I-dle's Yuqi to release self-written Chinese-language mini album '27'

At 27, pop stars are often asked to look polished, invulnerable and hyper-curated. But for Yuqi, a member of K-pop group i-dle, turning 27 is an invitation to embrace friction, vulnerability and unfiltered self-love. Marking her solo return after a little more than a year, Yuqi is releasing her second mini album "27" on Thursday. Fully written and composed by Yuqi herself, the six-track Chinese-language project uses the sunflower as a central metaphor: a bloom that holds unspoken anxieties beneath its bright face, yet persistently turns toward the sun. Prior to the full release, the prerelease track "I Like You" signaled strong international momentum, topping YouTube’s daily trending music video charts in Singapore and Hong Kong while entering charts in over half a dozen countries, including Canada and Australia. Ahead of the release, Yuqi sat down for a Q&A to discuss her personal evolution, musical experimentation and what it means to be unapologetically yourself. Q: It has been a year and a month since your last solo outing. How does it feel to be back? A: I’ve been steadily workin