Is Nmixx a mainstream group or a "not like other girls" group?

Quote from whiplashed

Nj can’t catch a break lol you’re over here claiming they’re trying to be “not like other girls” while sm stans claim they’re just a clone of 1st gen sm groups ala mhj’s repertoire and other stans claim they’re copying western y2k groups’ music and fashion while not even being the first group to do y2k aesthetics so like which is it?? Are nj not like other girls or just like other girls?? 😭 Or just a punching bag for yall to throw any insult at them no matter how contradictory and inherently laughably dumb those insults are? 😭 At least be consistent and pick a side 😭

Yeah I said before on this forum that NJ fans are wrong about them being different because they do the same thing as other K-pop groups (have a brand, emphasize being fresh and unique). Now I guess I'm not so sure. At first I thought they are simply taking inspiration from real brand logos and using real products as themes for their teasers, like people did before. But I think maybe their style (or call it their intention, intended aesthetics) is harder to define. I don't know what the hell is y2k, but I still don't really get how to describe NJ, on one hand they look like something for children, especially young girls. Second, something old that could have really been a legitimate, functional product in an older time (ex. a tv show, or magazine). Third, using a lot of different styles rather than one cohesive style (ex. a logo that looks like fashion, a logo that looks like a tv show, a logo that looks like a sports brand).

That last thing in particular, using a lot of different styles or logos at once. Makes an artist seem like they want to emphasize their techniques and experience, without actually communicating anything. Like they are just showing off. Not that it means they are a bad artist and person, but I just don't like that kind of style and it makes me feel like they are trying to be too contrarian (edit: Show off and also show they are better than those who are more concise/restrained. Or publish their inspiration rather than a final conclusion, that kind of philosophy)

I didn't really examine all of those groups closely (like CLC and GWSN, were more of afterthoughts as I don't know their whole discography that well), but I just see them as leaning to the hipster end of hipster to mainstream.

Quote from KpopJop

Really great points actually. Normally I would fully agree that not committing to one set of logos was a sign of conceptual weakness, but in NJ's case because people seem to acknowledge that they have a distinct style, I'd say it worked anyway? Like I'm not saying brandlessness IS their brand, but there is definitely something about being aesthetically diverse that doesn't take away from their ability to be relevant. Time will tell.

Actually I guess we can say now, that the NWJNS on the album is the main logo. I always associated them with the multiple logos video before, but I guess that would be more of a trailer than the official logos. I just hate that I don't understand what the different logos mean, and why they are showing them next to each other. From what I could see in this clip, some look new, hip, and trendy, while some just look old and outdated. Like I said before, some of them look like a legit logo for different products like technology, a fashion brand, sportswear, anime shows. But I just don't get what it means. That they will be everywhere in all industries? Actually, that interpretation kind of makes sense. But there is nothing that supports it. I wish that I would be able to tell if I'm right or if I'm too smart for the artists (Jk), but as it is I can't tell if they meant something like that or they're just being random. That's what I don't like, it's too vague for me. I don't like having to live with this uncertainty not being sure if my interpretation is the same as their intention