She was the first to go Solo. Seven years ago, global pop phenomenon Jennie became the first member of the K-pop group Blackpink to release solo music. On Friday (Mar 7), she became the latest member to drop a debut solo studio album, the English-language Ruby.
It’s a kaleidoscope of different sounds for Jennie, full of incongruous, polished pleasures.
Solo, her debut single, was a product of its time – nostalgic EDM-pop with pitched-up whistle effects and simple, declarative lyrics. “I’m goin’ solo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo,” she repeated on the chorus.
You had to believe her: She wasn’t leaving her band, but a lacklustre relationship, an ex so innocuous they’re barely a player in the song. “This time I’m only lookin’ at me, myself and I,” she sang, “I’ma do it on my own now.”
A lot has changed in the time since, but the core of her and her band’s sonic messaging – self-empowerment above all else – hasn’t wavered.
