Jennie’s solo album ‘Ruby’ is It-girlified

If there’s one thing we know about Jennie, it is that she is the ultimate IT girl. Her career so far has been nothing short of phenomenal. In the last two years, she’s headlined Coachella alongside her BLACKPINK members, made her acting debut in The Idol, made her runway debut for Jacquemus, fronted numerous fashion campaigns, established her own company and released a successful single, “Mantra”.

Since all four members of BLACKPINK departed YG Entertainment for their individual endeavours, the girls have gone full speed ahead with their solo projects. To list a few: Rosé’s solo album Rosie and viral song “APT” with Bruno Mars, Lisa’s solo album Alter Ego as well as her acting debut in The White Lotus, Jisoo’s solo album Amortage and soon, Jennie’s “Ruby”.

Jennie went “solo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo” for the first time in 2018 with the single “SOLO” and made her comeback five years later with her 2024 hit, “Mantra”. Her highly-anticipated album Ruby, dropping on 7 March is not just a comeback but also the multihyphenate’s first complete body of work as a solo entity, marking a significant milestone in her career. From featuring artists to its powerful concept, here’s everything you need to know about Jennie’s “Ruby” era.

This will be her first album under ODDATELIER

ODDATELIER, also known as OA Entertainment, is Jennie’s personal creative label, established in November 2023. This marks a significant shift in her career, moving beyond BLACKPINK as a solo artist. The star’s Instagram announcement, made through a collab post, quickly became the talk of the town, with the account amassing over a million followers in a mere two days. As stated on the website, “ODD ATELIER is a space that aims to create new things that attract attention in a different way from what is usual or expected.” With a focus on creative freedom and, most importantly, nurturing Jennie’s individual artistry, we can expect to see the star embracing her most authentic self in this album.

The “Ruby” era is all about transformation and empowerment

While we may know Jennie’s sound through BLACKPINK’s numerous K-pop hits, this time, the singer is branching out to multiple genres consisting of a mix of R&B, hip-hop, alternative, electronic and pop sounds to showcase her versatility as a performer. Thematically, the “Ruby” era is all about embracing confidence and empowerment. This message is reflected in her lyrics, fiery album teaser visuals and newly released music videos. Inspired by the bold gemstone, her teasers are bold and cinematic with stark contrasting red and black themed visuals that allude to passion and transformation.

The 15-track album boasts a star-studded list of featuring artists

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The star-studded roster of collaborating artists were first announced in the album trailer and unsurpisingly, it got the whole world buzzing. The list includes some of the most exciting and unique artists in music, with each artist known for a distinct style and flavour. This impressive list includes the likes of Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ (French Kiwi Juice), Dua Lipa and Kali Uchis.

Jennie has released four songs: “Mantra”, “ZEN”, “Love Hangover” featuring Dominic Fike and “EXTRAL” featuring Doechiii

Jennie released “Mantra” in October 2024. It was an instant hit, climbing up to the top five on the Billboard Global music charts and dominating Korean music platforms. Following the success of her 2024 viral hit, “ZEN” was released after the Ruby album trailer dropped. The music video appeared to showcase Jennie’s respect and appreciation for her Asian heritage in eight show-stopping looks made by Asian designers. Like the striking visuals, the lyrics are empowering and unapologetic.

“Love Hangover”, featuring indie and R&B singer Dominic Fike, is a moody R&B song that explores the aftermath of a fleeting whirlwind romance. Jennie’s fast-paced lyrics, dream-like instrumentals and Dominic Fike’s laid-back rap are a match made in heaven. The cinematic music video featured Jennie and her romantic interest, portrayed by Riverdale’s Charles Melton, following the couple on the emotional rollercoaster of romance.

Jennie tapped Grammy-award-winning rap artist Doechii for her hip-hop song, “EXTRAL.” The two powerhouses seem to be on a roll, following Doechii’s win and phenomenal performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards and Jennie’s hit singles “Mantra” and “Love Hangover.” In the energetic music video, the stars showcase their exceptional rap prowess in the hyped-up song, which preaches the importance of female empowerment and confidence—with the phrase “Do my, do my ladies run this, ladies run this?” repeated throughout the song.

Upcoming performances

To celebrate the launch of Ruby, Jennie has launched “The Ruby Experience” with special live performances in Los Angeles, New York and Seoul.

The star is also set to perform at Coachella 2025, marking her third time as a Coachella performer and her first one as a soloist. Additionally, fellow BLACKPINK member Lisa will also take the stage as a soloist.

This article was originally published in Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.