin to move again—much like a music box that starts to play its melody once its gears are wound—even after moments that felt as though time had completely stopped.
Serving as a lyrical response to their previous promotional track “Downpour,” this song depicts a moment of reunion where spirits are brightened once again by the warmth of one another—much like a rainbow appearing after a cold rain has ceased. Fueled by the belief that they can always wind the gears of time to be together again, the song warmly chronicles the journey of “Then, Us” evolving into “Now, Us.”
The pre-released track, ‘Smiling Goodbye (Recorded in 2016) (Prod. Jinyoung)’ is an archival track released to the world, preserving intact the fresh, youthful sensibility of the time it was recorded back in 2016. That voice from a decade ago instantly turns back the hands of time, signaling the beginning of a “story that continues once more.”
It captures a mature farewell—one that transitions from a joyful “hello” to a parting “goodbye”—conveying a mutual wish to part ways with a smile and a blessing for the future, born of a deep understanding of one another’s true feelings. Like lovers who choose smiles over tears for the sake of the other, it stands as a promise made in those days to render even a painful breakup into something beautiful. Arriving after a long period of waiting, this record leaves a profound, lingering resonance with “us, in the present,” now reconnected once again.
Meanwhile, the “2026 Concert Tour: LOOP” begins May 29 in Seoul.