Yuq1 (stylized in all-caps) is the first mini album by Yuqi. It was released on April 23, 2024 with "Freak" serving as the album's title track.
The physical album comes in three versions: Rabbit, Star and Special.
"Could It Be" was pre-released on April 5, 2024.
Description
| “ | Yuqi a member of (G)I-DLE who achieved four consecutive "PAK" (Perted All Kill) on major domestic music chart with the
2nd Full Album [2] released in January, will release her first solo altum [YUG1] that contains her own unique color. Previously, Yuqi demonstrated endless potential far growth through the Digital Singe [A Page] and has buit a variety of musical careers, attracting attention from both Korean and international top artists with her attractive voice. Yuqi 1st Mini Album [YUQ1] embodies Yuqi herself, as evident fram the title, This album, reflecting Yuqi's free-spirited yet delicate artistic qualities, visually expresses strong confidence in her first album by incorporating the number 1 as the letter "i" in Yuqi's name. The title song FREAK is a song filled with Yuqi's lively energy and presents the special moment to mundane daily life, in particular, she sings about the unique charm of "FREAK' with honest lyrics such as She's a Certified Freak' and 'I'm a Certified Freas, revealing that she is singing about herself, YUOl. The song radiates Yuqi's confidence in embracing the difference from others and accepting it as her own personality, providing listeners with a fresh sense liberation. Yuqi, who composed many songs on (G)-DLE's album, adds authenticity and completeness to her first solo album by lyricist and composer on most of the songs, including the title track FREAK, in addition, by featuring various artists such as MINNIE di (6)-DLE, pH-1, and Lexie Liu, Yuqi's unique music color is established with more diverse genres and stories. 1st Album [YUQ1] confidently expresses the all-round artist Yuqi's personality. Wishing all "FREAK's around the world to sing along with confidence, Adorable freak YUGI starts a fun party far lonely FREAK's today.[1] |
” |
Tracklist
- Freak" - 2:51
- "My Way" - 2:48
- "Drink It Up" (feat. pH-1) - 3:16
- "Red Rover - 2:03
- "On Clap" (feat. Lexie Liu) - 1:58
- "Everytime" (feat. Minnie) - 3:11
- "Could It Be" - 3:09
Audio
Spotify
Embedded media: https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Aalbum%3A7LYc8ngbhwha4aGJ5kVauc
Name
The EP's title, which is based on her name, aimed to capture the essence of who Yuqi is as a solo artist; the inclusion of the number 1 to replace the letter I visually expressed her confidence in both the album and her future career.[2][3] Design-wise, a red rabbit was featured on the EP's concept photos, cover art, and tracklist as a "main character", which Yuqi stated to represent herself, explaining: "I was born in the year of the Rabbit, and my favorite color is red!"
Background and Release
Revealing a preview for Yuq1, Cube Entertainment posted a concept trailer on YouTube, showing Yuqi playing a guitar while reminiscing about her past before investigating the sudden whispers and screams around her.[4] To promote the EP, "Could It Be" was rolled out as a pre-release single on April 5, 2024.[5] Yuq1 was released on April 23, 2024. Its lead single "Freak" was released alongside an accompanying music video on the same day.
The following month, Shinsegae Centum City, in collaboration with IPX (formerly Line Friends), opened a pop-up store that featured a themed photo zone, as well as a variety of clothes and merchandise, to commemorate the release of the mini-album.[6]
Commercial performance
Yuq1 accumulated more than 500,000 units in pre-order sales. The mini-album then sold a total of 550,170 copies during the first week of its release, breaking the record of the highest first-week sales made by a K-pop female solo artist's debut EP.[7] In South Korea, it debuted at number two on the Circle Album Chart for the week of April 21 to 27, 2024.
References
- ↑ http://www.cubeent.co.kr/gidlealbum/4240727
- ↑ (G)I-DLE's Yuqi, 'FREAK' is Yuqi herself... 7 colors per person ‘Vocalist’ [New song on the way home from work]
- ↑ (G)I-DLE Yuqi herself... Expectations are focused on the first solo ‘YUQ1’
- ↑ (G)I-DLE Yuqi, trailer for 1st solo mini album 'YUQ1' released! Conceptual directing ‘Focus on attention’
- ↑ (G)I-DLE's Yuqi releases pre-release song 'Could It Be' today (5th)
- ↑ [Bulletin Board Pop-up store commemorating Yuqi’s solo album in Shinsegae Centum City]
- ↑ (G)I-DLE member Yuqi's debut EP breaks record, tops international iTunes charts