The EP also consists of “Forever Young” -- one of the two double lead tracks -- along with “Really” and “See U Later.“ Like other records of Black Pink, all the tracks were produced by hit producer Teddy, widely known for his previous works with 2NE1.

Black Pink’s emphasis on “power” is in keeping with advice of Yang Hyun-suk, the head of its agency YG Entertainment who stressed that the quartet should “show more power.”

“When we practiced the choreography, he came to see us and check if things are going alright. He told us to be powerful, putting aside a feminine touch,” Rose said.

Jisoo is sure that people will be able to see a different side of Black Pink. “Our previous tracks had a girly aspect. But this time, it’s some more hip-hop,” she said.

The new EP is the band’s first record since its latest single was dropped in June 2017. The break was longer than expected, as rookie girl bands usually release new records in six to seven months.

“It was a long time for us too. But taking a break for a year, we were able to shoot our first reality show,” Jennie said, referring to the band’s reality show “Black Pink House” which aired earlier this year.

The break also gave Black Pink some more time to prepare for the new work.

“We prepared a lot for the new EP. ‘Square Up’ has four songs, but there were originally more tracks. The preparation took a while, as we wanted to show fans better performance on stage,” Jennie said.

During the break, the band also performed at university festivals and in Japan. Through the experience, the bandmates came to understand more about stage performance. They are now more confident that they can perform better on stage.

Since its debut in 2016, Black Pink has received the spotlight in the K-pop scene, dropping hit tracks such as “Boombayah,” “As If It’s Your Last” and “Whistle.” Though “Ddu-du Ddu-du” is anticipated to bring good results, the members showed off their humble side.

“Coming back after a year, we should be thankful for people just listening to our songs. If they like them, we should be grateful,” Jennie said.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)