AILEE
AILEE, the “iconic diva of K-pop,” has proven her progress with a new change.
AILEE returned on March 20th with her new mini-album “((Me)moir).” This is her first new album in a year and a half since the single “LATATA,” released in October 2023. It was produced by Peedock, BTS’s composer and Big Hit Music’s exclusive producer, and garnered attention even before its release.
The album’s tracklist is unusual. According to the agency, “((Me)moir)” means defining and explaining oneself through memory, with the meaning of “me” in parentheses. The goal was to clearly reveal who “the artist Ailee” is in the life of “the human Lee Yejin.” “((Me)moir)” is a compact mini-album with only three songs, but it contains only the essential elements that fit the album’s outline, which is distinguished by its clarity and high level of polish.
The title track, “MMI,” is a hip-hop R&B track with Miami beats. Titled “Me Myself I,” it tells a story entirely centered on “myself,” with zest and humor. The lyrics convey a subjective and confident statement: “I’m in love with myself and I don’t need anyone else.”
The song, which sounds like a girl group, is a surprising departure given AILEE’s filmography. However, the flavor of this departure is quite good. AILEE’s refreshing vocals and kitschy melody, in harmony with the rhythm and smoothness of the movement, maximize the freshness.
AILEE’s particular expression of the slightly varying points in each development section is refreshing and enjoyable to listen to, as three or four members express themselves as if creating a complete song. It’s also impressive that AILEE demonstrates a distinctive charm compared to existing songs. She nods “as expected” in perceiving AILEE’s deep inner workings, even though the song can be difficult to differentiate, as it doesn’t require overly deep expressive power in the “Easy Listening” style.
Additionally, the album features the Jersey Club-style R&B pop song “Illusion” and the ballad “Meaning,” revealing Ailee’s colorful vocal range. AILEE crafted the English lyrics for all the songs to maximize their authenticity and emotional expression.
Since her debut single “HEAVEN” in 2012, Ailee has been praised for her powerful and soulful vocal delivery. She has recorded numerous hits, including “Evening Ssky,” “I will show you,” “U&I,” “노래가 늘었어,” and “If you.” She is one of the hit singers on the soundtrack of the tvN drama “Goblin,” “I will go to you like the first snow.”
The charm of AILEE’s voice, which combines the power of pop singers with the lyricism of emotional voices, is characteristic of her voice and is highly regarded for this charm. She has chosen to become a vocal artist with a broader spectrum, without settling into one. Regarding this, AILEE said, “This is an album I worked hard on for a long year, with the determination of Act 2, because I want to reveal a new side of myself. In that sense, it’s an album that reflects a strong desire for change. I want to make diverse music in the future, but I want to be an artist who can touch people.“
AILEE notably announced her marriage to Choi Sihun, a businessman from the Netflix series “Single Inferno,” in April, before the album’s release. It was also revealed that she registered her marriage last August, meaning the second act of her life as “Lee Yejin the singer” has already begun. AILEE is determined to continue her singing career after the April 20 ceremony.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS AILEE
