Review | Ruby, debut solo studio album by Blackpink’s Jennie, is full of polished pleasures

From the empowering ‘Mantra’ and ‘ExtraL’ to the acoustic ‘Twin’ that rounds off the album, Ruby is a solid solo album from the K-pop singer

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Jennie from her Mantra music video. From the empowering Mantra and ExtraL to the acoustic Twin, Ruby is a solid solo album from the singer. Photo: captured from Mantra music video

Published: 4:45pm, 7 Mar 2025

Seven years ago, global pop phenomenon Jennie became the first member of the K-pop girl group Blackpink to release solo music, with her song “Solo”.

On March 7, she became the latest to drop a debut solo studio album, the English-language Ruby. It is a kaleidoscope of different sounds for Jennie, full of incongruous, polished pleasures.

“Solo”, her debut single, was a product of its time – nostalgic EDM-pop with pitched-up whistle effects and simple, declarative lyrics. “I’m goin’ solo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo,” she repeated on the chorus.

You had to believe her: she was not leaving her band, but a lacklustre relationship, an ex so innocuous they are barely a player in the song. “This time I’m only lookin’ at me, myself and I,” she sang, “I’ma do it on my own now.”

A lot has changed in the time since, but the core of her and her band’s sonic messaging – self-empowerment above all else – has not wavered.

On Ruby, it is strongest on the singles “Mantra”, where Jennie cheerleads in a chant-along chorus: “Pretty girls don’t do drama ’less we wanna/It’ll be depending on the day” atop brassy production perfect for prime time commercial placement.