music notes: a breath of fresh air, whee! featuring Batgirl
triple threat tunes
On March 10, Yeji, Xiumin, and Seulgi released their solo music. It was Yeji's debut and a comeback for both Xiumin and Seulgi. These three are the idols with the most uniquely beautiful faces to me. (The fourth is Xiumin's EXO bandmate, D.O.). In addition to striking beauty, they're also aces or all rounders. Yeji and Xiumin are both very feline too.
"Since this is my very first solo album, I wanted the title to carry meaning. That's how I came to choose Air—I wanted to express the flow of air before my debut and showcase my own unique aura. Also, throughout my career, I've experienced moments so overwhelming they took my breath away, and I wanted to capture that feeling in the lyrics, like in the line 'You take my breath away.' I hoped to convey the feeling of being naturally drawn into something and share that emotion through my music."
The teasers for Yeji's Air were so stunning that my expectations were sky-high. And unsurprisingly, she exceeded them. Last year’s Crown on My Head was a brilliant preview. Yeji hasn't ever overshadowed the other members of ITZY, but she truly is a singular talent. Air is thoroughly captivating, so fresh, a much needed breath of originality in k-pop. The title track is already perfect, energizing with its glittering synth. I've always loved Yeji's higher register, often criticized for straining high notes, but Air is situated more comfortably in her range.
The b-sides are also amazing. She made something so in tune with my taste. The EP clocks in at just 12 minutes but the production is sleek and Yeji's voice acts as a strong complement. I'm trying to just enjoy Air without looking ahead to her comeback haha, but this is an excellent introduction to a newly minted k-pop discography. It's the most impressive soloist idol debut since Kai's in 2020. And he is one of her biggest inspirations.
Invasion is a cool, retro follow up to Air. Can't Slow Me, No is the most ITZY coded track, I can almost hear Ryujin and Chaeryeong on it. 258 is my favorite. A beautiful, airy closer. The color of this album is cerulean, clean and expansive.
She's set a high standard for other 4th gen soloists. The ones who will definitely meet or surpass that standard are the other ITZY members, naturally.
"It doesn’t feel real that I’m debuting as a solo artist. Now, it’s finally sinking in. I really want to do well. Even now, my heart is racing, and I’m so nervous. When I first heard the news that I would be going solo—something I had only imagined as a distant possibility—I was beyond happy, but I also thought, ‘Has the time really come already?’ Since I’m the first member of ITZY to go solo, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. As the oldest member and the leader, I think the team trusted me to take this step first. Even producer J.Y. Park told me the same thing.
“Debuting as a solo artist in my seventh year is a huge turning point for me. During this preparation process, I discovered new sides of myself that I didn’t even know existed. I wanted to show myself confidently without any hesitation. This time, I aimed to present as much of myself as possible and leave a lasting impression as ‘Yeji’.”
Another first coinciding with Yeji's debut is her ambassadorship with luxury brand Roger Vivier. She's the first ever idol chosen by the brand. They described her as a global phenomenon (!). Air reinforces her status as a new icon, “embodying the bold and contemporary vision of style which perfectly aligns with the Maison’s heritage of elegance, creativity, and innovation.”
Xiumin's Brand New was in my top five k-pop releases in 2022. Image wise it borrowed from CBX and Baekhyun's Candy but with his distinct personality. Title track WHEE! is in the same vein, very carefree and so much fun. Male idols just aren’t this bright or whimsical. The remainder of Interview X keeps up its upbeat momentum, there is no lull whatsoever. Also very impressed with the art direction and creativity. It's a great follow up to his first EP. His underrated voice is supported by a colorful canvas. On EXO songs Xiumin is hard to ignore (even if the fandom often does just that) but alone he’s fully in his element.
The album opener Can’t Help Myself is groovy and the most Xiumin sounding track along with Make You LaLa. I’ve been listening to more Japanese city pop lately, and Switch Off reminds me of some new discoveries. It’s soft with an ‘80s feel. Lost in Paradise may be the standout, edgy and experimental. The melancholic Love is U is the requisite ballad that makes excellent use of his soulful timbre, and it was written by Chen! It also has potential to be overlooked but it’s beautifully arranged.
Interview X is cartoon meets high fashion.
Seulgi's teasers for Accidentally On Purpose were mysterious and rebellious, with a quirky magazine/collage concept. She's the one idol I can see curating a zine.
Baby not Baby is raw and spirited, layered with riffs. It’s a jolt of a song, the kind you continue loving with repeated listens. Better Dayz is similar, a true standout. Both songs match the album concept the most. The EP is not bad or even dull (else I wouldn’t include it here), but the other b-sides seem to belong on a different album. There’s not enough mischief. But they’re still solid tracks, boasting the usual top-tier SM production. It’s clear this was released by a member of Red Velvet. And Seulgi’s limber voice glides and soars over interesting beats.
Her solo career leans more darkly toward girl crush but I’d be curious to see a Seulgi bubblegum pop concept.
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Bravo to Yeji for a strong debut and holding her own alongside two firmly established industry veterans! I need to see her and Xiumin’s dance challenge videos. It’ll be such a wholesome father-daughter interaction 🥹