For years, Taeyeon has been the “Certified Vocal Queen” since the days of Girls’ Generation and she’s back to prove her title once more. The soloist’s latest mini-album Letter To Myself explores an alt-rock sound not commonly heard in mainstream K-Pop and unpacks themes of identity, perseverance, and growth. Taeyeon’s vocal prowess shines through each track, exemplified by the dynamic use of guitar and percussion.

LETTER TO MYSELF TRACKLIST:

1. “Letter To Myself”

2. “Hot Mess”

3. “Blue Eyes”

4. “Strangers”

5. “Blur”

6. “Disaster”

The Title Track: “Letter To Myself”

“Letter To Myself” opens up the mini-album as Taeyeon discusses the letter she wrote to herself, a raw and deeply personal call to action to her past self. She describes the letter itself as a reassurance of her younger self who changes for other people reminding her that it’s okay to be herself saying, “There’s no need to hide from myself anymore.” This power ballad of a title track speaks to listeners who may doubt themselves and change for others, assuring and comforting listeners that their authentic selves are more than enough for the world even if it’s messy and clumsy.

The accompanying music video’s indie feel adds to the track’s personality. The film-like visuals matched with quirky creatures and snide supporting characters establish a world that represents Taeyeon’s eventual resistance to changing herself for the people she meets. After revealing her authentic self in the end, those same characters start to accept her true self, encompassing a beautiful story about self-acceptance. 

B-Side Spotlight: “Hot Mess” & “Strangers”

The alt-rock sound of “Hot Mess” embraces the messiness that comes with accepting one’s true self. Written by chaeryn, Larzz Principato, Tommy Driscoll, and UPSAHL and produced by Principatto and Driscoll, it welcomes the experimentation that comes with life and the gritty sound exemplifies the overall theme. While it may be the shortest track on the mini-album, “Hot Mess” leans into the rock aesthetic of the album the most. Taeyeon’s vocals are accompanied by a simple guitar hook in the first verse before the introduction of percussion with rhythmic snaps in line with the lyrics during the pre-chorus. It’s low-key and gives Taeyeon room to shine after the instrumental feast of “Letter To Myself.”

“Strangers” has an indie/alternative feel that leans into Taeyeon’s melodic side. She isn’t afraid to have fun with the track despite the grounded nature of the album as a whole, something that is a breath from the weight of its predecessors. Like “Hot Mess,” this track has a low-key instrumental that lets Taeyeon come through on top of the track, only utilizing a simple drum beat and keyboard throughout the track, written by Tone Jones, Lauren LaRue, Lindsey Lomis, and Yoona Ha and produced by Tone Jones. 

The Final Verdict

Taeyeon knocks it out of the park once more in a streak of releases that continues to show her growth as an artist. “Letter To Myself” encompasses what it means to accept yourself for who you are while “Hot Mess” and “Strangers” reinforce the theme through exploring the chaos and self awareness of experimentation and what it means for people in one’s life. The album spoke to me in a way that K-Pop normally doesn’t, which makes this mini-album all the more unique to Taeyeon’s power as an artist and more than just an idol. With a strong title track and just as strong B-sides, Taeyeon has once again taken the title of “Certified Vocal Queen.”

*Note: Lyrics taken from English captions in official music videos.

Edited by Cara Musashi