Idol. Rapper. Actor. Fashion Icon. Chanel Global Ambassador. These titles are all synonymous with Jennie of Blackpink – and 2025 will surely add a few more accomplishments to the list. BLINKS—are we ready? Her very first solo album Ruby will finally arrive on March 7, with some unexpected collaborators on the highly-anticipated release. The release is accompanied by an intimate 3-date exclusive tour (“The Ruby Experience”) which will make its way to LA, NY, and Seoul. Let’s get into the good stuff – read on for more details…
Recent teasers on social media showed Jennie sporting vibrant red hair, short bangs, and a doll-like look. And after hinting at legendary guest slots in recent interviews, the album trailer finally confirmed some incredible features: Dua Lipa, Doechii, Kali Uchis and even more. That’s honestly kind of CRAZY for a debut solo record…and I’m totally here for it.
Over the weekend—with no heads up—she then dropped an unexpected new single and music video for “ZEN.” I was literally just watching spam on YouTube late at night and saw a notification for the video and was totally caught off guard in the best way. The vibe of the single almost serves as an introduction to this new era for Jennie, and in classic form, she showcases other-worldly visuals and custom couture looks. She’s really making her presence known!
I’m thinking this is likely a pre-release single, as it’s incredibly experimental, dark, and not your average “title track” that you’d expect from any K-Pop/K-Pop adjacent artist. And because of that, I feel like I really appreciate that it’s a fully-formed, conceptual track. It’s a far cry from the light and summery vibe on her 2024 single “Mantra,” and leans into edgier lyrics, unconventional vocal effects, and a unique song structure. Something about it gives me Banks vibes (if you’ve ever listened to her), and the production is certainly unlike anything I’ve heard from Blackpink or previous Jennie singles in the past.
“Nobody gon’ move my soul, gon’ move my aura, my matter
Nobody gon’ move my life, gon’ touch my goal, my matter”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM RUBY HERE.
EXCLUSIVE “THE RUBY EXPERIENCE” TOUR INFORMATION HERE.
It’s so good to see all the Blackpink girlies fulfilling the long-awaited solo prophecy—from Rosé breaking the internet with “APT” to Lisa performing “Rockstar” at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. And things are full speed ahead, with Jisoo’s debut project AMORTAGE coming up in less than three weeks! All I can say is that Blackpink really is in your area for 2025!
Be sure to link up with me on Instagram – and stay tuned for more music, concert, and event updates!