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TWICE's Tzuyu unveils deeper, mature side with solo debut album 'abouTZU'
Tzuyu, member of K-pop girl group TWICE, poses during a press conference at a hotel in Songpa District, Seoul, Thursday, a day prior to the singer's solo debut. Yonhap
By Pyo Kyung-min
Tzuyu, the Taiwanese member of K-pop sensation TWICE, launched her solo career, Friday, with the release of her debut mini-album, "abouTZU." Known for her sweet charms as the girl group's youngest member, Tzuyu is now taking a bold step to reveal a more sensual side of herself.
During a press conference at a hotel in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday, a day before the official release, Tzuyu expressed her eagerness to break away from her previous image.
"As TWICE's youngest member, I know many have seen me as simply cute. But with this solo album, I want to present a more mature, intense side of myself beyond the bright and sweet image everyone is familiar with," she said.
The album's title, "abouTZU," is a play on the word "about" and her name, symbolizing a personal exploration of emotions and behind-the-scenes moments that she has kept private until now.
K-pop girl group TWICE's youngest member, Tzuyu, speaks during a press conference to mark the release of her inaugural solo album, "abouTZU," at a hotel in Songpa District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
"I wanted to express myself more boldly in a way I hadn't done before," Tzuyu said, explaining her desire to take a new artistic direction. "I've performed on many stages as part of TWICE, but watching other solo artists perform made me wonder what it would be like to meet fans with my own music. That curiosity turned into a passion for a solo debut, and thankfully, it has now become a chance to show a new side of myself."
Tzuyu is the third member of TWICE to make a solo debut, following Nayeon and Jihyo. During the conference, Tzuyu shared that she leaned on her fellow members for support throughout the journey.
"From the moment I told the members about my solo album, they've been cheering me on. I turned to Nayeon and Jihyo for advice, and they closely monitored my work. Despite their busy schedules, the members even came to my shoots, which made me feel incredibly grateful."
The standout track on "abouTZU" is its lead single, "Run Away," composed by JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young. The song features nostalgia-evoking piano melodies in the intro and a bold synth bass for the chorus, evoking a sound reminiscent of the late 2000s to mid-2010s.
Tzuyu of TWICE poses during a press conference held to celebrate the release of her solo debut album, "abouTZU," at a hotel in Songpa District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Tzuyu revealed that she immediately connected with the song.
"I loved it from the first listen. The melody was catchy, and the synth bass sound was really captivating. At first, I was worried about whether I could pull it off, but I felt I could offer fans something fresh," she said.
Despite the immediate liking, the JYP star also admitted that recording the song came with challenges.
"I paid a lot of attention to expressing the right emotions through my vocals. And with the lyrics being entirely Korean, there were challenges with pronunciation, so I had to record the song multiple times to perfect it," she recalled.
Although the journey had its ups and downs, Tzuyu expressed her desire to leave a lasting impression with this album that "fully captures her multifaceted charms."
"At first, I hesitated with worries and concerns, but since becoming a solo artist had been a long-held dream, I approached it with determination to give it my all," she said. "This album reflects everything I am, and I hope people will see me not just as TWICE's youngest member, but as a captivating solo artist."