Inside Ryu Su-jeong's Musical Journey: Making of "Grabby Girl"

Ryu Su-jeong transformed from K-pop idol to independent artist with the release of her debut solo studio album "Archive of Emotions" on April 20, 2023. After seven years as a beloved vocalist in Lovelyz, a group that achieved a No. 1 album in South Korea with 2017's "Now, We", she ventured into uncharted territory with her own musical vision.

When her contract with Woollim Entertainment ended, Ryu Su Jung (also known as Ryu Sujeong) partnered with production company Artist Rider to establish her independent label, House of Dreams. This bold move consequently allowed her complete creative freedom, which she fully embraced - writing lyrics for all eleven tracks and composing music for nine of them, including the lead singles "Love or Hate" and "Grabby Girl". The latter, described as an "easy-listening R&B track about people's urge to grab onto things", represents a significant departure from her previous work while still appealing to longtime fans.

From Lovelyz to Independence: A New Chapter Begins

Why Ryu Su-jeong left Woollim Entertainment

In November 2021, a significant shift occurred for Lovelyz members as their seven-year contract with Woollim Entertainment expired. After extensive discussions about her artistic direction, Ryu Su-jeong became one of seven members who decided not to renew. Despite not officially disbanding, the group hasn't reunited for activities since their contracts ended, with only one member choosing to stay with the agency.

Starting House of Dreams with Artist Rider

Following her departure from Woollim, Ryu Su-jeong connected with production company Artist Rider to establish her independent label, House of Dreams. Founded in September 2022, this one-woman label fulfilled her desire for greater creative control. "I think intuition is such an amazing and magical thing," she noted regarding her decision. Furthermore, the label became a platform for exploring diverse musical styles, including alternative rock and dark pop.

How her past shaped her solo vision

Throughout her time in Lovelyz, Ryu Su-jeong endured grueling 12-hour practice days, which ultimately built her character. "Lovelyz taught me how to live every day and how to have a mature attitude," she reflected. Prior to going solo, creative freedom was limited because "in a group, it's not really good for you to have personal creative ideas". Nonetheless, these experiences provided valuable lessons—"I learned perseverance and maturity. And at the end, I learned how to concentrate on myself".

Building 'Grabby Girl': The Creative Process

Writing and composing from scratch

The creative journey for "Archive of Emotions" began in October 2022 when Ryu Su-jeong immersed herself in an intensive month-long writing process. Unlike her structured days with Lovelyz, she embraced flexibility in her songwriting approach. "I hum tunes and lyrics when I'm just hanging out at home on my bed and often write when I'm walking on the street or taking the bus," she revealed. This unconfined environment ultimately sparked her creativity, allowing personal emotions to flow naturally into her music.

Choosing the right sound and genre

For "Grabby Girl," Ryu Su-jeong crafted an easy-listening R&B track with rhythmic percussion and synth wave-inspired instrumentals. Interestingly, she deliberately balanced the greedy lyrics with softer melodies—"because we never fully disclose our greed to others but tend to hide it". Additionally, the contrasting elements mirror her desire to show a more authentic version of herself after years of portraying Lovelyz's innocent concept.

Collaborating with producers like Dolly

Throughout the album creation, Ryu Su-jeong partnered with composers Jaw and Dolly. The latter collaboration came about through an unexpected connection—Dolly was actually a Lovelyz fan whom she met after covering his band Nobrain's song. "We shared some musical inspirations and said we should develop such ideas into music," she explained. This partnership helped shape the album's distinctive sound while maintaining her artistic vision.

Why 'Grabby Girl' was chosen as a lead single

"Grabby Girl" earned its position as one of two lead singles primarily due to how effectively it represented Ryu Su-jeong's artistic evolution. The track explores primal desires—wanting everything from "money, love, and honor". Moreover, she strategically used cat imagery in the music video to symbolize freedom and honesty about desires that were previously suppressed during her girl group days. The song essentially became her declaration of independence, making it the perfect introduction to her solo identity.

Themes and Emotions Behind the Music

At age twenty-five, Ryu Su-jeong began experiencing a broader emotional spectrum that ultimately shaped her debut album. "I started to experience a wider range of emotions after reaching my mid-twenties. I felt like recording these feelings and thoughts as I made music so the title of my album came naturally as Archive of Emotions".

Exploring freedom and desire

Throughout "Grabby Girl," Ryu Su-jeong boldly articulates desires that remained unexpressed in her Lovelyz days. "In the title track 'Grabby Girl,' I wrote about my primal desire of wanting to have everything from money, and love to honor". The lyrics convey powerful themes: unsatisfied desire, intense need for affection, ambition, and an unchanging nature that refuses to settle. Particularly, the repeated refrain "I won't change" reflects her determination to remain authentic.

Symbolism of cats, pills, and broken dolls

"When you're a part of a K-pop girl group, you always have to suppress what you want," Ryu explained. "The imagery of a cat is also associated with being free and roaming around the way you want. There are also images of broken dolls and pills, which symbolize the twisted desires and depressing emotions that also exist inside of me". These visual elements effectively communicate her newfound freedom alongside darker emotions.

How her diary inspired the lyrics

"Many of the lyrics have been taken from my actual diary," Ryu revealed. This authentic approach allowed her to explore vulnerability authentically. Instead of maintaining the polished image expected in idol groups, she opted for raw honesty. "I tried to be honest about my feelings, even about my depressed feelings. Through this album, one can actually see that I have somewhat matured".

Contrast with 'Love or Hate'

Whereas "Grabby Girl" explores desire, "Love or Hate" delves into deeper emotional struggles. "The other title track, 'Love or Hate,' is my favorite song in this album as I tried to talk about some difficulties I had in a relationship for a long time". The track examines a fundamental truth: "People who do not love themselves find it difficult to love someone else. People who hate themselves are also likely to hate someone else". This thematic contrast showcases the album's emotional range, from wanting everything to confronting inner darkness.

Performing and Promoting as a Solo Artist

After years of performing with Lovelyz, Ryu Su-jeong took the stage alone, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.

Live stages and fan reactions

Ryu Su-jeong's performances resonated deeply with audiences, especially her stripped-down renditions for platforms like TIDAL Sessions. Her live version of "Love or Hate" showcased her raw vocal talent, subsequently earning praise for its emotional delivery. On music shows like M COUNTDOWN, she brought "Grabby Girl" to life with choreography that highlighted both her vulnerability and newfound artistic identity.

Her first solo concert experience

Titled "Archive of Emotions" - matching her album name - Ryu Su-jeong's first solo concert occurred on May 13-14, 2023, at Seoul's Baekam Art Hall. This event represented the culmination of nine years in the industry. "I'm so happy to have had a concert. I'm very proud that it went well and I had a very good time interacting with my fans and vibing with them," she reflected afterward.

Balancing vulnerability and confidence on stage

In preparation for performances, Ryu focused intensely on technical elements. "I am practicing a lot and putting a lot of effort into preparing for the concert as I know that my live vocals and the instrumentals are the most important things". Throughout these performances, she established a genuine connection with audiences, noting how the personal nature of her music "resonated with the larger audience and listeners".