On April 18, former Beauty Box and ARVVY members Chaeeun and Gahyun debuted as a duo with their single album, PAGE 1, and we invited them to reflect on their redebut as NOTES and share a bit more about this new project with TimelessNotes LIVE’s readers.
A New Chapter
When Chaeeun and Gahyun speak about NOTES, they don’t talk about it like a simple redebut. They talk about it like survival, like hope folded lovingly into paper cranes and launched into the wind.
The duo’s new beginning comes after years of chasing the same dream, first with Beauty Box and then with ARVVY, and every answer they give carries the quiet weight of experience. NOTES is so much more than just a new project for Chaeeun and Gahyun. It is sincerity, gratitude, and a promise to keep moving forward.
For Chaeeun, the meaning behind this chapter is deeply personal.
“I started this because I wanted to sincerely give everything I had to my dream one last time,” she says. “So to me, this project is all about sincerity.”
Gahyun describes it more simply, but no less powerfully: “I see it as a completely new beginning.”
That spirit of honesty sits at the center of NOTES. When asked what the duo’s mission statement would be, the answer comes easily:
“A heartfelt expression of gratitude toward our precious fans and families, and an honest story about our dream of becoming artists.”
There’s a tenderness woven through everything they say about the group. Even the name NOTES feels intentional, like pages in a diary slowly filling with color and memory.
The duo explains that one of the biggest differences this time around is the freedom to express themselves openly in ways they couldn’t before.
“We think it’s the freedom to honestly express our true feelings.”
Inspired by Their Seniors, Made for Fans
That emotional transparency also shapes their music. Rather than locking themselves into one fixed concept, Chaeeun and Gahyun envision NOTES as something constantly evolving.
“We want listeners to experience a color and emotion that can only come from NOTES,” they share. “But that ‘color’ will change with every PAGE, so please continue watching us as we grow.”
It’s a beautiful metaphor for a group still writing itself in real time.
For their debut release, NOTES [PAGE 1], the duo found inspiration in fan songs created by senior artists. Music written with love and gratitude left a lasting impression on them during preparations.
“Music made for fans — or even for the artists themselves — deeply moved our hearts and made us want to move along with it both physically and emotionally.”
An Intense Process
But behind the softness of NOTES is an enormous amount of work. Without the support structure of a company, Chaeeun and Gahyun built nearly everything themselves, piece by piece.
“We clashed a lot, adjusted to each other, and naturally built NOTES together over time,” they admit with a laugh.
Their responsibilities became naturally divided. Chaeeun focused on external communication and image design, while Gahyun handled video editing and SNS uploads. Together, they managed production logistics and expenses themselves.
“Haha,” they add, almost casually, as if independently constructing an artistic identity from scratch is just another Tuesday.
The process brought new discoveries too. Even after already knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses, the experience revealed even more hidden potential in one another.
“Through this process, we discovered even more potential in each other’s strengths.”
That closeness also helps them weather difficult moments. When one member is struggling, support doesn’t always come in the form of soft reassurance. Sometimes, honesty is what matters most.
“Because we’re close, honestly speaking very bluntly to each other sometimes helped us come back to our senses and gave us strength.”
There’s something refreshing about that answer. Chaeeun and Gahyun don’t present themselves as polished perfection. The duo speaks openly about uncertainty, exhaustion, disagreements, and rebuilding confidence after setbacks.
And yes, there were moments when they questioned whether they would debut again at all.
But every time doubt crept in, fans became the reason they kept going.
“Our fans told us that we had made them happy and that they would support us no matter what we chose to do,” they say. “But honestly, hearing that was emotional for us.”
Because the support went both ways.
“We had also received so much strength from our fans. So we thought, ‘No matter what, let’s keep trying until the very end, for as much as we’re capable of.’”
Since both members shared those same feelings, that determination became “a powerful source of motivation.”
Leading with Gratitude
It’s impossible not to notice how often gratitude appears throughout the conversation. In fact, when asked for one word they hope fans will remember NOTES by, their answer is immediate:
“Gratitude for the long journey.”
The phrase feels like the heartbeat of the entire project.
“The biggest reason we first planned NOTES was because we wanted to express gratitude to the fans and family who stayed with us through our dreams, and also to ourselves, who are still shining.”
Even their description of this debut era reflects that sense of gentle renewal. If NOTES had a season, color, or texture, they say it would be spring.
“We expressed it through pastel pink, yellow, and the texture of watercolor painting.”
It’s easy to picture: soft washes of color spreading across blank pages, slowly becoming something vivid and alive.
Still, they emphasize that NOTES will continue changing with every PAGE they create.
“The seasons, colors, and textures will continue changing each time. Please continue watching to see how those blank pages will be filled in the future.”
Ultimately, Chaeeun and Gahyun hope NOTES becomes synonymous with growth.
“Through NOTES, we want to be remembered as artists who are always growing, anytime and anywhere.”
And for the fans who have stayed beside them through every chapter, the duo’s message is heartfelt and unwavering:
“We’re so thankful for all the love, support, and interest you’ve given us over such a long time. Through the name NOTES, we’ll do our very best to finally express all the feelings we’ve wanted to share with you. Please continue this long journey with us.”
Then, softly:
“We love you. ♡”
A Message to their Younger Selves
Perhaps the most emotional moment comes when the members are asked what NOTES would say if it were a letter to their past selves.
Chaeeun’s response is filled with reassurance:
“None of your choices were wrong. Everything becomes a memory, an experience, and precious time. Regretting something you tried is different from regretting something you never tried at all, so don’t give up.”
Gahyun’s answer carries the same quiet courage.
“There’s no single ‘right answer’ to any choice. Just believe in yourself. The path you choose becomes the answer.”
Together, those answers feel like the essence of NOTES itself: faith in the face of uncertainty and persistence as opposed to perfection.
A blank page still waiting to be filled.
Follow NOTES:
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