As i-dle’s clear-toned main vocal, MIYEON can cut cleanly through the punk-streaked “TOMBOY,” or float over the glossy hooks that pushed “Queencard” to 2023 dominance—and her solo work only sharpens that focus. Her long-awaited debut mini-album, [MY], kick-started that undeniable momentum back in April 2022 with “Drive,” a bright, open-road statement that favored clarity over bombast and proved she could efficiently carry a mood. It also sketched her artistic impulses—clean diction, elegant phrasing—and boldly set the baseline for her potential as a soloist.

Now comes [MY, Lover], a second mini-album framed around “deeper colors and emotions,” prefaced by the pre-release single “Reno (Feat. Colde).” The song’s dusky, Western pull hints at a more cinematic register, carving out a new lane for her expansive range while carefully maintaining the precision that defined her work on [MY]. Across [MY, Lover], she also commits to bringing the lyrics forward and leans into micro-expression—you can hear breath and consonants sitting closer to the front of the mix—while testing textures that feel relatively new to her catalog.

If [MY] introduced MIYEON the soloist, this chapter refines the author, curating key details like mood and perspective with earned confidence. And more importantly, “Reno” efficiently sets the scene for listeners—promising the rest will deliver.

Photography: Cube Entertainment

[MY, Lover] was framed as “deeper colors and emotions.” What are some of those major revelations you initially wanted to explore here?

MIYEON: When I first started working on this album, I did not set out with love as the main theme. But as the songs began to come together, I naturally realized they were all connected to love in different ways. From there, I wanted to explore the many shades of love more deeply, not only the romantic or sweet moments but also the quiet emotions, the moments of hesitation, and even the bittersweet feelings that love can bring. Each track reflects a different layer and perspective, allowing listeners to experience the depth and complexity of love in many forms. In the end, that is why this album came to express deeper colors and emotions.

Your track “Reno” has such a powerful and cinematic Western pull to it. What influenced that mood?

MIYEON: I think the inspiration actually started with the song itself. After hearing the guide track, I focused on finding the right vocal tone and musical elements that would best suit and fully express the mood of the song. The same approach applied to the M/V as well. I think it was shaped based on the feelings conveyed and the lyrics of ‘Reno (Feat. Colde).

You took a bigger role in production this time. What was an important factor you considered during the preparation of the tracks for this album?

MIYEON: Overall, I wanted the lyrics to be heard clearly. I put a lot of effort into expressing both the vocals and the lyrics in detail, trying different approaches, such as increasing the vocal volume, to ensure they came across clearly.

If [MY] introduced MIYEON, how does [MY, Lover] continue that story? What would you like listeners to understand about you after this chapter?

MIYEON: In my 2nd Mini Album [MY, Lover], I wanted to continue telling my story with a more mature and refined sense of myself as an artist. To achieve this, I paid attention to countless details and put a lot of effort into them, but I see all of that as part of the natural process of completing the album. Compared to my 1st Mini Album [MY], there were many new explorations in 2nd Mini Album [MY, Lover], from musical genres to styling, and I hope listeners find these new elements both natural and enjoyable.

How did you use perspective across [MY Lover] to shape the arc of the story?

MIYEON: When I was tying all the songs together under the theme of love, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to use different perspectives so that the emotions in each track could flow naturally. In the end, I realized that human emotions are multidimensional, so it’s impossible to make them fit into a single, seamless story. Rather than trying to tell the story from multiple viewpoints, I decided that explaining the emotions from my own perspective, as ‘me,’ would be the clearest way to show the many sides of love. For example, I think it’s natural for a person to feel both fondness and frustration on the same day, or to love and dislike at different moments. By expressing these raw, diverse emotions from ‘my’ point of view, I tried to give each song its own story while still conveying the many facets of love.

What new sound palette shows up here that was not present on [MY]—whether it's instruments, textures, or tempo choices you were excited to try?

MIYEON: For this album, aside from the pre-release track ‘Reno (Feat. Colde)', I tried a different vocal approach in the recording process to show my new sound palette. I focused on letting my voice be more relaxed and exploring more delicate expressions. This approach felt new to me, but exciting at the same time.

Was there a specific moment that you realized the record was doing exactly what you hoped?

MIYEON: I wouldn’t say there was one specific moment when I realized everything turned out exactly as I had hoped. However, one thing I wanted was to take on creative challenges without holding back, and I feel like I was able to do that. Everything about this album was a challenge, from exploring new musical styles to expressing them through styling, and I feel very satisfied that it helped expand my musical spectrum. I was also able to take on these new challenges with the support and encouragement of those around me, and I’m truly grateful.

Finally, if the [MY] album series continues, what might fans expect in the next chapter? Or is that story still in progress?

MIYEON: Honestly, I’m fully focused on my current album right now, so I’ll probably be able to think more about the [MY] album series or future projects once this album’s promotions are over. That said, I feel like my future stories will show a bolder, more fearless side of me, taking on new challenges without hesitation. I hope fans will continue to look forward to MIYEON’s music in the future.