Ryu Su-jeong sheds everything with 'Diamond' to find her true self

Ryu Su-jeong, formerly of Lovelyz, has shed yet another "self." She took off her clothes, wiped away her makeup, and finally, even took off her shoes. This was not merely about presenting a provocative visual; it was a way to materialize the answer to the question, "Who am I really?"—a question she has asked herself while navigating life as a solo artist following her time in an idol group—through music and video.

Ryu will release her fourth mini album, 'ALL THE COLORS I AM,' on the 11th at 6 PM. This album holds significant meaning as it is her first musical output after signing an exclusive contract with the comprehensive entertainment agency all my anecdotes. Along with the album release, the music video for the title track 'Diamond' will be unveiled, and an unusual promotion will take place where six music videos, including the B-sides, will be released sequentially.

The album title clearly reveals the direction of this work. 'ALL THE COLORS I AM' stems from the idea that a human being cannot be defined by a single color or image. The process of discovering one's own light through various emotions—such as wounds, anxiety, frustration, and achievement—permeates the entire album.

The song at the center of it all is 'Diamond.' Much like a diamond that emits different colors depending on the angle of light, Ryu sings of the realization that although she has gone through various stages, the source that ultimately makes her shine was not external evaluation, but what was within herself. By layering her signature soulful vocals over a psychedelic-textured alternative hip-hop sound, she has established a musical texture distinctly different from her previous days in Lovelyz.

Ryu also spoke candidly about the process of deciding on the title track. She explained that after boldly setting aside most of the initial demos and continuing to create new songs, she encountered 'Diamond.' The moment the intro was played, the entire production team agreed that it was suitable as the title track. She explained that she wanted to show "music that sticks as soon as you hear it" through a song that possesses both freshness and a sophisticated texture.

A particularly eye-catching aspect of this project is the way the music and video are combined. For the album consisting of six tracks, a music video is attached to each, connecting them into a single narrative. Starting with the B-side 'Crying' on the 10th, followed by 'Diamond' on the 11th, then 'Lucky Charms,' 'shoulda woulda coulda,' 'Birthday Cake,' and 'Friendly Fire' will be released at one-day intervals. On the 16th, a compilation video connecting all six will be released.

The core of the video, as explained by Ryu, is "molting." After experiencing different egos and emotions through various songs, the point she reaches at the end is 'Diamond.' The scene where she throws off the clothes she previously wore, wipes away her makeup, and finally dances barefoot after even taking off her shoes, is interpreted as discovering her own light once external decorations are gone.

This concept is distinct from a simple image transformation. Since her Lovelyz days, Ryu has been a core vocalist composing the team's musical color with her unique husky yet emotional tone. After debuting with Lovelyz in 2014, she served as the group's lead vocalist, building her presence with her unique timbre even amidst the team's pure concept and sophisticated choreography.

Her path following the group activities has been more heavily characterized by her identity as an individual creator. Even after the expiration of Lovelyz's exclusive contract, Ryu released music releases such as 'Perhaps We Are' and 'That Day, Us,' and last year, she continued her activities as a solo artist by presenting 'Melted Love' while holding her solo concert 'IT'S MY PARTY.' This new start with her new agency can be seen as an extension of that, serving as an opportunity to build her musical world even more clearly.

The reason this album is special to Ryu lies not only in its musical direction but also in the fact that she gazed directly into her own inner self. She revealed that after experiencing various music and concepts while active with Lovelyz, she long harbored the question, "What is the real me?" However, she realized that the past worries and failures actually made her who she is today.

This aligns perfectly with the title 'ALL THE COLORS I AM.' A person is not a being completed by a single image, but is made by the overlapping layers of numerous experiences. The "many colors" Ryu speaks of do not signify a simple change in style, but rather the internal changes of anxiety, frustration, recovery, and growth.

She actually confessed to experiencing a slump during her solo activities. She admitted there was a period when she stayed home, ate junk food, and binge-watched 'Gilmore Girls' when she felt overwhelmed.

Therefore, the message Ryu delivers to fans is far from a grand success story. She suggests that when going through difficult times, one might feel as if they are the only person left in the world, but in reality, everyone experiences similar frustrations. She hopes fans can find small comfort in her music, feeling that "I am not alone.""

The music video production was as intense as the message itself. To produce six videos, filming was conducted within limited time and budget, with the entire staff working through two days of minimal sleep. Even when skin was peeling due to sun exposure, those natural traces were utilized as imagery for the subsequent videos, reflecting the raw nature of the project.

The stage performances will also connect to the videos. Ryu plans to carry the barefoot imagery from the music videos onto music show stages. By stripping away the typical idol performance elements—glamorous stage outfits and high heels—she extends the album's theme of "shining as my true self" to the concert hall. She also shared a small anecdote that her father's love for barefoot walking influenced this choice.

Her future musical direction will not be fixed to a single genre. While continuing the style of this album, Ryu expressed interest in challenging herself with genres like jazz and bossa nova, as well as more accessible alternative music. She also expressed a desire to perform at festivals, showing her intent to expand the boundaries of her music and stage presence.

Ultimately, the core of this album lies not in "what was added," but in "what was stripped away." By shedding the name Lovelyz, the idol image, the evaluations of others, and the flashy costumes and makeup, Ryu Su-jeong has discovered not a new character, but the light that was already within her.

'ALL THE COLORS I AM' is more than just a solo album. It is a record of a self-narrative created by Ryu, now 28, as she looks back at her past and present after navigating the struggles of her 20s. It is a journey of passing through many colors to finally reach a diamond. In the final scene, Ryu stands barefoot after shedding everything. To show the most, she has stripped away the most.

Ryu Su-jeong's fourth mini album 'ALL THE COLORS I AM' will be released on various music streaming sites on the 11th at 6 PM. The music videos for the six tracks will be released sequentially through the 16th, and she will meet fans at an offline event on the 17th to celebrate the album release.