Group WJSN's Dayoung is stepping out as a solo artist nearly nine years after her debut.
According to her agency, Starship Entertainment, Dayoung will release her first digital single, gonna love me, right? (고나 럽 미, 롸잇?), at 6 p.m. on the 9th (KST) on various music platforms and begin her solo activities.
gonna love me, right? is an album in which Dayoung directly includes the stories she wants to convey, from the music to the concept. Dayoung participated in the overall production, including planning, writing lyrics and composing, building her own musical world, revealing the way she loves herself while also planning to deliver a message of love and self-assurance to listeners.
The album contains three songs in total, including the title track body (바디), the included track number one rockstar (넘버 원 락스타), and marry me (메리 미), on which she participated in writing lyrics and composing. Dayoung will connect three unapologetically confident and witty tracks to portray her emotions and attitude as an artist whose honesty is her weapon and cheerfulness is her style exactly as they are.
In particular, the title track body is a pop dance track that is rhythmic like the heat of a summer night and candid like the instinct of falling in love; Dayoung's refreshing vocals are added over a groove created by punchy beats and an addictive hook, evoking the end of summer. Dayoung, who promised a dramatic transformation not only in vocals but also in rap and performance, is expected to deliver high-quality music through "all-around activity," raising audiovisual satisfaction.
Ahead of the release, Dayoung, who made a striking transformation with bold styling, caught attention in the second teaser of body released that morning. Dayoung danced with dancers against an exotic backdrop, revealing a free-spirited mood, and in particular, a portion of the new song was revealed, suggesting a refreshing and rhythmic atmosphere and raising expectations.
Since her debut, Dayoung has built a lively energy and a distinctive character through music activities as well as broadcasts and content. With the album gonna love me, right?, which she completed by containing the stories accumulated over the past nine years, Dayoung, who will inject her energy into the music scene once again with her solo debut, shared a Q&A ahead of her solo debut.
Below is the full Q&A with Dayoung
Q1. You're making your solo debut nearly nine years after your debut. How do you feel?
A. I still can't believe I'm already approaching my 10th year since debut. I think the experiences I built while filling stages with WJSN members made me who I am today, so this solo debut feels not like my achievement alone but the fruition of the time we've walked together and the support fans have given. Because it's a dream I've cherished for a long time, the weight of nine years makes this album feel even more special. I put all my sincerity, growth and feelings I want to convey to fans into it, so please look forward to it!
Q2. Before your solo debut, what was the area you paid most attention to or particularly worked hard on?
A. I thought this solo debut was not just about releasing an album but a stage to properly show the color of artist Dayoung. So I tried a lot of new things from music production to styling, performance and stage direction. In that process, I personally participated and gave opinions where I could. Because I poured more time and energy into not missing small details, being able to confidently show fans a result with no regrets is the most rewarding and happiest thing.
Q3. You planned and participated directly in the overall producing. What kind of album is gonna love me, right? and what message do you want to deliver?
A. The messages I wanted to include throughout the album are "confidence" and "love." It's an album that asks "You're gonna love me, right?" while also boldly saying "You're going to love me!" Through this project I wanted to give myself courage, and I hoped listeners could love themselves more and gain confidence in themselves through this album. So this album is an invitation to join me on a long, fun journey and also expresses my wish to make new memories with fans. This album was completed with help from so many people. In particular, I want to thank my music crew in the United States. They helped me a lot so I could express what I wanted to say, even in delicate areas like language and emotional expression. Thanks to them, I think I was able to put my feelings more sincerely into it.
Q4. Do you have any memorable shooting episodes from filming the body music video?
A. I don't think I'll ever forget the day we shot the body music video. Because it was filmed in one take, there was no room for mistakes, and there was a lot of pressure to finish all the shooting before sunset. So I was very nervous, but at the same time it was the most anticipated moment. In the end, I'm proud that the energy and freedom I wanted to express were well captured.
Q5. As someone called the "MZ bible" and "content artisan" through various broadcasts and content, can we expect a new song challenge?
A. Through content like "Hotdeal I'm Dayoung" and "Hotgirl I'm Dayoung," I introduced trendy items and gave honest reviews after trying them myself. I've always been really interested in new items and cultures that might become trends, so in a way I've been exploring a field I truly like, and I'm grateful people like my content and call me that; it makes me want to work harder. Challenges are similar in that I wanted to deliver music in ways I truly like and enjoy. I've previously enjoyed filming various challenges from the "stay-at-home challenge" to the "Sure I Will challenge" and the "Tottenham challenge." So I tried to expand the rhythms and energy of the songs on this album into forms more people can enjoy. I prepared various challenges, so please look forward to them.
Q6. What do you want this album to mean to you and to fans and the public?
A. For me, this album is the first step as artist Dayoung. It's more special because it's the first album made under my name, and because I filled it with my sincere feelings and courage, I think it will remain an unforgettable work for life. For fans and the public, I hope it's remembered as an album that makes people think, "Oh, Dayoung has this side too." I hope it becomes an opportunity for everyone who listens to this music to love themselves more and gain confidence.
Q7. Please say a word to Ujung who love Dayoung.
A. To our Ujung, who always supports me without change, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to you I was able to come this far and finally take my first step as a solo artist. This album is full of my gratitude and love for Ujung. Thank you for always being with me, and I will continue to grow into an artist you can be proud of. Let's go on a new journey together and create more wonderful moments; I love you!
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