Since discovering them about a year ago, (G)I-DLE has quickly become my favorite group in K-Pop. So much about this group is interesting and cool; from the diversity and eclecticism in their music to their mature and confident image to their more risqué lyricism(compared to other K-Pop artists), (G)I-DLE sets themselves apart from all of their peers. Out of the five members of (G)I-DLE, Yuqi has been my favorite from the start. One of the main reasons for this is obvious; Yuqi is one of two members(the other being Minnie) who is fluent in English, which makes her more appealing to me as an American because she is typically doing the English interviews. But there is so much more about Yuqi that I think is cool. Yuqi is a free spirit with a vibrant personality. Her charm shines through in everything she does; from her interviews where she is not afraid to say whatever is on her mind to her dancing to style choices, Yuqi truly stands out; this is extra impressive since each member of (G)I-DLE is full of such exuberance. Another thing I appreciate about Yuqi is her vocal style. She has a husky and rich tone that is unlike any of her peers, making her shine bright whenever she has the spotlight. For years, Yuqi has been teasing solo music at (G)I-DLE’s concerts for years, and has now finally released her first solo mini album, titled YUQ1. This is a project I have been anticipating considering my affinity for Yuqi and how much I dug this project’s lead single. With that being said, here is how I feel about Yuqi’s debut solo project YUQ1. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from YUQ1, and also comment on how you feel about the EP as a whole.
Yuqi gets YUQ1 going on a light and sweet note with the song ‘Freak.’ This is an easy-going and summery Pop track that will put anyone in a good mood who hears it. There is nothing overly complicated or riveting about this song; it is breezy, simple, and fun. ‘Freak’ is driven by a warm and lovely guitar riff that is complemented by synths that come in and out; these synths give the song a bit of emphasis, breaking up the calm nature of the track. The instrumental for ‘Freak’ has a retro Pop-Rock tempo that makes me think of the Alternative Pop-Rock that was big at the end of the 1990s. Yuqi’s vocals are nice on this song, and I especially enjoy the rap verse. Yuqi’s rapping on this track gives the song a bit of texture and helps infuse the song with energy, which I feel it benefits from greatly. In ‘Freak,’ Yuqi is singing about embracing her individuality and being herself no matter what anyone thinks. ‘My Way’ has a bit more liveliness and excitement than the song that precedes it. This is a song that fits very well into the Pop landscape of today. ‘My Way’ feels inspired by the Pop music of the 1980s; this song has elements that immediately make me think of artists like Cyndi Lauper or Madonna. ‘My Way’ is driven by a bright and cute guitar riff that is complemented by highly saturated synths that make the song feel so bubbly and welcoming. This melody is put on top of a fast-paced drum pattern with a bit of a glitchy feeling that is bound to get anyone moving when it comes on; as I sit here listening to ‘My Way,’ I want to dance around my apartment because of how animated the beat and melody are. Yuqi’s vocals on ‘My Way’ are nice, but they are nothing to write home about. Her tone is spirited and fits the energy of the track, but there is nothing about her vocal performance that stands out or takes the song over the top(which is not necessarily a bad thing). In ‘My Way,’ Yuqi sings about ignoring the haters and loving herself no matter what anyone says about her. ‘Drink It Up,’ which features pH-1, has a slightly different tone and feeling than the first two tracks of the record. ‘Drink It Up’ is not nearly as sweet or bright as the first two tracks; this song has a darker sound that I appreciate a ton, as it breaks things up and shows a slightly different side to Yuqi. ‘Drink It Up’ is driven by a Funky guitar riff that is complemented by an equally funky bassline and some groovy synths that really complete the sound of the track. The beat for ‘Drink It Up’ has a groovy Pop-Rock sound to it as well, fitting the melody super well. I enjoy the vocals on this track, both from Yuqi and pH-1. Yuqi’s vocals are so clear and powerful on this track, and the rap verse from pH-1 gives the song an element of grittiness that makes it all the more enjoyable. On ‘Drink It Up,’ Yuqi and pH-1 are talking about spending the night with a significant other that makes them want to party all night long. The dark and funky sound we got on the last track continues on ‘Red Rover.’ Instead of being inspired by Funky Pop Rock music, this one feels more inspired by Disco music. There are also elements of ‘Red Rover’ that make me think of the Y2K Pop music made big by artists like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. This melody for this song is driven by a cold and dim piano melody that is complemented by shimmering synths. The synths in particular that complement this melody are what give the song a Disco element that is so reminiscent of the 1970s. The beat for this track truly has such a Y2K Pop feeling. If someone told me this song came out about 20 years ago, I might actually believe them because of how much this song reminds me of that music. Yuqi’s vocal performance on this track is so nice. Her husky tone fits this melody so well, and the high notes she hits give the song texture. In ‘Red Rover,’ Yuqi is singing about a bad relationship she was in that she regrets; she hopes that she does not see this person again, because she has a high level of animosity for them.
