YUNA Goes Solo, Introducing Her New Album 'Ice Cream'
The ITZY group member is making it on her own.
K-pop has given us some of the biggest acts over the last few years and reached new global audiences. Alongside this, some groups have also been spawning solo talent with artists working overtime to balance performing as a group and forging their own creative paths. One such artist is YUNA, of the acclaimed girl group ITZY.
YUNA is now making her solo debut with the highly anticipated album Ice Cream. Dropping today, the project features four tracks in a bubbly output centered around enjoying the present moment. This sounds like something we could all do with. In a new beginning for the artist, the project blends genres and sounds to showcase the artist’s multidimensional talent.
YUNA is the second member of the group to release a solo project; YEJI debuted her album AIR in March 2025, which received critical acclaim. As a group, ITZY has dominated the K-pop space with its most recent album, Tunnel Vision, debuting at no.4 on the U.S. World Albums chart, marking the second consecutive release to reach that position following Girls Will Be Girls. The band looks like it’s set to continue on this trajectory and perhaps reach even more audiences with YUNA’s latest project.
We caught up with the star to hear about her new solo career, the challenges involved and her relationship with the rest of the group following the decision to release on her own. Read on for the full interview.
Can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?
I’ve always wanted to work in the entertainment industry since I was very young. I joined JYP Entertainment through a great opportunity, and as I learned how to sing and dance, I gradually became more interested in music and discovered the freedom of expression it offers.
You started out in the group ITZY and are now releasing your first solo project. What made you decide to take this step in your career?
Releasing a solo album has always been one of my goals as an artist. Thanks to the experience I gained over seven years with ITZY, I was able to create this album filled with my unique colors. With the support of the members and our fans, I felt that this was the right time to express myself through a solo album.
How would you describe your individual sound?
I think my musical sound is built around my unique vocal tone, which is slightly bubbly. That’s why I felt the title track suited me well. While recording this album, I also challenged myself to explore different sounds that my voice can express.
The project is titled Ice Cream. Can you tell us the story behind the name?
Ice cream has many different aspects. It’s cold but sweet, and it eventually melts. While talking with our production team, we started discussing how the idea of something melting could relate to the importance of the present moment. Since that idea also reflects what I’ve been thinking about lately, Ice Cream just felt like the perfect name for my first solo album.
The record has a really positive energy to it. What were some of your inspirations behind the work? Any personal experiences that influenced the songs?
“Here and Now” is a phrase I’ve been reminding myself of lately, to stay true to the present moment. While preparing this album, I think I became even more committed to that belief. I hope that mindset comes through in the album as positive energy.
Does the album have a message you want listeners to take away?
Including the message of the title track, I hope to share happy memories with my fans and listeners through this EP and encourage everyone to enjoy this moment as much as we can. I’ve received so much positive energy from my fans and the people who care about me, and I hope they know that I wanted to give that same good energy back to them!
How does it feel creating something on your own instead of in a group? Were there any challenges you encountered?
When working on a group album, I could rely on the other members, but since I had to fill this album all by myself, it was quite challenging. I missed the members from time to time. Despite the difficulties and the greater responsibility, this experience was very precious to me because it helped me discover a new side of myself.
Is there something fans might not expect from you in this new album?
Not only the title track, but this album also includes three additional tracks in different genres. With “B-boy,” I tried a hip-hop style, “Blue Maze” features interesting layers of sound, and finally, “Hyper Dream” is a disco track with a somewhat retro mood. I hope fans can enjoy the different styles I experimented with in this album, so please check out all of the tracks!
How would you describe your relationship as a group? Was it easy to tell them you were progressing as a solo artist?
In one word, we’re family. I asked the members for their feedback on many parts of the project. Yeji even came to support me while I was filming the trailer, and Chaeryeong shared her thoughts on the choreography. Ryujin and Lia have also been cheering me on by sharing posts about me on Instagram, and their warm, thoughtful encouragement really made this album possible.
Remaining part of ITZY and also launching your own career, what can we expect from you over the next few years?
I want to keep growing and challenging myself both as a solo artist and as part of the group. Thankfully, this year I had the opportunity to participate in the Korean series Undercover Miss Hong. I’m always looking for new opportunities and hope to share a positive influence through that journey. Please look forward to our upcoming group tour, TUNNEL VISION, as well as my solo album and other projects to come!
