Kwon Jin-ah Returns with 'The Dreamest' After Six Years, Embracing Her True Self

Singer-songwriter Kwon Jin-ah has released her first full-length album in six years, expressing her desire to sing about her true self.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Kwon Jin-ah held a media listening session at a cafe in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of her third studio album, 'The Dreamest.' During the event, she shared various stories about her comeback.

Kwon Jin-ah opened up about the release of her album, saying, "I usually don't hold media events, so I wasn't too affected by album releases. But this time, with such an event, the weight feels much greater. I'm touched and grateful for the interest many people have shown in my journey."

She explained the reason behind naming the album 'The Dreamest,' a non-existent English word, saying, "I wanted to create a superlative expression of 'Dream.' The last track of my second album, 'Our Way,' was originally titled 'The Dreamer.' Compared to that time, I want to dream the ultimate dream. This album embodies my aspiration to move forward in that direction, featuring a more diverse range of genres than ever before."

Kwon Jin-ah also introduced the double title tracks of the album, both ballads, while mentioning that the album includes songs from various genres. She said, "I wanted to showcase my ballad identity by choosing ballads for the title and pre-release tracks. However, I have a wide spectrum of abilities, so I contemplated whether to make a ballad album or a diverse one. I decided to include other genres like pop and R&B, which I excel at."

Kwon Jin-ah also discussed the background of establishing her personal label, 'ANOTHER.' She explained, "I've been with Antenna for 10 years. As I approached the end of my 20s, I wanted to take on new challenges. Creating my own label was a dream of mine, so I went for it." She added that she received support from Yoo Hee-yeol, the head of Antenna Music, who told her, "There will be difficulties, but feel free to talk to me anytime, and I'll help in any way I can."

She continued, "During 'K-pop Star,' I was so young that I didn't even know what I was doing. I ended up at Antenna and learned a lot. I learned how to convey stories from the CEO and senior musicians. After contemplating how to maintain my individuality, I decided to start a one-person label. I wanted to strengthen my sense of self." She added, "I believe there are more days ahead than behind, and I want to share various stories with my team who believes in me."

Kwon Jin-ah also expressed her ambition to perform in larger venues. She said, "One of my dreams is to perform in bigger venues." She revealed, "This time, I'll be performing at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium for the first time. I hope to go beyond Jamsil to venues like the Olympic Gymnastics Arena and Gocheok Sky Dome, and even dream of performing at Coachella."

She also mentioned that the driving force behind her over a decade-long career in the indie scene is 'fun.' She said, "Making music is so much fun. It allows me to keep dreaming, and having dreams is fun too. They say you can't beat someone who enjoys what they do. That's my driving force. I want to continue making music for a long time without getting tired."

Towards the end of the event, Kwon Jin-ah shared the message she wants to convey through her music: "I hope you live true to yourself." She explained, "I've sung many breakup songs, but I've been thinking a lot about 'being myself.' I believe that true freedom is ultimately about following 'my own path.' I hope everyone lives in their own way, in their own shape. It's a very challenging yet fundamental dream."

Kwon Jin-ah's third studio album, 'The Dreamest,' marks her first full-length release in six years. She participated in writing all the lyrics and composed five out of the ten tracks. The double title tracks, 'Reunion' and 'Let Go,' delicately depict the process of parting ways through ballads. The music videos for both songs continue the narrative, reflecting on the past with 'Reunion' and letting go of it with 'Let Go.'

Meanwhile, Kwon Jin-ah's third studio album, 'The Dreamest,' will be released on various music streaming sites at 6 PM on the 25th.

Reporter Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr