Singer Jeong Eunji is set to return with her fifth EP, “Summer, I,” presenting seven tracks that trace the many stages of love through the imagery and emotions of summer.
Jeong held a listening session with the press in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, on Thursday, ahead of the album’s Tuesday release, introducing the record as one of her most personal projects to date. “Summer, I” marks her first release since her remake album “Log” in November 2022 and her first EP since “Simple” in July 2020.
The album title reflects both the season in which Jeong was born and what she described as a collection of stories that feel unmistakably her own.
“I was thinking about what could symbolize me, and summer naturally came to mind since I was born in August,” she said. “But love also feels a lot like summer, so I thought I could bring those two things together. ‘Summer, I’ is about summer, love and myself.”
Jeong participated in producing the entire album, while also writing and composing several tracks. Musicians including Kwon Jeongyeol of 10cm, Jukjae and singer-songwriter So Soobin also contributed, giving each song a distinct texture while keeping the record tied together through its central theme of love.
Jeong said the album was meant to be heard in sequence, as the seven tracks follow the progression of a relationship from its first rush of excitement to the emptiness left behind after it ends.
The lead track, “I love Love,” sits at the beginning of that emotional arc. Driven by a full-band sound and soaring vocals, the song reflects Jeong’s belief in love itself — including the courage to embrace it even knowing it can bring disappointment or pain.
She added that the song also reflected the kind of artist she wants to be.
“When I think about love, what matters most to me is doing something despite everything,” she said. “Sometimes loving someone means making an effort even when it’s inconvenient. I think that willingness to do it anyway is what matters most.”
The song’s high notes were also intentional, she said, reflecting both the musical style listeners have long associated with her and the bright energy of summer.
“I thought about what kind of song could bring together the things people know and like about me,” Jeong said. “I love band music, and I also thought those higher notes could give listeners that refreshing sense of release that summer has.”
A lot of Jeong’s new music on the album carries a lighthearted and playful note, including “No Fight,” “Linguine” and “With the wind.” However, the album takes a gloomier turn with “Gradually,” “Rainy Season” and “Empty” as the mood of the album turns toward separation.
“I think love carries a lot of emotional weight,” she said. “That’s why I didn’t want to end the album lightly. I wanted it to end with that emptiness, because the space left by something that mattered so much can be difficult to bear, and I felt that this emotion would be relatable to many listeners.”
Now 15 years into her singing career with Apink and her solo journey, Jeong said “Summer, I” also made her reflect on how much she has grown as a songwriter.
For Jeong, the success of the album was therefore less about charts than the process that brought it together.
“I already feel like I’ve gained everything from this album. Everything came together so naturally, and I was so happy throughout the entire process,” she said. “I hope my listeners will be able to sense my happiness and pride behind this album, too.”
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
