On October 18, CHUU made her long-awaited debut as a solo artist. After months of anticipation following CHUU’s signing on with the management company ATRP, the former LOONA member made a striking return to the stage with Howl, her first mini album. The five-track EP explores CHUU’s identity as a soloist for the first time since the 2017 release of “Heart Attack.”
Little Hero
Sentimental yet upbeat, “Howl” is a song that evokes melancholic imagery over a groovy dance beat. The title track opens with an unexpectedly simple instrumental segment, highlighting CHUU’s lone vocals with a vocoder. Over the course of the song’s three minutes, this instrumental gradually builds up into a synthpop symphony. While not outwardly showy of CHUU’s vocal abilities, “Howl” gives CHUU the opportunity to showcase her strong vocal technique and a unique timbre fans haven’t heard before.
The track’s music video opens with a forlorn, saddened CHUU alone in a dark set. As the music escalates, introducing snappy synth and electronic elements, the video brightens. CHUU traverses the streets of Porto, Portugal, accompanied by a “small hero” who is supposedly CHUU’s alter ego. Filled with plaid patterns, platform boots, and metallic accessories, CHUU’s debut embraces a hyper feminine take on the early Y2K pop-punk aesthetic.
Towards the Sky
“Underwater” was released on October 10, eight days ahead of Howl. In contrast to the unmistakable synthpop rhythm of “Howl,” this pre-release B-side is mellow and acoustic. With tropical sounds led by a crisp ukulele, the lilting melody is determined by CHUU’s singing and layered harmonies. Similar to the title track, however, “Underwater” features an effortless falsetto reprise in the chorus and an instrumental that becomes progressively more complex.
In the music video for “Underwater,” CHUU transitions from the monotony of daily life into a hopeful montage at the beach. Also shot in Porto, this video celebrates the untapped potential of CHUU’s solo career. Shots of the soloist smiling assuredly underlay uplifting lyrics as CHUU sings “Looking for my way freely/I’m heading towards the sky.”
The Beauty of It All
Each of Howl’s three new B-side tracks add on to the mini album’s musical theme in its individual way. “My Palace” opens with an isolated piano before introducing percussion, guitar, and string arrangements. It’s a track that matches the EP’s pop-rock visual identity, introducing listeners to a slightly broodier side of CHUU. Aided by tactful moments of vocal distortion and a constant, catchy flow, “My Palace” is one of the more memorable songs on the mini album.
Track four, “Aliens,” does a 180-degree turn back into synthpop. With its clear synthwave influence, “Aliens” is a fast-paced, nostalgic song filled with sounds of 1980s futurism. Listening to the track inspires memories of a journey you’ve never even been on, perhaps exploring an unknown place and marvelling in its grandeur for the first time. The song is brought to a tinkling end that fades out the instrumental, before concluding with CHUU’s isolated bittersweet vocals singing “The beauty of it all.”
Finally, “Hitchhiker” acts like the sister song to “Underwater.” The last song on Howl leans into a tropical house instrumental that, fittingly, reflects the feeling of traveling somewhere new. “Hitchhiker” is composed with a minimal production, accented only by percussive sounds. This choice of subdued instrumental places the emphasis almost entirely on CHUU’s vocals, rounding out her debut mini album with a reminder of her capabilities.
CHUU’s debut with Howl is a soft spoken yet enticing first step into the singer’s budding solo career. The mini album’s cohesive, cute-but-tough imagery perfectly complements CHUU’s persona as she returns to the stage. With many genres and instrumental sounds still unexplored, the future of CHUU’s solo career is full of exciting possibilities.
Want to keep up with more recent K-pop releases? Read about JINI’s solo debut here!
