[CELEB] Jo Yuri is back with breakup power anthem on new EP 'Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major'

K-pop

Published: 02 Jun. 2022, 17:24 Updated: 02 Jun. 2022, 19:26

[CELEB] Jo Yuri is back with breakup power anthem on new EP 'Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major'

Jo Yuri performs "Love Shhh!" during Thursday's showcase for her new EP "Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major." [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

Jo Yuri (stylized as JO YURI) is back with a post-breakup power anthem on her latest opus. Her new EP "Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major" and its lead track “Love Shhh!” dropped Thursday.

"'Shhh!' is the sound of hushing someone up, but it is also [the first sound of] the English expletive," she said during a showcase held at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on Thursday. "I tried to make it a dual meaning, but its probably closer to the latter. Breakup songs are usually like, 'I can't forget you. Please come back to me!' But I wanted to be different and show a cool attitude."

Jo performs "Love Shhh!" [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

The singer premiered the stage performance and music video for "Love Shhh!," a bubbly dance number. The track expresses confidence, complete with Jo flexing her arms during the dance routine, but also brings out Jo's loveliness. The album features five tracks, the last of which Jo composed herself and sang live during the showcase.

"Each track contains different charms I have," said Jo. "The lead track is a bright and lively song, 'This Time' is mellow and 'Opening' is something I wrote. […] When I was writing it, I was unsure [whether it was good], but people at my agency loved it so much that it gave me a bit of confidence."

"This time, I want to show a powerful side of me," she said. "If I had to compare it to a color, it would be red. I wanted to express myself very intensely this time, and even though recording usually takes one day for me, we recorded over the span of two to three days this time, so my vocals could be as powerful as possible."

Jo poses during Thursday's showcase. [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

Jo shared she was moved by the support she received from her former IZ*ONE (2018-21) groupmates.

"The members contacted me to tell me they were looking forward to my music," she said. "I see them on the backstage of music shows when we happen to be active at the same time. We said we should film some challenge videos for my new song when we meet."

"Chart performance is important too, but my priority is having fun with my fans," said Jo. "I'm going to gather ideas from fans on what I should do as a special event if I win No. 1. My biggest goal as of now is becoming someone that I can approve. I always think that I want to grow, and I really want to be dubbed an all-rounder."

Promotional images for Jo's EP "Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major" [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

Jo freshly launched her solo music career last October, but she has been in the K-pop scene for quite a while. She first made herself known to the public in 2017 via Mnet’s audition program “Idol School.” She was unable to become one of the show’s top nine finalists, but she tried her luck again the following year on Mnet’s “Produce 48,” the third season of Mnet’s popular idol audition show franchise “Produce.”

There, she finished third place among the top 12 finalists who debuted as girl group IZ*ONE the same year. Jo was a main vocalist in the group, known for its signature bright and rhythmical tunes, releasing multiple hits including “La Vie en Rose” (2018), “Violeta” (2019), “Fiesta” (2020), “Secret Story of the Swan” (2020) and “Panorama” (2020).

Jo finished third place on Mnet's 2018 audition show "Produce 48" and became a member of girl group IZ*ONE. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

IZ*ONE [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

She showed off her talent as a vocalist in 2020 on MBC’s “King of Masked Singer,” which features celebrities singing in front of an audience with their faces completely covered with elaborately decorated masks, concealing their identities until the end of their songs. It was a change from her usual image as a bubbly idol pop star, and she became the youngest semi-finalist on the show at the time.

IZ*ONE was active for two and a half years. Many fans were sad to see the project group disband in April 2021, but Jo soon came back as a solo singer that October with the EP “Glassy.” Glassy is also the name of Jo's fandom; a play on words as her name, Yuri, is also the word for glass in Korean.

Promotional image for Jo's debut EP "Glassy" (2021) [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

Jo performs her debut song "Glassy" in 2021. [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

Jo is also an active YouTube content creator. On top of content that centers around music and video shorts, she communicates more personally with her fans by uploading her “Counseling on all the problems in the world: Counselor Jo Yuri” series, reading stories submitted from viewers about troubles they are facing and Jo offering her advice.

The singer plans to continue expanding her career range. She will star as a lead role on the Playlist web series “Mimicus" set to air sometime this year.

"This was the first time I challenged myself to acting," she said. "Although it was quite difficult, I'm learning a lot and having a lot of fun while filming. Please stay tuned!"

Jo added that she plans to hold a solo concert around the end of this year.

Promotional image for "Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major" [WAKEONE ENTERTAINMENT]

Jo Yuri

Date of birth: Oct. 22, 2001

Zodiac sign: Libra
Birthplace: Busan
Debut: October 2018 as a member of girl group IZ*ONE
Agency: WAKEONE Entertainment

Jo Yuri initially became known to the public in 2017 via Mnet’s audition program "Idol School." The following year, she competed again on Mnet’s "Produce 48," the third season of Mnet's hit idol audition franchise "Produce." She finished in third place and made it as one of the 12 members of project girl group IZ*ONE, which debuted the same year and went on to release hits including "Violeta" (2019) and “Panorama” (2020). After IZ*ONE disbanded in April 2021, Jo launched her solo career that October with the EP "Glassy," which is also the name of her fandom. Jo is an active YouTuber and plans to take on a lead role in the upcoming Playlist web series "Mimicus" (2022).

This information was confirmed by WAKEONE Entertainment on June 2.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]