Ailee ups emotions, sentiment on latest EP
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Ailee performs to her song “Home” at YES24 MUV Hall in Mapo, western Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kim Jae-heun
Korean-American singer Ailee released her fourth mini-album “A New Empire,” Tuesday, adding extra emotion to her voice over her signature powerful vocals. It has been a year since she released her only full-length album “VIVID” in September 2015.
“My previous music focused on my powerful vocals and strong lyrics,” said Ailee during a press conference at Yes24 Muv Hall in the Hongik University district in western Seoul. “This time, my new album has more sentimental songs.”
The singer said that she challenged urban hip-hop music, which she said is a comparatively new genre. She has long been wishing to try recording urban hip-hop, but took a long time as no Korean female artist has tried the genre yet.
Ailee’s new album consists of six tracks, including the lead single “If You” and the first track “Home” featuring veteran rapper Yoon Mi-rae.
The singer’s digital lead single “If You,” a retro-soul song, topped several online music charts after its release on Aug. 23. Lim Na-young of girl group I.O.I appeared in the song’s music video.
“Home” also received keen attention from fans after the agency pre-released a teaser for the music video on Aug. 19, in which Ailee tries mixing pop and R&B for her first time.
“When the song Home came out, I felt Yoon’s rap would best go with the track and asked her to participate,” she said.
Other tracks like “Feelin’” and “Live or Die” also feature popular singer Eric Nam and rapper Tak of hip-hop duo Baechigi, respectively.
Aliee also participated in composing and writing lyrics for most of her album tracks where she tried various genres. The diva emphasized that although she is well-known for singing pop music, she hope people can recognize her as an artist.
Before her K-pop career, Aliee was signed to Muzo Entertainment in America. In 2010, she moved to Korea where she auditioned for YMC Entertainment and debuted on the TV show “Singer and Trainee.” She has released three mini-albums and one studio album.
Ailee will introduce her fourth mini-album through cable music channel Mnet’s M Countdown stage today.