Jo Yuri aims to excel as actor, singer

Being a singer and an actor at the same time is no easy task, but Jo Yuri loves doing it all. Up until a few months ago, Jo was only known to the general public as a solo artist who was also the lead vocalist in project girl group IZ*ONE ...

Singer and actor Jo Yuri at the press showcase for her second EP ″Love All″ held on at the Yes24 Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul on Wednesday [WAKEONE]

Being a singer and an actor at the same time is no easy task, but Jo Yuri loves doing it all.

Up until a few months ago, Jo was only known to the general public as a solo artist who was also the lead vocalist in project girl group IZ*ONE. But after her name was announced as part of the new cast for “Squid Game Season 2,” Netflix’s highly anticipated original series, she was highlighted as a potential actor to watch.

But before “Squid Game” hits the screens, she is back as a singer with her second EP “Love All,” more than a full year after her first EP “Op.22 Y-Waltz: in Major” dropped back in June 2022.

Singer and actor Jo Yuri at the press showcase for her second EP ″Love All″ held on at the Yes24 Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul on Wednesday [WAKEONE]

“I think being a singer or an actor are both hard,” Jo said during a press conference held on Wednesday at the Yes24 Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul ahead of the release of her second EP later that day.

“I have barely started doing both and I’m still learning, so I think both acting and singing are equally difficult for me,” she added.

“But I love both singing and acting, and I am happy to showcase myself to the public by doing what I love to do.”

Singer and actor Jo Yuri at the press showcase for her second EP ″Love All″ held on at the Yes24 Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul on Wednesday [WAKEONE]

“Love All,” which is a reference to the table tennis term signaling the start of a game, talks about “all the moments in love” from falling in love to the subsequent moments of being in love. Lead track “Taxi” was described by Jo as a “straight-on confessing love track.”

“You know, I actually do not have a driver’s license and taxis are the transportation I think of when I need to go somewhere quickly or when I have something urgent,” she explained.

“The song expresses the thought of getting close, as fast as possible, to someone you love.”

Singer and actor Jo Yuri at the press showcase for her second EP ″Love All″ held on at the Yes24 Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul on Wednesday [WAKEONE]

As she is releasing the album after a year-long break, Jo explained that she worked hard to give a more improved and fresher look.

“As I had a bit of a break, I wanted to have a visual change; I went blonde for the first time since I debuted as a solo artist and I’ve tried different things vocally as well,” she said.

“I attempted to showcase the ‘quintessential Jo Yuri’ vocal style in all my songs up until now. But for this album, I tried to adjust my vocal styles depending on the different types of the songs in the album, and I hope fans can really feel the difference.”

"Bruise," the b-side track that she sang during the press showcase, was a ballad score featuring Jo's calmer vocals, contrary to the lead track which is an upbeat dance-pop track.

She also explained that her unique vocal tone, one that “both fans and the general public can recognize at first listen,” is her biggest strength as a singer.

“I hope people remember me both as a ‘singer who you can listen to with trust’ and an ‘actor who you can watch with trust,’” Jo said. “I hope people say ‘While I’m not a fan of Jo Yuri, I do listen to her album and watch her acting.’” To find out more about Jo Yuri, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]