Back in a vocal booth for the first time in about a decade, singer and actor Krystal is officially stepping out with her first solo single, marking a full-circle return to music 15 years after her debut.
Krystal will release the title single 'Solitary' on November 27. Physical preorders run from November 13 at 3 p.m. KST through November 21 at midnight via major Korean retailers, both online and in-store.
On the evening of November 6, her label Beasts And Natives Alike (BANA) dropped a making-of video, 'Charging Crystals #1,' on its official YouTube channel, teasing the creative process behind her solo project.
The clip shows Krystal squeezing in studio time between a packed schedule. In the booth, she breaks the tension with a laugh: "I’ve never really done a vocal warm-up since debut―I didn’t even know how."
Trading notes with her producer, she leans into a new vocal color―“looser, less on-the-nose, with more breath for a softer tone”―and approaches the session with palpable focus. “It’s the kind of music I love but haven’t tried before,” she adds. “I’ve spent years singing things I don’t usually listen to,” hinting at a stylistic shift fans haven’t heard from her yet.
BANA said in a statement that Krystal’s solo project has been in the works for a long time alongside her acting career, promising a set that captures her refined, sensorial sound.
Krystal recently won Best New Actress at the 33rd Buil Film Awards for her turn as Han Yu-rim in Kim Jee-woon’s film "Cobweb" (2023), and she’s confirmed for the upcoming tvN drama "How to Become a Building Owner in Korea" (working title). Now, she’s turning the page back to her roots as a singer.
Krystal’s first solo single 'Solitary' arrives November 27 at 6 p.m. KST on major streaming platforms worldwide.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)