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| Nayeon of K-pop girl group TWICE poses during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
It has taken about seven years for Nayeon to go solo since her 2015 debut as part of K-pop girl group TWICE. But the 26-year-old singer, whose first solo EP "Im Nayeon" came out on Friday afternoon (KST), believes it is not too late.
"We have achieved many feats over the past few years as a group and I believe now is a very good time for us to start solo projects and showcase our various sides," Nayeon said during a press conference at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul hotel on Friday morning.
Since debuting in 2015, TWICE has dropped a series of chart-topping hits such as "Cheer Up" (2016), and recently became the first K-pop girl group to hold a concert in a U.S. stadium.
"As I geared up for my first solo mini-album, I think I pushed the envelope," she said. "I was afraid of singing alone in the past as I was not used to this, but this time, I learned a way to do so and also realized how much I love singing."
"Im Nayeon" can be read as "I'm Nayeon," but it also refers to the singer's full name including her surname Im, according to her management company JYP Entertainment.
"Through this EP, I hope people can see how a TWICE member can pull off such a different concept," the black-clad star said with a radiant smile. "All songs included in my mini-album have summer vibes and they sound quite sweet."
TWICE has basked in immense popularity around the world thanks to its bubbly and vibrant songs that lift the spirits of many listeners. For her solo album, Nayeon is seeking to exhibit a new side without ditching the group's signature bubbliness.
"I made a lot of new attempts in my outfits, hair and makeup," she explained. "Even if an outfit looked fabulous, I did not put that on if it looked similar to what I had donned in the past."
Being the first TWICE member to go solo, Nayeon was under substantial pressure in the beginning.
"I am still not so sure why I was chosen as the first member to make a solo debut," she said after spending some time choosing her words. "Maybe that was because I am the oldest member… I was quite pressured in the beginning as I felt I had to get off to a good start, but I gradually learned different ways to enjoy the whole process."
Leading the EP is "Pop!" ― an addictive track with a refreshing vibe. In the song, Nayeon sings that she will burst her man's heart, which has swelled up like a bubble after falling for her. The mini-album also offers six other tunes including, "No Problem," "Love Countdown," "All or Nothing" and "Happy Birthday To You."
"One of my favorite tracks is 'No Problem' featuring Felix of K-pop boy group Stray Kids," Nayeon revealed. "I like how it sounds. I am also fond of Felix's voice."
Nayeon penned the lyrics for "All or Nothing."
"I wrote the lyrics while I was touring around the U.S.," she said. "Since I am releasing my first solo EP, I wanted to include at least one song that only includes my own lyrics. It is a tune about the things that helped me overcome hardships."
Closing the session, Nayeon showed her appreciation to her fans.
"I just heard that 'Im Nayeon' has racked up 500,000 pre-orders," she said. "I am truly grateful. As I poured a lot of effort into producing it, I hope it can win the hearts of many people."
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