Kim Ji-soo joined The Korea Times in 2006, and worked on such desks as culture and politics and is currently a member of the Editorial Board. Previous workplaces include The Korea Herald and the Korea JoongAng Daily.
SOYA looks confidently ahead with mini-album
Female solo SOYA / GH Entertainment
By Kim Ji-soo
By Kim Ji-soo
SOYA, a female solo artist often called “Korea's Dua Lipa,” released a mini-album Wednesday.
Since January this year, SOYA has been releasing songs through the “SOYA Color Project,” taking the letters 'S,' 'O,' 'Y' and 'A' and releasing the songs “Show,” “OASIS” and “Y-shirt.”
This release wraps up that effort with a mini-album titled “Artist,” referencing the last letter in her name.
The mini-album in fact carries the previous singles, the new track “Artist” and “Alone.” One noticeable artistic collaborator on her album is e.one, whose real name is Cheong Ho-hyeon, a music writer who worked with Wanna One, EXO, TWICE and G-FRIEND. SOYA is signed with GH Entertainment.
“I put in twice the effort in the mini-album as it was also the wrap-up of my year-long project, and I focused on the performance and working with the dance team Alien,” SOYA said in a showcase event held Wednesday at Spigen Hall in southern Seoul.
“Artist” is about her or anyone's dream to make a living as an artist. In her case, it was an artist in music. The song delivered the aspirations she harbored since debuting as part of a duo in 2010.
She performed the song “Artist” at the showcase, where she fully demonstrated a tingling appeal in her voice. The track was a good beat to dance to, even alone, at any place. The eye-catching performance with her dance team complimented the music well.
The singer conveyed more of her struggling years and what she felt in the last song on the album “Alone.”
“Among the lyrics I like the chorus part where I say 'Light up the light. Not alone.' People tend to think that they are alone when struggling. But I just want to say that you're not alone.”
She also enlisted the help of director Kang Min-gi, known as aa.r.ch, for her music video, which was filmed all over Hong Kong, Vietnam and Turkey.
“For some reason, all the overseas locations we chose for the music video were up high, and I have a fear of heights. But as we continued to film, I think I was able to confront that fear.”
She said she learned a lot about herself during the year-long SOYA Color Project, about her ability to challenge new genres and concepts and digest them as well.
SOYA, whose real name is Kim So-ya, debuted in 2010. At 28, she has a considerable music career. Yet when asked about her uncle, popular singer/entertainer Kim Jong-kook (on “Running Man”) she said she is resolved to work harder so that she can stand on her own as a singer.
She said her uncle has congratulated her on her recording, and he in particular liked “Oasis” among her 2018 Color Project recordings.
Regarding her reputation as “Korea's Dua Lipa,” she said she is honored to be mentioned at the same note. “Just as Dua Lipa is beloved by world fans with her soulful voice and powerful performances, I too have such aspirations,” she said.
She however debuts in tough terrain where solo artists may struggle in competition with K-pop idol groups. “With my big 30th birthday looming ahead, I am ready to stand on my two feet as a solo artist,” she said.
SOYA's first on-stage performance was on MBC Music's “Show!Champion.”