YEJI (ITZY) – KPOPREVIEWED

Earlier this year, YEJI from ITZY made her solo debut with the mini-album Air and the title track of the same name. It is time for the review of the debut mini-album, which features an additional 3 songs along Air (the title track). The title track itself was a powerful debut single. As for the mini-album, it’s a mixed bag in my opinion, but it still offers a good outlook on YEJI as a solo artist. For more on my thoughts on each individual song on Air (the mini-album), keep on reading below.

More recently, YEJI rejoined her fellow members for their June comeback, Girls Will Be Girls, and was confirmed to have renewed her contract (along with the rest of ITZY) at JYP Entertainment.

1. Air (Title Track) – Click here for Air’s full review. (9/10)

2. Invasion – The synth-pop instrumental for Invasion was very lovely, as well as the guitar riffs that come into play later on. You could also hear YEJI’s charisma through her vocals. Combined with the instrumental, I felt Invasion had considerable potential. However, the more I listened to Invasion, I wished there was more bite to the song, particularly as it progressed. This would have helped the song from feeling repetitive, which did occur after a while for me. (7.5/10)

3. Can’t Slow Me, No – Groovy bass comes into the mini-album with Can’t Slow Me, No. YEJI also adds some Latin influence to the choruses and the second verse. I quite enjoyed the energy and atmosphere that this created. YEJI does a good job switching between vocals and rapping throughout the song, which adds a dynamic factor to the song. Quite a fun single to have on the mini-album. (8/10)

4. 258 – 258 closes out the mini-album. It is a bright pop song that features a dreamy EDM instrumental. One aspect of 258 that I really liked was how easy it sounded on the ears. Every element, from YEJI’s effortless tone to the autotune, melodies and instrumentation, sounded pure and straightforward. This all contributed towards making 258 an easy listen. There is also something about the prominence of the English lyrics that really spoke to me in 258. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

Many comebacks are kicking off the new week. While I have checked them all out, I must prioritise my favourite release from the bunch—YEJI’s Air. This is YEJI’s solo debut single and is featured on the same-name mini-album. YEJI is also the first member of ITZY to officially go solo with this release. We last saw ITZY through their GOLD / Imaginary Friend promotions (the latter I just reviewed last week).

Yup, out of all the releases that dropped today, YEJI’s Air is the one that caught my attention most strongly. It wasn’t the first or second release I checked out, but it is the one that remained in my mind long after, prompting me to write its review first. So, what aspects of Air caught my attention? Well, I put it down to the combination of Air‘s synth-pop instrumentation and the catchy hooks. The synth-pop got right to business and didn’t mess around. I really appreciated it that. There was also a touch of electric guitar in the bridge and the song’s final moment. I like how it added a dash of edginess to the music and channels the momentum Air had built. The beat also made the track quite compelling and pulses it along. As for the hooks, they have been beyond addictive. The “Air air air, all my air” line has been repeating in my mind since the first listen. As for YEJI, I liked how fresh her delivery made the song feel. You could also feel how vibrant and passionate she was. And this pays off quite well, with the chorus feeling bold and enticing. The verses were a tad bland from her part, but that is only a small detail. Overall, Air is a very good song and kicks off the week in a positive manner.

One thing I wanted in the song was some charisma from YEJI. But I held back on that suggestion, as charisma doesn’t need to be delivered in song format. Instead, it can be a visual element. And YEJI delivers it flawlessly in the music video. It is exuded a fair bit throughout the video but is most profound in the choreography shots. I like how the video has an odd side (see YEJI’s walk from the couch before tripping over a log, and the wacky pose we see her in at the start and end of the video) through how the shots were captured and edited (I presume). In addition to being memorable and different, it follows well with the song in the sense that it is refreshing. I also liked the idea of the crash scene, with YEJI laying on the bonnet – symbolising how YEJI’s breath is taken away by the person she is singing about.

As expected from ITZY’s main dancer, the choreography does not disappoint (from what I can see in the music video). While charisma and confidence are definitely exuded, I like how the routine has both a refined and fun energy (though the latter might be due to the music video). My favourite part is the back-bending move before the song wraps up. The sexy hand drag over her body was a very close second. While we do not see all of the routine, I am sure the rest live up to those expectations.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10