‘On Clap,’ which features Lexie Liu, is the first traditional Hip Hop song on the record. I was wondering when we would get a song like this considering Yuqi is one of the main rappers on (G)I-DLE. Now, ‘On Clap’ was a song I was very pumped for because of this Lexie Liu feature. Lexie Liu makes such individualistic music, and I thought this song could be something totally out of the ordinary(listen to her latest single ‘delulu’ to see what I mean). Unfortunately, ‘On Clap’ underwhelms me quite a bit. ‘On Clap’ is a pretty fun Pop-Trap track, but I just feel like it could have been so much more. The instrumental for ‘On Clap’ is sparse and punchy. I do enjoy the bassline that drives this beat a lot, as its bouncy feeling is so energizing. As far as the vocals go, Lexie Liu steals the show in this one. I just wish we got more from Lexie in ‘On Clap,’ because her dainty tone contrasts Yuqi’s nicely and gives the song a softer element that it benefits from greatly. ‘On Clap’ has so much potential, and although it is enjoyable, I feel like it could give a bit more. ‘On Clap’ is a braggadocious track where Yuqi and Lexie Liu are rapping about how rich and successful they are. ‘Everytime,’ which features fellow (G)I-DLE member, Minnie, slows and calms things down quite a bit. This is a song with yet another sound from what we have heard on this EP so far. ‘Everytime’ has an old-school R&B sound that reminds me of the 1990s. When I hear this track, I think of the music that Fantasia or Keyshia Cole were making at the beginning of the 2000s. ‘Everytime’ is driven by a lovely guitar melody that is complemented by luscious synths that make it feel so full. This melody is put on a soft and low-key beat helps the song progress nicely but does not take away from the warm and faint feeling of the track. I really enjoy the vocals on this track; in fact, it is probably the best vocal performance of the record overall. The way that Minnie’s high pitch contrasts the lower tone that Yuqi sings with makes this song feel so all-encompassing and enchanting. On ‘Everytime,’ Minnie and Yuqi are singing about something that is always there for them. This person makes their life so much better and helps them whenever they are feeling down. Yuqi closes out YUQ1 with the aforementioned single that I enjoy a lot, ‘Could It Be.’ Yuqi has stated that she is a big fan of Miley Cyrus, and ‘Could It Be’ feels very inspired by the music from Miley’s last album Endless Summer Vacation. In turn, this also makes ‘Could It Be’ feel influenced by the Pop-Country music that Sheryl Crow became known for in the late 1990s. ‘Could It Be’ has a welcoming and cozy guitar-driven melody that is complemented by shimmering synths that make the track so balmy. This melody is put on top of a Pop-Rock beat with a tempo that is laid-back and a bit lively at the same time. As nice as this instrumental is, the best thing about the song is the vocals(this song contains my favorite vocal performance from the record overall besides the one on ‘Everytime.’) Yuqi’s tone fits this instrumental perfectly; the huskiness in her vocals make the song so whole and jolly. In ‘Could It Be,’ Yuqi is singing about falling head over heels for someone and letting herself fall in love with this new person. Yuqi wanted to end YUQ1 on a strong note, and she may have saved the best for last with ‘Could It Be.’
As I mentioned in the introduction, I have always thought that Yuqi is so individually talented. In a group like (G)I-DLE who are so unique in their own right, she still stands out and shines like a star. Her immense talent is evident in her debut solo project YUQ1. I will say that it does feel like Yuqi played it a bit safe on this project. For how quirky and outside the box her performances are in her group’s music, I did expect this mini album to be a bit more diverse and weird. That does not take away from its quality at all, though. YUQ1 is full of very enjoyable music that can appeal to a wide range of listeners. One of the best things about YUQ1 is that there is something for everyone on this project. If you like Pop-Rock, R&B, Funk, or Hip Hop, you will love at least a couple of the tracks on YUQ1. Yuqi’s lyrical and vocal talents also shine through on this project. The songwriting on YUQ1 is endearing and satisfying, and Yuqi’s vocals on the mini album are rangey and so enjoyable as well. YUQ1 may not be the most intriguing project of all time, but that is okay. YUQ1 is still a high-quality project with a ton to love, and it is a more than satisfying debut project from (G)-IDLE’s Yuqi.
EAST SIDE VIBES 