Hyolyn, who crumbled due to perfectionism, returns as the CEO of her own agency

Singer Hyolyn, in her 17th year since debut, has returned with a new album after four years. Her fourth mini-album 'OriginaLyn', released on the 22nd, is a title that combines her name 'Lyn' with 'Original'. It contains a total of seven songs, including the title track 'Check', and showcases her capabilities as an artist as she directly participated in the production of all tracks.

While preparing for this album, Hyolyn went through the darkest period of her life. Due to her strong perfectionist tendencies, she pushed herself too hard, experiencing a mental crisis in the process. Hyolyn confessed, "There was a time when the thoughts 'Can I do more? Can I endure this?' grew so deep that I was on the verge of breaking down." Because of her personality of tormenting herself rather than praising herself, her physical condition also deteriorated to the point where she wouldn't have been able to continue her activities without a hospital's recommendation.

The Will to Live Sustained by Fans' Support

What pulled Hyolyn up when she was standing on the edge of a cliff was the support of her fans. The moment when three fans came to meet her at the airport while she was heading for an overseas schedule, unlike usual, became a decisive turning point for her. Hyolyn recalled that when she made eye contact with a fan, she saw them shedding tears without saying a word, which caused her to burst into tears as well. In a letter she received afterward, there was a short phrase that read, 'Unnie, you are doing so well,' and Hyolyn gained the strength to endure one more day from those few words.

The solo concert 'Key' held last November was also the driving force behind her return to the stage. This concert, in which Hyolyn directly participated from the planning stage, provided new motivation through the sense of accomplishment she felt on stage. In fact, she had planned to stop all activities after finishing the concert, but the experience on stage became the foundation for completing this 'OriginaLyn' album. The decision to produce the physical album for this release as an LP—the first since her debut—is also a result reflecting this musical attitude.

2026 Sensibility Implemented with Y2K Sound

The new album contains nostalgia from the days when Hyolyn was studying music. It was inspired by the playlists of artists who dominated the late 90s and early 2000s, such as TLC, Britney Spears, and Destiny's Child. Hyolyn did not stop at simply recreating the past, but reinterpreted it with a 2026 sensibility to implement a Y2K sound. "I wanted to convey a nostalgia that doesn't feel outdated even after listening for a long time, rather than just recreating the past," she explained.

The title track 'Check' features a beat that evokes the atmosphere around the turn of the millennium and an addictive hook. The music video was filmed at an outdoor set in Los Angeles (LA), USA, where Hyolyn showcased her performance wearing clothing and props from brands that were popular at the time. Hyolyn, who did not usually have high self-esteem, actually gained confidence in the process of practicing and staging this song. This is because she began to enjoy the music itself, breaking free from the perfectionism that used to constrain her.

The Weight of Standing Alone Learned as a One-Person Agency CEO

After the conclusion of Sistar's activities, Hyolyn chose to stand on her own at the age of 27–28, and as the CEO of a one-person agency, she experienced a new stage. Just as much as standing on stage as an artist, the process of realizing how many staff members must dedicate themselves behind the scenes for a single singer was harsh. Hyolyn smiled, saying, "I realized how many people work hard behind the scenes for one singer, to the point where I went to see the CEO of my former agency, Starship, to apologize for whining so much in the past."

Although the process of standing alone was painful, Hyolyn does not regret her choice. She asserted that even if she were to go back 10 years, she would challenge herself to stand alone in the same way. Through this album, Hyolyn re-engraved the weight of the word 'original'. She stood before the public in her most 'Hyolyn-like' way, containing her desire to be the singer that comes to mind first for any keyword. As she said, "I realized that the thing I love most should not become something difficult and scary," this activity will be a journey of praising and enjoying herself.

“I Put My Desire to Be the Original Into It”

When asked about the philosophy behind the album name, Hyolyn brought up the word 'original'. She said, "I like the word 'original'. It is important who started it first, and being the singer that comes to mind first for any keyword is a special and grateful thing. I thought it would be a good album that shows Hyolyn, whom many people remember, exactly as she is, containing my desire to be the original and my desire to be the first."