Jang Ye-eun: “I’m Sorry and Upset About CLC’s Disbandment… We’ll Each Continue Our Activities in Style” [Interview ②]

[Star News reporter Han Hae-seon]

"We also feel sorry and upset that it ended without us being able to properly say goodbye. But we are still preparing to meet you all again in wonderful ways from our respective positions, so please don't be too upset. If you support us as we are now, we'll make a surprise appearance. Thank you so much."

After the group CLC effectively announced its disbandment by ending its official activities last June, member Jang Yeeun made her solo debut under the new stage name 'Yeeun' (YEEUN). It is her first solo venture in eight years since her debut in 2015. Having worked as CLC's main rapper, she expanded her capabilities by presenting a calm, emotional vocal style in the pre-release solo song 'Strange way to love' and a bouncy, hip vocal style in her solo debut song 'Cherry Coke.'

Yeeun said, "I have tried many different concepts since my debut, and now I want to refine them into 'Yeeun's style' and show them one by one in ways that suit me." Known as the 'short-haired member' of CLC, she is determined to show a more distinct personal color in both styling and concepts.

Yeeun will release her first single album 'The Beginning' at 6 p.m. on the 13th and begin her solo activities with the title track 'Cherry Coke.' 'Cherry Coke' is a confident love song colored in Yeeun's signature red, with distinctive vocals and dazzling performance offering a refreshing sensation like a carbonated drink.

'Strange Way To Love,' released in advance on March 20, captured the color of transparent love through clear, pure vocals. The song carries added meaning because Yeeun wrote the lyrics while thinking of the fans who had waited for her.

Yeeun in CLC and Solo Yeeun

-How would you define Yeeun in CLC and solo Yeeun respectively?

▶I didn't really try to become completely new this time. I wanted to supplement what I already had and show it through music. Without distinguishing between who I was then and who I am now, I want to continue growing well as the same person I have always been.

-The feeling must be quite different when promoting as a group and when promoting solo.

▶Being a singer is something I love, and I spend all my time thinking about this work, but I am different when I am onstage and when I am not. I think I have a clear on-and-off switch. When I stood onstage alone for the pre-release solo song, everyone around me was in groups, so I wondered whether solo artists felt this way when I was performing in a group. It is nice because it is calm, but sometimes it feels empty.

-How did you feel about working on every song of this album with Ryan Jhun, the famous producer from your agency?

▶Ryan Jhun is very cheerful. He never creates a heavy atmosphere, even during recording. I think he brought out my abilities very well.

-Did anyone give you advice while preparing for your solo debut?

▶Among the CLC members, Seungyeon and I talk a lot. Whenever I became deeply immersed in my thoughts, talking to her brought me a lot of encouragement and confidence. When I asked her about the choreography, she encouraged me by saying, 'You're good,' 'You can do it freely however you want,' and 'It's pretty.'

-What other words of encouragement did the CLC members offer?

▶They told me 'I'm looking forward to it' so many times. It didn't feel like a mere greeting; I could really feel that they were genuinely looking forward to it. I thought I had to do well so that the members could also feel proud of that time when they looked back on it.

-Last September, you participated in former CLC member SORN's 'Nirvana Girl' as a featured artist and also filmed the music video together. How are the CLC members doing?

▶Everyone is doing well in their respective places, and they all look happy. It is wonderful to see each of them walking their own path. The process of making choices was difficult, but watching them clear each hurdle one by one made me think that I have such wonderful friends.

-From its debut in 2015 until the end of its activities in 2022, CLC released many popular songs such as 'Hobgoblin,' 'BLACK DRESS,' and 'HELICOPTER,' while the members also worked hard and boldly transformed themselves, so you must feel regret about ending the group's activities. Is there anything you would like to say to CLC's fans that you were unable to tell them?

▶We also feel sorry and upset that it ended without us being able to properly say goodbye. But we are still preparing to meet you all again in wonderful ways from our respective positions, so please don't be too upset. If you support us as we are now, we'll make a surprise appearance. Thank you so much.

Reporter Han Hae-seon [email protected]