IU's Explanation of 'The Winning'

"It's definitely a different story from the messages I had when I was in my 20s." (IU)

Singer IU is releasing her first album after entering her 30s. Rather than exciting and lively stories, she made music from a more macroscopic perspective.

IU released an interview video on her YouTube channel on the 19th to commemorate the release of her sixth mini-album, "The Winning." She talked about the process of the album production and some main keywords.

Just like the name of the album, it's based on the spirit of a winner. "I didn't want to let my body lay around anymore even though I was tired," IU said. "I pushed myself a little, saying, 'It's okay if it's hard. It doesn't have to be easy.'

"It's been a long time since I've been so heavily immersed," she said. "It was an album that came naturally. It was quite a great process because there was no having to force myself into anything."

The main keyword of this album is "Winning". "All the songs contain the keyword of Winning. It's even included in the title of the album, just in case anyone gets confused. These are some of the honest words that express who I am today."

"As I enter my 30s I'm becoming competitive again," IU said. "Every day, I play a match against the plans I made in the past. And I'm winning every day."

"If it's something you desire, be confident about it," she said about the double title track "Shopper." "These days, it seems like people are pushed to hide their desires. I wanted to say 'let's be confident about it!'"

Another title track, "Holssi," is the song that became the foundation of this album. IU explained, "After all, this album started with "Holssi."

She stressed that the point of "Winning" is different from the materialistic perspective. "The fact that I decided to become a 'Holssi' itself also means that I acknowledge my limitations and shabbyness at some point," she said.

"Living in my 30s, I decided to live as a seed (rather than a flower). It doesn't necessarily mean an ending only when a flower blooms," she said. "This album contains the ambition of 'How I will live it up as a wonderful seed'."

"If anyone reduces their desires because they think they won't be able to blossom, I just want to tell them they don't have to. I want to tell myself and my loved ones, 'Make your own 'winning'.'"

IU said, "It is a work that contains the message of 'What is the winning 'Holssi' dreams of?"

IU will release "The Winning" at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The song contains five tracks: double title track "Shopper" and "Holssi," "Shh..." and "Love Wins All" and "I Stan U."

<Photo=IU's Youtube>