It may seem unusual for some to imagine a 20-year-old artist with a well-established track record, yet that is precisely who SOMI is. She was fresh off the high-flying success of South Korean girl group I.O.I.O. when she released her solo debut album, XOXO, on October 29.

Ennik Somi Douma, also known by her Korean name Jeon Somi, was born on March 9, 2001. She is a Canadian-Dutch-Korean singer-songwriter residing in South Korea. She rose to domestic prominence as the first-place winner of the tv program Produce 101 and a member of the show's project girl group, I.O.I.

She debuted as a solo artist after the closure of I.O.I's group activities. She made her solo debut under The Black Label on June 13, 2019, with the song "Birthday".

The start of something new
On October 14, The Black Label revealed that SOMI would return to the stage in late October with her debut full-length album, 'XOXO.' This announcement comes three months after the release of the youthful track "Dumb Dumb".

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ENNIK (@somsomi0309)

SOMI dominated the national music charts with "Dumb Dumb", and proved herself as a soloist by maintaining the chart-built box office for an extended period of time.

"I've been pouring my heart and soul into every single track on the album for the past year, trying to perfect the sound," the musician said of XOXO in an interview, adding that the production process taught her the "value of paying attention to all the minutiae."

This album, inspired by SOMI's daily life, reveals many aspects of her, whether she's a ferocious "XOXO" queen or an exuberant "Dumb Dumb" lady.

When asked if the popularity of "DUMB DUMB" put her under strain, she replied, "I don't think that I thought of it as pressure. Instead, I gained confidence. The songs on the new album are heavier, and I have a weightier role, so I was happy to think that I could fill the stage with a more confident image."

Since it is her first full album, she worked exceptionally hard during its production. "If I had a focus, I'd say it was trying as many genres and diverse songs as possible. None of the songs are similar to each other. I also tried to show changes in my voice," she said.

Reflecting on her "XOXO" goals and solo career, she stated: "I haven't lived for very long, but I've learned a lot over the past 21 years," she said.

"I learned that you can't depend too much on people or feel a sense of pressure. If you let it go a little, results will come, and people will acknowledge you. I poured everything I had into preparing for this album, so I could feel comfortable and relaxed.

"Rather than specific results I want to achieve, I'm relieved to think that my fans can hear these songs. I think that because I've emptied my mind, I can be more relaxed and have more fun on stage."

Newest hit
Recently, she has given her fans something to look forward to during the holidays by releasing a video for her latest single, "Anymore."

The video for "Anymore" demonstrates yet another example of her ability to reinvent herself. The new video strongly contrasts the bright, effervescent image that I.O.I.O built in its glory, much as her old group's cheery, dynamic dance-pop. The usual glossy, joyful image appears to be the polar opposite of the heartsick, almost country-tinged track.

In an Instagram post titled "My Christmas present to you all", Somi shared a clip filled with dark, lovelorn pictures. Watching her veiled in shadow, succumbing to despair, and kicking back with a large bottle of alcohol. The singer comes off as more of a gloomy balladeer than a glittering K-Pop sensation, which appears to be precisely the way she wants it.