Miyeon’s Solo Debut “Drive” Paints A Pretty Picture of Springtime
(G)I-DLE’s main vocalist Miyeon made her highly-anticipated solo debut on April 27, 2022 with the mini-album MYand featuring the refreshing title track “Drive.” The debut comes a little over a month after the release of (G)I-DLE’s “Tomboy,” which saw huge success by sweeping music charts domestically and internationally. Thanks to the punk-rock inspired track, the quintet became the first idol group to achieve a perfect all-kill in 2022. Miyeon’s solo debut makes her the third member of (G)I-DLE to explore their individual music identity outside of the group, after Yuqi and Soyeon.
MY is a step in the opposite direction for Miyeon compared to her group’s edgier comeback in mid-March. The pastel-toned and floral-filled music video that accompanies Miyeon’s sweet vocals make “Drive” the perfect breezy song for the spring season. Melodically, “Drive” is reminiscent of releases from other female soloists such as IU and Taeyeon. Miyeon’s bright vocal colors also bear resemblance to these two top vocalists.
Just like the title track, many songs in MY revolve around the theme of spring–tying the mini-album together conceptually. The album starts out with “Rose,” a romantic melody with equally swoon-worthy lyrics that convey the comforting feeling of the spring season. Despite a slower intro leading into the song, “Softly” is mesmerizingly upbeat and features harp and violin instrumentation that make for an addicting and feel-good hit.
Composed by Julia Michaels, “TE AMO” showcases Miyeon’s raspier tone with a powerfully hard-hitting chorus, with the singer passionately belting her lines towards the end. The fifth track “Charging” is a mid-tempo ballad that features R&B singer-songwriter Junny. The honey-sweet duet is led by mellow, soft piano sounds and highlights the two’s perfect harmony. Ending on a more emotional and personal note for Miyeon, “Rain” was a collaboration between her and fellow (G)I-DLE member Yuqi. Miyeon wrote the lyrics while Yuqi was the composer for the melancholic track.
Overall, MY marks a promising start for Miyeon in her solo endeavors. “Drive” is the perfect nod to spring with its breezy vibes, but also makes the smooth transition, or should we say drive, to being a perfect road trip anthem for the upcoming summertime. Watch the colorful music video for “Drive” on YouTube and check out all six tracks of Miyeon’s first solo album on Spotify!