A decade into rap career, Moonbyul rediscovers herself
Moonbyul, the main rapper of K-pop girl group Mamamoo, sees her solo venture as a journey to discover her authentic identity as a musician.
While fans acknowledge her versatility in rap, dance and vocals, her vocal prowess has taken a backseat due to the remarkable vocal abilities of her bandmates — Solar, Wheein and Hwasa.
“I’ve put in a lot of effort to discover my true identity while working as a solo artist, pondering what I do best and what music can truly represent me,” she shared during a group media interview last week. The interview was held at an art gallery in central Seoul to mark the release of her first solo studio album.
“This album now unmistakably showcases my identity as a musician who can sing, rap and dance,” she added, referring to her first full-length album, “Starlit of Muse,” due out Tuesday.
She debuted as a member of the K-pop quartet in 2014 and began her solo career four years later with her first single, “Selfish.”
After a decade with the group, the 31-year-old found herself confined by her strong image as Mamamoo’s main rapper, recognized for her distinctively deep voice and boyish charm.
“My image as the Mamamoo rapper and the girl crush persona was so dominant that I couldn’t escape them no matter how well I sang vocally,” she explained.
She also felt restricted by the genre limitations imposed by her role as a rapper.
However, a pivotal moment in her career came in November 2022, when she emerged as the winner of “Second World,” JTBC’s audition program for main rappers of female idol groups who also possess vocal abilities.
“I received overwhelming support from my bandmates when I was extremely anxious before the competition,” she recalled, noting that the victory helped her regain confidence as a musician.
In preparation for her studio album, Moonbyul undertook vocal and dance lessons to push her own artistic boundaries.
“My vocal range expanded. I used to believe it was limited, but after taking lessons, it expanded rapidly. It’s amazing how quickly it grew in such a short period,” she said.
The expansion paved the way for her to delve into a wider array of music genres.