Tzuyu of TWICE on her debut solo album: 'I wanted to showcase my bold side'

Tzuyu was only 16 years old when she debuted with K-pop group TWICE in 2015. Back then, she was just navigating who she would be as an artist.

It's been nearly a decade, and Tzuyu has come a long way from her beginnings, establishing herself as a formidable force with dance and vocal prowess. Tzuyu has matured not only as a performer, but as an individual in the spotlight.

And her first solo album, "abouTZU", out now, underscores this growth.

"I think the fans and the public have seen me as the cute and lovely youngest member of TWICE and kind of shy and quiet," the 25-year-old tells USA TODAY. "Through this album, I wanted to showcase my bold side."

Tzuyu is the third among TWICE (which has a discography of eight albums and 10-plus EPs) to make her solo debut, following Nayeon in 2022 and Jihyo in 2023, respectively.

"I am nervous and have butterflies in my stomach," she shares. "I'm just really excited that I got this opportunity."

This opportunity is one that Tzuyu is ready to tackle, eager to display fresh facets to her musical identity.

"The album title 'abouTZU' means that it's showing everything about me as an artist, and I wanted to show many different sides of me that the fans haven't seen so far," she reveals.

Creating 'abouTZU'

The creative process for "aboutTZU" began last year, Tzuyu shares.

"We had a lot of meetings, and (the company) really accepted my input and my opinions," she reveals. "As an artist, I really like Ava Max, and I aspire to her music, and I wanted to express a similar vibe."

Lead single "Run Away" is reminiscent of Max, boasting striking and infectious disco-pop.

Alongside that track are five others; each varying in genre and style, highlighting distinct angles to Tzuyu's artistry.

"The B-sides include songs that are sometimes quirky and very upbeat and bright, and also, I have very emotional ballads as well," she says.

TWICE's main producer and company founder J.Y. Park wrote the lyrics for "Run Away." While the song is about love, Tzuyu finds that it mirrors her career path.

"It runs along the same line as my own experience of debuting as a solo artist in a way that I was really scared, and I had a lot of thoughts before going in, but once the solo debut was decided, I mustered up my courage and I became very confident," she says.

"abouTZU" details Tzuyu's talents. Its songs allow her to share beyond what she has demonstrated thus far. She points to "Fly" and "Lazy Baby" as standouts.

"I am very attached to the song 'Fly,' which is the ballad, slow-tempo song, because I wrote the lyrics myself. I tried to tell my story through this song," she says. "There's also a song called, 'Lazy Baby.' I think it shows the side of me that people see when they get to know me."

Exclusive Interview: TWICE talks record-breaking US tour, embracing change and an even 'more ambitious' future

Facing challenges, testing limits

The journey to Tzuyu's solo debut wasn't without challenge, however.

"I've always been with other members of the group, and it's my first time doing things alone," she says. "I was nervous that if I make a mistake, it'll stand out, and so I tried extra hard to focus on each detail and try to make the recording and the stage performance as perfect as possible."

Tzuyu did find guidance and comfort from her fellow TWICE members Nayeon and Jihyo, who have both released solo music in the past.

"Because it was their first solo effort as well, they faced a lot of challenges. So, what they did was that they reached out to me first and told me, whenever I need help, I can always talk to them," Tzuyu says.

Tzuyu's solo album also yielded chances to try new things, such as collaborations with rapper pH-1 and BTOB's Peniel.

"We decided on this collaboration because we thought that including the vocal part by a male voice will enrich the sound of the album," she says.

ICYMI: Nayeon of TWICE on her comeback, second album: 'I wanted to show a new and fresher side'

Establishing Tzuyu's solo artistry

"Even though this is my first solo effort, working as a member of TWICE for the last 10 years really helped me reach this point," she says. "My existing image is also me. It's a side of me that is true, but I hope that this album gives our fans the opportunity to discover a new side of me."

Moving forward, Tzuyu wants to continue making music as a member of TWICE and as a soloist.

Tzuyu has come into her own and her future is bright, with it paving way for further progress.

"I think my future goal as a solo artist is to become a better storyteller of who I am and of my experiences and my thoughts," she says.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TWICE's Tzuyu says first solo album 'abouTZU' shows her 'bold side'