Jihyo - ZONE EP (2023) Hi-Res

After the insane success of Nayeon’s solo debut last year, Jihyo is the second member of TWICE to release a solo project. Starting out as the underappreciated member who was continuously being bashed for not conforming to the South-Korean beauty standard, Jihyo has now built up a stellar reputation for her strong and consistent stage presence and performances, and has quickly become one of TWICE’s more popular members by a long shot. She finally found her well-deserved confidence, confidence that she proudly showcases on “ZONE”.
I like how, contrary to the trend of K-pop artists only releasing rushed songs that are under 3 minutes long, most of these songs feel like well-thought-out, complete ideas. The composers did not shy away from incorporating solid two-part choruses, bridges and intros/outros, and the project is all the better for it. This is also where the importance of Jihyo’s strong vocal performances comes in; she does not just sing the songs like she is reading off a lyrics sheet, but makes them her own, which is something that other K-pop solo projects often lack. Again, it is her confidence and personal touches that make this otherwise predictable soundscape pretty great.

The production and songwriting on this project leans more towards what you would typically expect from western pop, which is not surprising considering that besides Jihyo herself and a couple of Korean musicians, a part of the songs on this project were made by the likes of German producer and songwriter Lindgren and American producer Rykeyz. “Talkin’ About It” follows the western pop formula to a T: everything from the fully English lyrics to the instrumental and the somewhat forced feature is something you would 100% hear playing on American and western European radio stations. Although that song is fine, it is on steady, sensual songs like “Closer” where Jihyo shines the most. While it is only 2:35 long, which I would usually consider way too short, I felt surprisingly satisfied after listening to that song. The instrumental complements the dynamic melodies and Jihyo’s full voice perfectly.

Overall, “ZONE” is a really solid project, even better considering this is a debut. Its sound is nothing new, but the execution of said sound is great; the production is sleek and polished, and the subtle 90’s vibe fits Jihyo like a glove. If anything, a debut it supposed to establish an artist’s musical identity and highlight their talents, which is exactly what they did right here. Despite its run-of-the-mill sound, there is no doubt that this is a Jihyo project and that is all thanks to all of the effort she put into participating in creating her album. It’s a refreshing thing to see in the K-pop industry and what will ultimately set the artists apart from the idols.