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| Singer Somi held a debut showcase for her first solo album "BIRTHDAY" on Thursday at Shinhan Card FAN Square in Hapjeong, Seoul. Yonhap |
By Lee Gyu-lee
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| Somi shows a move from her title song "BIRTHDAY." Yonhap |
"I don't feel I'm fully prepared," she said at Shinhan Card FAN Square in Hapjeong, Seoul. "I really wish I could perform here but choreography has kept changing, so the performance is not completely ready."
YG Entertainment's THE BLACK LABEL's event for her mini-album "BIRTHDAY" had no performances of "Outta My Head" and "BIRTHDAY," two songs on the album.
Instead, it proved a parry and thrust session with frustrated reporters. She added to it by saying she would be prepared for her first music show appearance Saturday. "I am actually heading to practice after this showcase," she said. "What showcase?" nobody asked.
"I'm so thrilled to debut as a solo artist," she said. "I am going to do my best to show what I have not been showing for (almost) three years of my break since I.O.I."
Regarding why she left former agency JYP Entertainment, she said they had differences over music styles. "We ended off in a good place and I really hope for the best for JYP," she said.
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| Solo artist Somi. Courtesy of THE BLACK LABEL |
She made little comment on the nation-rocking YG scandal. "As I have been waiting for this debut for a long time, I tried to stay focused on me."
Somi rose to stardom after coming first in Mnet's K-pop survival show "Produce 101." She debuted in the 11-member project group I.O.I with 10 other finalists from the show in 2016.
Her first solo album was released through online streaming sites Thursday, two years after the group disbanded in 2017.
gyulee@koreatimes.co.kr 
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