Yuna launches solo career as ITZY’s ‘That’s a No No’ performance goes viral

Yuna of girl group ITZY poses for photos during a press conference for her solo debut EP, ″Ice Cream,″ at Pullman Ambassador Seoul Eastpole hotel in eastern Seoul on March 23. [NEWS1]

It may be the most well-timed solo debut for ITZY’s Yuna. The youngest member of the girl group is launching her solo career just as the quintet is receiving renewed attention after its recent performance of “That’s a No No” (2020) went viral online.

“I’m really grateful for ‘That’s a No No’ regaining popularity,” said Yuna during a press conference in eastern Seoul on Monday, ahead of the release of her solo EP, “Ice Cream.”

“It got hyped up right before my solo promotions,” she continued. “It’d be wonderful if listeners would give love to not only ‘That’s A No No’ but also ‘Ice Cream.’”

A teaser image for ″Ice Cream,″ THE solo debut track of girl group ITZY’s Yuna [JYP ENTERTAINMENT]

Set to be released at 6 p.m. on Monday, Yuna’s first solo EP features four songs, including the title track, “Ice Cream,” as well as B-sides “B-Boy,” “Blue Maze” and “Hyper Dream.”

The title track is a bubbly pop song, and its music video leans into cheeky, bright visuals, with Yuna appearing in blond wigs and frozen poses to mimic the nature of ice cream.

Yuna of girl group ITZY poses for photos during a press conference for her solo debut EP, ″Ice Cream,″ at Pullman Ambassador Seoul Eastpole hotel in eastern Seoul on March 23. [YONHAP]

“It’s a good song to listen to in the spring,” Yuna said. She remembered how the melody had immediately hooked her, leading her to imagine how the song would look on stage.

Yuna, who debuted as part of ITZY under JYP Entertainment in 2019, is the second member of the group to go solo, after leader Yeji launched her solo career in March last year.

ITZY, known for its high-energy performances and solid live vocals, has recently found itself in the spotlight again. Its performance of “That’s a No No,” a B-side in the group’s second EP “IT’z ME” (2020), from February — during its “Tunnel Vision” world tour — went viral for its synchronized choreography and distinctive dance moves. A practice video for the song topped Korea’s chart for most popular music-related videos
on YouTube, and the song climbed from No. 961 to No. 157 on domestic streaming platform Melon from March 2 to 16.

Yuna of girl group ITZY poses for photos during a press conference for her solo debut EP, ″Ice Cream,″ at Pullman Ambassador Seoul Eastpole hotel in eastern Seoul on March 23. [NEWS1]

Standing at a new start line, Yuna admitted that she is as nervous as she is excited.

“I feel the pressure of launching a solo album seven years after my debut, but I still really want to do this right,” she said.

A concept photo for “Ice Cream,” the solo debut EP by Yuna of girl group ITZY [JYP ENTERTAINMENT]

“While preparing this album, I learned that I have a perfectionist side of me,” Yuna shared while recalling the past few months, during which she actively participated in shaping the album’s creative direction. “I sometimes felt so confident, but other times so small. During those moments, I wrote in my journal to better recognize my emotions.”

Yuna also said that standing on her own made her miss her bandmates, who have supported her and even sent snack trucks during the “Ice Cream” music video shoot.

“Thanks to Yeji, who had such a wonderful solo debut, I was able to take on a new challenge as well,” she said. Yuna apparently watched Yeji’s solo performances as references while preparing for her solo promotions.

Park Jin-young, the founder of JYP Entertainment, also offered his support, she said.

“He told me not to get injured and to finish promoting [the EP] in good health.”

With hopes of establishing herself as a solo artist, Yuna said she wants the album to bring a smile to her listeners’ faces.

“My wish is for ‘Ice Cream’ to be an album that makes people smile,” Yuna said. “Even when you feel down after not sleeping well or when the weather isn’t nice, I hope thinking of ‘Ice Cream’ can make you smile.”