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| Wendy of K-pop girl group Red Velvet poses for a photo during an online press conference, Monday. Courtesy of SM Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Red Velvet member Wendy's first solo album, "Like Water," is a big gift to her fans. The album not only signals the beginning of her solo venture but also marks the end of the singer's injury-induced year-long hiatus.
The K-pop star, 27, suffered a pelvic fracture and a broken wrist, among others, in December 2019 after falling from a stage during a rehearsal for SBS' music show. This injury led her to take a break until last August.
Knowing how desperately her fans have been waiting for her new album after her full recovery, Wendy thanked them during an online media conference Monday, while introducing one of the lead tracks of her album, "When This Rain Stops."
"Through 'When This Rain Stops,' I want to show my appreciation to my fans for sending me love and support while I was on a long break and repay what I received," she said during the event held a few hours before the release of "Like Water." "I spent about 15 hours in total to record the song because I wanted to deliver my message and feelings well. Its lyrics truly speak for me."
The new release from Wendy, the first Red Velvet member to go solo, has two lead tracks: "When This Rain Stops" and "Like Water." The latter is an acoustic pop ballad with the message that just like humans need water to survive, people need each other.
"While 'When This Rain Stops' brings solace to those who have been going through tough times, 'Like Water' sends a more hopeful message about the future," she said. "Both of them are heart-warming, but I would say they have different 'temperatures' and tones."
She added, "The central themes of my album are comfort and empathy. I hope my music can heal people at least while they are listening to my music."
The album also carries three more sentimental pieces, including, "Why Can't You Love Me?" "The Road" and "Best Friend." Among them, "Best Friend" features Red Velvet's Seulgi.
Asked how her bandmates reacted to her fresh release, Wendy said they gave her unwavering support.
"They frequently texted me to catch up on what was happening with the album and even visited the site where I was filming my music video," she said. "They treated all our staff there with food ― they were really supportive and I am so grateful."
The SM Entertainment star wrapped up the session by talking about her challenges and goals.
"I am now trying to showcase something new as a soloist without completely ditching Red Velvet's style," she said. "This time, I do not have a big goal, but just hope a lot of people can resonate with my music."
