Min Ji-woon, the first artist of the SM Entertainment R&B label, has returned with her first album filled with her own emotions.
On the 21st, Min Ji-woon held a showcase to celebrate the release of her first EP album 'Pink, then grey' at Cine City MCUBE in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul, where she shared her thoughts about the new album.
Min Ji-woon debuted as the first artist of SM Entertainment's contemporary R&B label KRUCIALIZE in October last year.
After releasing three singles, Min Ji-woon expressed her excitement about releasing her first EP album by saying, "I have had a dream of releasing an EP since before my debut, and now that I am finally able to release it, I feel relieved and also wonder if it's really happening. As I introduce it to many people, I remember all the things I worked hard on, and it makes me excited."
Min Ji-woon's new album 'Pink, then grey' naturally encapsulates the flow of colors from 'Pink' to 'Grey,' representing the beginning and end of love, as well as the emotional growth that follows.
This album consists of a total of six tracks, with Min Ji-woon directly participating in the lyrics and composition of all songs to showcase her abilities. She explained, "For my first EP, I wanted to convey my sincerity through songs that I wrote myself. The album title expresses the beginning and end of love through colors. Initially, it is exciting and dreamy like pink, but over time, it gradually fades to a colorless state, which I expressed in six tracks."
The title track 'Scared of Love' is a pop R&B song that blends acoustic guitar with heavy bass and drums, delicately portraying the excitement and anxiety felt through new connections.
Another title track 'byebye' is an urban contemporary R&B song featuring a weighted 808 bass, strong kicks, and guitars combined with vocal samples, expressing the moments of parting in a calm yet resolute manner.
She said about the title tracks, "The first title track 'Scared of Love' expresses the excitement and fear that come with the beginning of love. From the moment I first heard it, I felt it should be the title track. The more I listen to it, the more I want to hear it again, while 'byebye' is a song that expresses saying goodbye in a more upbeat and resolute manner, contrasting with the previous track. I thought the combination of the two has a good harmony, so I decided on a double title track."
Regarding how she was cast through Instagram DM, she said, "Initially, before my debut, I uploaded cover songs and self-composed songs on my personal SNS, and a representative reached out to me positively and sent me a DM. I was surprised and shocked when they contacted me for a meeting. They mentioned wanting to work together as the vision of the label is to spread SM's music further, and I said it would be great if that could happen. I debuted while sharing the music I wanted to make with them."
When asked about the differences in her work before and after joining SM, she replied, "The biggest difference I can think of is that before my debut, I worked alone in my room. There were many times I felt stuck musically or didn't have anyone to ask, so I often resolved issues on my own or consulted with friends. Now, I have great team members to discuss and share concerns with, which is the biggest difference."
Additionally, when asked about SM artists she would like to collaborate with, Min Ji-woon, who previously worked with Crush, mentioned Mark. She said, "There are so many wonderful artists within SM, and it's difficult to pick just one. Recently, I saw that Mark released an album where he also directed the album and wrote songs and created storytelling. Since I also write songs myself, I thought we would create good chemistry if we worked together. If I get the chance, I would like to collaborate with Mark."
Since her debut, Min Ji-woon has not only showcased her attractive voice and outstanding songwriting skills but has also solidified her talents through various collaborations and performances.
About her unique strengths, she remarked, "If I think about my artist strengths, I believe my tone is unique. It's not too low or too high; it's something that belongs to me. I think my vocal tone and the emotional taste I possess may be my strengths."
She added about her role models, "There are so many artists I admire, making it hard to pick just one, but I have loved and looked up to Ariana Grande since I was young. I also want to express my music and act cool like Rihanna and Amy Winehouse."
Finally, Min Ji-woon stated, "Every stage I perform, I prepare with a sense of responsibility and a bit of pressure, but rather than feeling burdened as the first artist of KRUCIALIZE, I see this as a really grateful opportunity, so I try to enjoy it and do my best in every moment. I love R&B, and I am doing R&B music in an R&B label, and I want to dive deeper into R&B. At the same time, I have always loved hip-hop since I was young, and I also want to challenge the track soul genre."
Meanwhile, Min Ji-woon's first EP album 'Pink, then grey' will be released on the 22nd at 1 p.m. through various music sites.
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