For K-pop artists, album experience is a journey that holds immense cultural weight. Each record is tailored to provide listeners with the ultimate experience.
This year, artists continued pushing the bounds of genre within Korean pop music as they experimented with influences from traditional pop to R&B and alt-rock.
Here are the K-pop idols who released a solo album in 2021:
'Lilac' has a city pop feel to it. It has all aspects of IU, mellow and romantic but also witty and fun. The 10-track project was released on March 25, 2021 through Edam Entertainment. It was her first full-length album since 'Palette' in 2017.
EXO's D.O. made his solo debut with 'Empathy.' It was released on July 26, 2021 through SM Entertainment. The EP features eight tracks, including the lead single, "Rose." In this EP, D.O flaunts his affinity for storytelling over a melodic mix of acoustic R&B and pop.
Kai's second mini album 'Peaches' can be felt as something more paradisic and soft. "'Peaches' is a bit more lovely, and it's on the cuter and brighter side," Kai shared about his album. The six-track project was released on November 30, 2021 under SM Entertainment.
'Bambi' is a sultry and elegant set of R&B and neo-soul songs. The six-track mini album was released on March 30, 2021 under SM Entertainment. This serves as a "parting gift" to his fans before his military enlistment on May 6, 2021.
For his first EP 'Bad Love,' Key used a combination of R&B, synth-pop, and new wave. It has a refreshing and powerful progression that feels epic and impactful. The six-track mini-album was released on September 27, 2021 through SM Entertainment.
In 'Advice,' Taemin proves his versatility as an artist. The five-track project was released on May 18, 2021. The mini album serves as a "consolation to fans" before his military enlistment on May 31, 2021.
'Countdown' marks Super Junior's Donghae and Eunhyuk's 10th year promoting as a duo. It represents the duo counting the hours, minutes and seconds in a backward manner with the beginning as zero. The 10-track album was released on November 2, 2021 and topped iTunes album charts in 22 countries just a day after its release.
'Next Episode' opens in a sultry and intimate note and closes with bright pop-rock. The seven-track EP was released digitally on July 26, 2021, and physically on July 27 through YG Entertainment. It was Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun's "collaboration album," featuring guest appearances from some of the industry's best known voices like nation's sweetheart IU, and veteran singer Lee Sun-hee.
Bibi talks about the harshness of life in her second EP 'Life is a Bi...' The five-track album each has a music video. It was released on April 29, 2021. "When life hits you hard, sometimes you just want to blame everything on someone else," shared Bibi on the creative process and inspiration behind her mini album.
Song Heehin uses every color of her experience to paint a gorgeous, diversified landscape on 'Soda.' Heejin's voice and pop songwriting skills shine through her nine-track album. It was released on June 11, 2021 under Solcire Music.
'End Theory' is the sixth full-length album by Younha. It was released on November 16, 2021. The album consists of 11 songs, including the title track "Piece of a Star." Younha participated in writing and composing all songs. In fact, she prepared this album for more than two years.
'4 ONLY' was Lee Hi's first full-length album under AOMG. The album spans 10 tracks, including collaborations with B.I., Yoonmirae, and Wonstein. It was released on August 27, 2021 and marks Lee Hi's return to the soulful R&B.
Consists of 21 songs lasting an hour in total, 'Querencia' melds influences from R&B and EDM to disco and house. It also features elements of salsa, bossa nova, and Latin pop. Chungha's debut studio album was released on February 15, 2021 under MNH Entertainment and 88 rising.
Youra's second mini album 'Gaussian' was released on February 2, 2021 through CJ Cultural Foundation. It is an EP filled with reflections.The album contains two lead singles "MIMI" and "Pink," as well as the tracks "Zebra," "Airplane Mode," "Bye Bye," and "RAL 9002."
B.I's first full-length solo album 'Waterfall' was released on June 1, 2021. 'Waterfall' is about reaching the end of the road as it is about starting on a new one. Across the 12 tracks written by B.I are aching expressions of pain and sorrow as well as apathy.
Yunho's second mini album 'Noir' is an album that expresses the various emotions residing within a man as different genres of movies. "I think it's an album that is a little laid back but still stays true to my essence," Yunho said of his album. The six-track project was released on January 18, 2021.
BamBam made his solo debut with his first mini album 'riBBon' on June 15, 2021. "While promoting for seven years, I wanted to show off my own color and I thought about wanting to showcase songs that I had made. Since this is the first time I've gone solo in Korea, I wanted to show that 'this is BamBam,'" he shared.
On August 27, 2021, GOT7's Jay B released his solo debut EP 'SOMO:Fume.' The six-track album is a fusion of an acronym for "style of my own" and the last syllable of perfume. The entire EP is a statement of his individuality, his authentic style as an artist.
Yugyeom solo debut EP 'Point Of View: U' tells a love story and each song is a chapter. The album name is about seeing yourself and someone you love from a point of view. The seven-track album was released on June 17, 2021.
'Duality' is described as a project that "depicts intense inner confessions and the difference between the outside and inside of one's thoughts and mind." The five-track mini album was released on February 19, 2021.