Ryu Su-jeong of Lovelyz ditches the bells and whistles in 'Archive of Emotions'

For K-pop girl groups, their heavy makeup and fancy costumes act as the armor that protects them from the scrutinizing eyes of the public and press. But for her first full-length album “Archive of Emotions,” singer Ryu Su-jeong of ...

Singer Ryu Su-jeong, member of girl group Lovelyz [HOUSE OF DREAMS]

For K-pop girl groups, their heavy makeup and fancy costumes act as the armor that protects them from the scrutinizing eyes of the public and press.

But for her first full-length album “Archive of Emotions,” singer Ryu Su-jeong of girl group Lovelyz took it all off so that you can see who she is without the mask.

“What I tried my best with on this album was to bring out the natural Ryu Su-jeong — the real Ryu Su-jeong,” the singer told reporters in an interview held Monday prior to the album’s release on Thursday at a cafe in southern Seoul.

“When you’re a part of a group, you have to present yourself decorated a certain way with makeup and costumes. But I tried to bare myself, so to say, so that people get to see me and my unrefined emotions.”

“Archive of Emotions” is thus exactly what the title says — an archive of emotions that the singer has felt since parting ways with her first agency Woollim Entertainment in November 2021 to find her own path as a soloist.

Having debuted in November 2014 as a part of girl group Lovelyz, Ryu had made her mark as the lead vocalist of the group with her soft, velvety voice with a twist of husky texture that guaranteed the high quality of her group’s songs.

The cover image of ″Archive of Emotions″ (2023), first full-length album by singer Ryu Su-jeong, member of girl group Lovelyz [HOUSE OF DREAMS]

She made her first solo appearance in May 2020 with the EP “Tiger Eyes,” which carried more of the Lovelyz vibe, with a heavy focus on the visuals with her vibrant blue hair and bold leopard costumes. But with her 11-track full-length album, Ryu took all that off and came back with natural brown hair and no-fuss attire.

Ryu wrote the lyrics for all 11 songs and took part in composing the music for nine of them, including the double lead tracks “Grabby Girl” and “Love of Hate.”

“Grabby Girl” is an easy-listening R&B track about people’s urge to grab onto things, hence the title. She used the image of cats in the music video to express a greedy girl who’s now free to talk more honestly about her true desires, which wasn’t possible when she was part of a lovely-concept girl group.

“When you’re a part of a K-pop girl group, you always have to suppress what you want,” she said. “The imagery of a cat is also associated with being free and roaming around the way you want. There are also images of broken dolls and pills, which symbolize the twisted desires and depressing emotions that also exist inside of me.”

The other lead track “Love or Hate” takes a deeper look into the depressing thoughts that occupy one’s mind, especially when they hate someone.

“Many of the lyrics have been taken from my actual diary,” she said. “There are many emotions conveyed in the album, but the biggest one is disappointment, especially the disappointment that comes from not being able to fulfill the things you’ve planned out for the day. I think the more you start to accept that reality, the more disappointed you become.”

Singer Ryu Su-jeong, member of girl group Lovelyz [HOUSE OF DREAMS]

The disappointment isn’t about leaving her agency and starting solo, but rather about learning that there is hope in every small failure, she said.

In fact, she said, being a part of Lovelyz gave her the strength and maturity that made her the independent woman she is today.

Lovelyz did not technically disband, but the bandmates have not come together for group activities since their contracts expired in November 2021, and only one of the eight members decided to stay with Woollim.

“I think Lovelyz taught me how to live every day and how to have a mature attitude toward my life,” she said. “Back then, we worked through each day like it was a daily mission. I couldn’t think of anything else other than that I was so busy, but, looking back, I learned perseverance and maturity. And at the end, I learned how to concentrate on myself.”

Ryu credited her fans for the honesty she was able to convey through her album, especially when fans tell her to “do everything and anything” she wants.

“I honestly never liked it when someone told me to do anything that I want,” she said. “How on earth can you live your life and do everything you want? But when fans say it, it has a different ring to it because what they mean is that they’ll support me no matter what I do. I think they truly helped me try the things I want to with my music.”

Singer Ryu Su-jeong, member of girl group Lovelyz [HOUSE OF DREAMS]

The singer does not have a particular method of promotion in mind, other than her solo concert “Archive of Emotions” set to take place on May 13 and 14. But she does have a definite goal in mind.

“I’ve always thought that I want to become a singer like rice,” she said referring to the Korean staple that makes up the base of almost every meal.

“Rice is something that doesn’t have a strong taste, but you still have to have it every day. I want to be someone who people want every day, but naturally and subtly. I think my music is going in that direction, and I want to be that singer who’s naturally there with other people.”

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]