Sometimes a solo debut does not give listeners everything they might have predicted, but the result is instantly satisfying nevertheless. Such is the case with Yeji’s “Air,” the 80s-influenced synthpop title track from her debut album of the same name. Presenting a contrasting style from the rock energy of “Crown on my Head,” from Itzy’s Born to Be album, “Air” effectively shows Yeji’s range as a soloist.
While there is no shortage of retro synthpop songs in K-pop, Yeji’s offering to the genre is well-executed. While slinky synth beats carry throughout, the song builds instrumentally, adding crescendoing synths and eventually electric guitar. Similarly, Yeji lends airy vocals to the verses, matching the lines “every last breath, I can feel my oxygen descend.” Then she contributes more power, especially with ad-libs in the second half of the song. Her lovely vocal tone, in somewhat of a lower range than in most Itzy songs, particularly surprises here.
What one can always expect from Yeji, however, is top-tier performance, and this elevates the song. The MV opens with her falling from the sky onto a couch, posed with one leg straight up in the air. This shot sets viewers up for choreography scenes to follow, with Yeji’s precise, sharp, yet elegant movements and challenging poses. At various moments in the MV, she does leg raises and deep back bends, but even the placement of her arms and fingers reveal her exceptional body control and attention to detail.
The MV also features some unconventional choreography choices that contribute to its plot. For instance, during the first verse, Yeji rises from the couch and leans back as she struts, kicking her legs upward with each step. She also trips and tumbles on the ground, but continues forward with ‘stumbling’ movements. These moves might look downright goofy from a less capable dancer, but Yeji pulls off the intended storytelling. Yeji portrays a character who gains confidence over the course of the MV, perfecting her walk on a treadmill on top of a counter. Her dancing and facial expressions also gradually reflect her gaining personal power.
Perhaps, the MV suggests, she has too much power, breaking a concrete wall and placing a red carpet over the rubble. Even as an agent of chaos, however, Yeji’s trajectory from uncertainty to confidence is compelling. When the song fades out at the end, the camera zooms out to Yeji once again on the couch with her leg in the air. This time, her head and forearms directly face the camera, ending far more boldly than she began.
“Air” is a perfect example of what a solid solo debut should do: harness the artist’s strengths while also revealing what they can offer as individuals. Yeji’s vocal performance exhibits colors that she has not explored with Itzy. Meanwhile, her dance performance in the MV truly shows her talen—she not only possesses considerable skill, but physically expresses both the quirky humor and confidence required for the story. Yeji’s ability to execute any concept bodes well for her future solo efforts.
(YouTube. Images via JYP Entertainment).
