On January 9, Billboard magazine announced that Kpop idol Jennie from Blackpink group became the cover girl of the January 2025 issue.
On the cover of Billboard, Jennie appeared in a black and white image with a confident and attractive expression.
Her pictorial series shows many different styles, from sexy and strong to gentle and elegant.
Billboard introduces: “The world knows Jennie from Blackpink, but with her long-awaited upcoming debut album, she's finally truly coming to terms with and expressing her true self.”
In an interview with Billboard, the singer shared about the process of producing her solo album.
After completing the global tour with Blackpink at the end of 2023, Jennie has begun to outline many plans and goals for the future.
In December 2023, she announced her own independent record label, Odd Atelier (commonly known as OA). In early 2024, Jennie began her album journey in Los Angeles - where 99% of her project was completed.
“It was a long process because American artists usually take a few years to make an album, but we had a limited time, because this year she had to come back with Blackpink,” said Alison Chang, OA's global business director and Jennie's “right-hand man.”
Jennie said she feels “more free” in Los Angeles than in her hometown of Seoul, South Korea: “I can definitely go out and eat whenever I want, wherever I want.
I learn so much from everyone here. It's a great environment, especially for people in the music industry, to meet people who can inspire you.”
Speaking about her upcoming solo album, Jennie shared: “I plan to perfect myself as Jennie Ruby-Jane, to become a well-rounded person, in a way.
You'll definitely see what I mean when the album comes out. I'm playing with different genres and elements - I rap here, I sing here, I harmonize here, I speak here… I want to make sure that I like every song on the album.
I don't want to be forced to put a song on my album, that's something I really struggle with. And I'm lucky to have all these people who believe in me and support me, so I can get to a point where we're like, "Oh, I think we're ready."
Ultimately, Billboard describes, much of Jennie's album is rooted in deeply personal songs, about "what I've been through, what I relate to, or what I want in my life."
