[INTERVIEW] 'The Beginning': Former CLC member Jang Ye-eun starts new chapter as soloist

K-pop singer Jang Ye-eun / Courtesy of Superbell Company

Jang Ye-eun goes solo with EP, 'The Beginning'

By Dong Sun-hwa

When Jang Ye-eun was part of the K-pop girl group CLC, she hardly had a chance to show her smiley face to her fans. Since most of CLC's songs were strong and powerful, she had to act in accordance with these images instead of displaying her authentic self.

Nevertheless, this period in her life is now a thing of the past. Jang has just embarked on her solo journey, through which she can showcase who she truly is. The 24-year-old rolled out her debut solo EP, "The Beginning," Thursday.

"I did not have many opportunities to reveal my bright side in the past, but now I do," the blond-haired Jang said with a beaming smile during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Mapo District, northern Seoul. "With my solo release, I want to highlight my liveliness and bubbly side, showing diverse aspects of myself. I think I am both calm and cheerful."

It has taken eight years for Jang to go solo after she debuted as a CLC member with the EP, "First Love" in 2015. Her solo debut came shortly after she terminated her contract with CLC's management company, Cube Entertainment, last year.

K-pop girl group CLC released its EP, "Helicopter," in 2020. Courtesy of Cube Entertainment

"I am both thrilled and pressured to make my solo debut," Jang said. "I sometimes feel a sense of emptiness because I have to perform alone on stage without my bandmates. But I am not very lonely, as I still keep in touch with them. They always support and encourage me. And a good thing about being a soloist is that I just have to handle myself. In the past, I had to keep in step with others when singing and dancing, but now, I only have to focus on my work. I can also finish my work earlier."

"The Beginning" is a two-track EP consisting of the lead single, "Cherry Coke" and "Strange Way to Love." According to Jang, its defining color is red.

"Red is powerful and energetic, but it is bright and bouncy too," she explained. "It can be interpreted differently depending on people's perspectives. Just like red, I think I can also be viewed in different lights in my new EP. Red also matches well with the concept of the single 'Cherry Coke.'"

Characterized by Jang's ear-catching rap and bass sounds, "Cherry Coke" is an addictive hip-hop number likening her to a cola that offers various flavors.

"When I first heard this song last summer, I immediately wanted to include it in my mini-album," Jang said in an excited tone. "Maybe it was destined to be mine. I loved its hip-hop sounds."

K-pop singer Jang Ye-eun / Courtesy of Superbell Company

"Strange Way to Love" is a tune for her fans, Jang said. She participated in penning its lyrics.

"I wanted to write about the love between singers and fans," she said as she recalled her creative process. "People who have never fallen in love with celebrities may find it difficult to understand, but I believe it is one of the purest forms of love. So I wrote the lyrics based on my own experience, hoping I can repay the love I have received so far. It was not a very daunting mission for me since I just had to talk about what I have undergone."

The well-rounded Jang hopes she can further enhance her creative skills.

"In the future, I want to compose songs for my followers," she said.

For "The Beginning," Jang collaborated with high-profile music producer Ryan Jhun, who was behind the success of numerous K-pop hits such as, IVE's "After LIKE" (2022) and NCT 127's "Kick It" (2020). Both Jang and Jhun are represented by Superbell Company, an entertainment company that was established in 2022.

"Since it was my first time working with Jhun, I did not know much about him," Jang said. "So I was anxious at first. But he turned out to be a witty person and he helped me a lot with recording. He told me to sing and express my emotions in the way I want. Thanks to him, I could work in a pleasant environment."

K-pop singer Jang Ye-eun / Courtesy of Superbell Company

For Jang, 2023 marks the eighth year since her debut.

"In hindsight, I learned and experienced a lot of different things and met so many good friends over the past eight years," she recalled. "The year 2020 was particularly meaningful, because CLC put out one of its biggest hits, 'Helicopter.' All members poured a lot of energy into making this EP, but we could not stage live performances in front of our fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

The toughest time was when she had to kick off a new chapter in her career after leaving Cube.

"I spent much time contemplating my career and future," she said after a moment of thinking. "I needed some time to adapt to a new environment, but I felt hasty at the same time. However, I soon realized that worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. So I began seeking advice from different people and eventually figured out what I should do and which path I should take."

Jang is more than excited to see how her life will look in the next eight years.

"I am itching to know how things will pan out in the days ahead," she said. "I am most curious to know how much I will grow."