In the world of K-Pop, groups are heavily emphasized. Everyone wants to know who your bias is, whose fancam you’re streaming, and who really ruled each comeback. Yet there doesn’t seem to be the same amount of attention for those who stand alone on stage and entertain an audience with nothing but their talents. 

It takes a lot of guts to go solo. There is no one to share the performative burden with but yourself, so you really have to rely on your all-round talents to be able to knock the audience’s socks off. 

Though many artists may promote as soloists during or after their group careers, some choose to go it alone from the very beginning, and it is these idols that we are looking to highlight this week. While solo icons such as IU, Chungha, and Taeyeon gain the recognition they truly deserve from worldwide fans, many soloists tend to fly under the radar as a result, especially if they don’t already have the prior followings from the time they spent promoting within hit groups such as I.O.I and Girls’ Generation. So in an attempt to highlight some of the artists who are hidden beneath the masses of K-Pop hits and give them the attention they truly deserve, here five underrated female soloists that you should be listening to. 

AleXa

To say AleXa’s debut was anything but explosive is an understatement. Hailing from music video production company ZB Label, Korean-American AleXa made her debut in October 2019 with the digital single “Bomb.” Though it’s her only current single to date, “Bomb” is nothing short of incredible. The single perfectly showcases her mastery of showmanship, with her luscious vocals and expert dancing skills creating an exceptional debut performance. Since her debut, the idol has continued to update fans with covers, collabs, and more (her most recent being a surprise collaboration with MAMAMOO’s Moonbyul in a joint performance of her latest single, “Eclipse”). AleXa has already shown there is more to her than meets the eye and made it certain that her android-inspired concept is one that we certainly shouldn’t be sleeping on. 

Jimin Park

When most K-Pop fans think of the name Jimin, their minds will often race to BTS heartthrob of the same name. Yet one Jimin who is worthy of just as much attention is former K-Pop Star winner, Jimin Park. Park debuted as a soloist under JYP Entertainment in April 2015 with the single “Hopeless Love” which, along with the rest of Park’s discography, allows her unique tone to flourish. Park knows that her voice is her greatest asset, and combining that with her boundless charisma makes the singer a force to be reckoned with in the K-Pop world. Now having left JYP, Park has taken her first stride into the independant world. Though she has yet to release any new music, it is bound to be just as beautiful as the rest of her work. If you would like to see more of Park, you can catch her on Arirang’s After School Club, where she has acted as the show’s co-host since 2014. 

Anda

First debuting in 2012, Anda wouldn’t start to gain recognition until seven years later, after she signed with YG subsidiary, YGX. Though before she would begin to break into the mainstream, Anda would largely fly under the radar within the K-Pop industry until 2015, when she released the sultry lesbian anthem “Touch.” The highly addictive and seductive single showcases Anda’s strength and maturity, yet provides a playful edge to her vocals that leaves you wanting more. Years later, her collaboration with R.Tee on the single “What You Waiting For” gave the veteran idol a chance to truly show her full potential and prove that she is a powerhouse soloist, worthy of the same amount of attention as her peers. Now under a label that finally appreciates Anda’s talents, we are sure to hear more from her soon.  

Rothy

Indie darling Rothy oozes a confident aura that would make even the most experienced idols jealous. One of two soloists from Dorothy Company, Rothy made her debut in November 2017 with the soft ballad “Stars.” The single acts as a showcase for Rothy’s stellar vocals and her innocent persona. The comebacks that would follow, “Burning” and “Bee” respectively, would peel back more layers in this idol’s already mountainous talents, showcasing an infinitely cool energy that is certain to develop further in her career. Though underrated as of now, Rothy is a soloist that you should be sure to keep an eye on, as she is bound to hit the mainstream soon. 

Luri

Though Luri only debuted in November 2019, her power is already undeniable. Lee Suhyun ranked 13th in the first season of Produce 101, and now having made her debut, has proven to fans exactly why she is not one to be missed. Her debut single “Blah Blah” is an eruption of power that makes a very clear statement to the K-Pop world: Luri is here to stay. Full of color, charisma, and confidence, Luri’s debut is full of strength that is sure to set a solid foundation for her future idol career.