Irene, a member of the K-pop girl group Red Velvet, has made her solo debut with the mini-album Like A Flower.
After 10 years in the industry, this album features eight tracks spanning various genres, including dance ballads, R&B, and acoustic music.
Irene expressed that the album was carefully crafted with deep thought about the story she wanted to tell, and while she has some lingering feelings, she believes it is the best work she could offer.
With this album, Irene hoped to showcase her musical versatility, offering listeners a new side of her with each track. She particularly highlighted the tracks “Ka-Ching” and “I Feel Pretty,” which fans have eagerly anticipated.
The title track, “Like A Flower,” is a dance-pop song that conveys an uplifting message of blooming courageously, like a flower, despite challenges. Irene emphasized that the performance aspect of this song is crucial, as she wants the energy created between her and her dancers to stand out.
Irene focused heavily on creating harmony with her dancers, recognizing that their chemistry was vital to enhancing the overall performance and bringing out the emotions and energy of the songs.
She is the fourth Red Velvet member to make a solo debut, following Wendy, Joy, and Seulgi, and she shared that her fellow members were supportive throughout her creative process. Their experiences with solo projects helped her navigate her own.
Reflecting on her solo debut, Irene expressed that her primary goal was to enjoy the process rather than aiming for specific achievements.
She hoped that her work would be something that fans could cherish in the future. As 2024 marks Red Velvet’s 10th anniversary, Irene described the year as precious and memorable, both as a part of the group and as a solo artist.
Irene concluded by thanking her fans, ReVeluvs, for their unwavering support, which gave her the courage to release the album. She expressed deep gratitude, acknowledging that without them, her solo debut would not have been possible.