SEOUL, November 09 (AJP) - ITZY's Chaeryeong is taking greater control of her music and choreography with her first solo album, but she has deliberately chosen an accessible sound to win over listeners and secure the chance to explore more ambitious ideas, the singer said Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Chaeryeong described her debut mini-album "Lovesick" as both an opportunity to express herself and a test of her ability to stand alone after seven years and nine months with ITZY.
"When working as ITZY, reaching agreement and maintaining balance among the members were important," she said. "This time, I was able to reflect more of my own preferences."
That freedom extended to choosing songs and developing choreography. Known for her fluid dance movements, Chaeryeong said she had previously restrained certain personal flourishes to maintain the group's balance.
But creative freedom did not mean abandoning commercial considerations.
"To be frank, I wanted to do well on the music charts, so I chose a song that people could listen to easily and repeatedly," she said.
Chaeryeong acknowledged that she had more sides of herself to reveal but believed her debut needed to reach a broad audience before she could pursue them.
"I thought I needed to receive a lot of love to get a second chance," she said, adding that she did not intend to limit her future music to the same easy-listening style.
She also recognized that strong dancing alone was no longer enough to win audiences over. For the title track, she helped create simple, recognizable movements that listeners could easily imitate.
The album's more personal side emerges in its closing track, "Favorite Reason," which she helped write.
Rather than simply thanking fans, Chaeryeong said she wanted to express that they were her favorite reason for believing in love.
The four-track album, featuring "Lovesick," "Moonlit Club," "Scent" and "Favorite Reason," is scheduled for release at 6 p.m. Monday.
While Chaeryeong hopes to establish herself individually, she rejected the idea of competing with her bandmates for solo recognition.
Reflecting on ITZY's recent award ceremony appearance, she said she had never thought about returning alone to claim a prize.
"I was so proud to be part of ITZY," she said.
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