Yuq1 is the debut extended play (EP) by Chinese singer-songwriter Yuqi. The EP was released on April 23, 2024, and was promoted with its two singles, "Could It Be" and "Freak".
Background
Following the release of her digital single album A Page in 2021,[1] Yuqi announced her new album Yuq1 on April 2, 2024.[2] Although Yuqi had previously pursued solo music, Yuq1 was declared to be the official beginning of her solo career, making her the third member of South Korean girl group (G)I-dle to debut as a soloist.[2][3] After her participation in composition and lyrics for (G)I-dle's songs, the EP also marked Yuqi's first time composing her own album.[4]
Promotion and release
Revealing a preview for Yuq1, Cube Entertainment posted a concept trailer on YouTube, showing Yuqi playing a guitar while reminiscing about her past before investigating the sudden whispers and screams around her.[5] To promote the EP, "Could It Be" was rolled out as a pre-release single on April 5, 2024.[6]Yuq1 was released on April 23, 2024.[2] Its lead single "Freak" was released alongside an accompanying music video on the same day.[3]
The following month, Shinsegae Centum City, in collaboration with IPX (formerly Line Friends), opened a pop-up store that featured a themed photo zone, as well as a variety of clothes and merchandise, to commemorate the release of the mini-album.[7]
Title and artwork
The EP's title, which is based on her name, aimed to capture the essence of who Yuqi is as a solo artist; the inclusion of the number 1 to replace the letter I visually expressed her confidence in both the album and her future career.[8][9] Design-wise, a red rabbit was featured on the EP's concept photos, cover art, and tracklist as a "main character", which Yuqi stated to represent herself, explaining: "I was born in the year of the Rabbit, and my favorite color is red!"[4]
Commercial performance
Yuq1 accumulated more than 500,000 units in pre-order sales.[4] The mini-album then sold a total of 550,170 copies during the first week of its release, breaking the record of the highest first-week sales made by a K-pop female solo artist's debut EP.[10] In South Korea, it debuted at number two on the Circle Album Chart for the week of April 21 to 27, 2024.[11]
^"[게시판] 신세계 센텀시티에 우기 솔로앨범 기념 팝업 스토어" [[Bulletin Board] Pop-up store commemorating Yuqi’s solo album in Shinsegae Centum City]. Yonhap News. May 17, 2024. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
^Ha, Na-young (April 23, 2024). "(여자)아이들 우기 그 자체…첫 솔로 'YUQ1'에 쏠리는 기대" [(G)I-DLE Yuqi herself... Expectations are focused on the first solo ‘YUQ1’]. Chosun Biz. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
