As female solo artists make a grand entrance this summer, their innovative endeavors are turning heads. TWICE's Jihyo has chosen dance for her solo debut after 8 years with the group, while singer Jeon Somi, returning after a hiatus of 1 year and 10 months, is making waves by reintroducing the tectonic dance genre.
Jeon Somi recently released her new EP 'GAME PLAN' on the 7th, promoting with the title track 'Fast Forward'. The album features an energetic deep house track 'Fast Forward', combined with a powerful performance, as well as the intense hip-hop track 'Gold Gold Gold', the captivating synth-pop 'The Way', and the continuation of Somi's signature R&B style with 'Plum' and 'Individually'.
What stands out in 'Fast Forward' is the inclusion of tectonic dance. Tectonic, a fusion of techno and electronic, refers to dancing to electronic music genres, characterized by hand movements and simple footwork. Somi incorporated tectonic moves in the chorus of 'Fast Forward'. By blending modern sounds with tectonic, Somi has not only evoked a sense of nostalgia through dance challenges but also brought a fresh appeal, gaining popularity.
The Black Label, her agency, explained their choice of tectonic, stating, "During ideation for the song with The Black Label producers, we decided to proceed with tectonic. We thought it would be a fresh challenge for the MZ generation." The fresh challenge paid off. 'Fast Forward' has successfully charted, ranking 9th on the Melon daily chart and 7th on the Top 100 chart as of the 25th.
Jeon Somi plans to continue her momentum by promoting her follow-up song 'Gold Gold Gold', showcasing hip-hop after tectonic, and then embarking on U.S. promotions.
Jihyo's Solo Debut: A Flop or a Triumph? ONCEs Rally Behind the TWICE Star
On the other hand, TWICE's Jihyo released her first mini-album 'ZONE' on the 18th, marking her solo debut after 8 years, and chose a dance genre with a strong groove. Given that she's been the main vocalist in TWICE, showcasing her high notes, there were speculations that her solo would focus on her vocal prowess. However, Jihyo mentioned in a recent press conference, "Many asked if I'd choose a ballad for the title track, but I really wanted to dance on stage. Dancing holds significant meaning for me."
Jihyo's title track 'Killin' Me Good' encapsulates her unique sentiment of expressing emotions honestly and naturally. Paired with the groovy sound is Jihyo's powerful vocal tone and relentless performance. The album, in general, covers a variety of genres, and Jihyo personally participated in the creation of all six tracks, boldly showcasing her challenges.
This results in a musical color distinct from the cheerful and positive energy TWICE is known for. Jihyo emphasized, "I just wanted to show more of myself. I've been responsible for high notes in TWICE, but I also wanted to showcase songs with lower registers, singing rap, R&B, Latin, and various genres."
Jihyo's daring solo album, filled with her challenges, achieved half a million sales within a week of its release (based on Hanteo Chart). This makes her the third female solo artist to achieve the half-million mark, signaling a successful solo debut.
