When Jennie finally dropped the much-anticipated trailer for her debut solo album Ruby, she was quite literally on the move—flying to London at the time. "It's hard for me to stay in one place for more than a week," she admits while riding in a car, en route to yet another flight—this time from Los Angeles back to Seoul. Constantly jet-setting across the globe, Jennie embodies the essence of a world-renowned artist, and her latest project is an extension of that dynamic energy.
The album, which officially landed on March 7, is Jennie’s boldest move yet. Unlike anything she’s done before, Ruby is entirely in English, making a statement about her versatility and global reach. It features a lineup of genre-spanning artists, including heavyweights like Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, and Dominic Fike, showcasing Jennie's deep appreciation for diverse musical styles. Fans got a taste of the project through pre-released singles like Mantra, Love Hangover (featuring Dominic Fike), and ExtraL (with Doechii), setting the stage for a powerful debut under her own independent label, OddAtelier, in partnership with Columbia Records.
But let’s rewind for a second—why Ruby? The title holds a special meaning for Jennie, beyond just being part of her middle name, Ruby Jane. “I thought about it until the very last moment,” she says. “For me, Ruby feels like the curtain call of a play, where I’m stepping into a new stage of my life. I don’t see Jennie, Ruby, and Jane as separate alter egos—they're all just different shades of who I am.” This album, in many ways, is a grand reintroduction. Despite having an established global fan base thanks to Blackpink, Jennie approached this solo journey as if she were starting fresh, putting her all into every aspect of the project. “I’m throwing myself out there like it’s my first time—that’s the mindset I committed to.”
One of the defining moments of the album's rollout was the January teaser, where she chose to feature the track Zen with the powerful lyric, “In the dark I grew.” This sentiment echoes throughout the entire project, marking her evolution as an artist and a person. “That song is the heart of this album,” Jennie explains. “It only felt right to begin this journey with it.”
Beyond just the music, Jennie is also deeply connected to her fans, particularly her Korean audience. Even though Ruby is an all-English album, she made sure to release a lyric breakdown of Love Hangover in Korean. “I love being Korean, and I wanted to give back the love my Korean fans always show me,” she says. “This was my way of making sure they could connect with the album on a deeper level.”
Among the standout tracks on Ruby is Starlight, a song Jennie describes as deeply personal. “It really captures how I’ve felt over the years,” she shares. Fans looking for a glimpse into her emotions will find this track especially moving.
And then there’s Handlebars, a track featuring none other than Dua Lipa. The two artists have known each other for years, but this was their first time collaborating on a song. “I went to her first show in Korea, and we’ve been friends ever since,” Jennie recalls. “Working together in a musical setting was a completely new experience, and we had a great time.”
With both of them constantly on the move, the question naturally arises: who travels more? Jennie laughs, “Honestly, we both work hard.”
But beyond the glitz and glamour, there’s a deeper foundation to Jennie’s career—her team. Behind the scenes, she surrounds herself with a powerhouse group of women running OddAtelier. “It’s so important to work with people who bring good energy,” she says. “I’ve naturally gravitated toward empowering women, and I’m still working hard to become one of those women I look up to.”
Jennie’s Ruby era isn’t just about music—it’s about ownership, evolution, and stepping into a new phase with confidence. As Billboard’s 2025 Women in Music Global Force, she’s not just riding the wave of success—she’s creating her own path. “It feels like my power as a superhero,” she says. “It drives me to keep pushing forward and putting great things out into the world.”
For fans and music lovers alike, Ruby is more than just an album—it’s an invitation to witness Jennie’s next chapter, one where she fully embraces every part of who she is. And if this is just the beginning, there’s no telling how high she’ll soar next.
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