It is undeniably the era of girls on top! Female soloists frequently top the Korean music charts, and you may have always wanted to check them out but are overwhelmed by the long list of (amazing) top female soloists in Korea. They not only sing and perform the songs, but they are also heavily involved in the music production process. 

Don’t worry, we’re here to help, and September is a great month to start because there are a lot of female soloist comebacks in September. We understand that unfamiliarity with the genre and style that the soloists bring to the table can be intimidating, so we’ve compiled a list of seven chart-topping, award-winning, and rising female soloists and their representative works for you to check out!

1. Baek Ye Rin

Baek Ye Rin debuted with Jamie Park in a duo called 15& back in 2015 under JYP Entertainment. Although their work as a duo didn’t really make a splash, Baek Ye Rin’s solo works soared to the top of the music charts. After leaving JYPE in 2019, she released a full album called Every letter I sent you. The album received a lot of praise and even won Best Pop Album at the 18th Korean Music Awards. She is the first South Korean artist to top the domestic song charts with an English song, Square (2017).

She cites Amy Winehouse and Oasis as her musical influences, and she is known for her frank and straightforward lyrics. On September 10, 2021, she released a cover album titled Love, Yerin with double title tracks, Why Me and A Walk; that have been charting high on music charts. Baek Ye Rin is also the frontwoman of the indie rock band The Volunteers. If you’re a fan of R&B and soul and looking for good music to drive with while pretending you’re an indie movie lead, check her out.

Check out ▶️
♫ Square (2017)
♫ Maybe It’s Not Our Fault
♫ Bye bye my blue

2. Heize

Heize‘s name is probably familiar to most K-drama fans right now because her OSTs for mega dramas like Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Hotel Del Luna, and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, among others, have been hugely successful. However, Heize gained public attention after appearing in Mnet‘s reality show Unpretty Rapstar 2. Heize, despite competing as a rapper on the competition, went on to have a great career as an R&B singer, topping the charts numerous times.

Her heartfelt voice will pull at your emotions as she sings relatable lyrics inspired by her own life experiences. For example, one of her most popular songs, Star, was written based on her own breakup experience. Her most recent comeback after signing with P Nation; HAPPEN, is still at the top of multiple music charts even after a few months since its release. Heize will be your best bet for music to listen to on gloomy days while nursing a non-existent heartbreak.

Check out ▶️
♫ Star
♫ You, Clouds, Rain
♫ We don’t talk together (Prod. by SUGA)

3. BOL4 

You might be unfamiliar with the act’s name, but we’re confident that you have heard some of their songs featured as background music for TikTok videos or vlogs on YouTube. BOL4 began as a four-member band in Mnet’s reality singing competition Superstar K 6, but only two signed with a music agency and debuted. However, with Woo Ji Yoon‘s exit last year, BOL4 is now only composed of Ahn Ji Young. There aren’t any changes though, as Ahn Ji Young has been the group’s composer, songwriter, and also vocalist as witnessed with BOL4’s latest EP May last year, Puberty Book II Pum with double title tracks including one featured by EXO’s Baekhyun that also won Best Indie Award at 2020’s Melon Music Award. 

A few months later in November, she released her first single album, Filmlet with Dancing Cartoon as the title track. If you’re into folk, blues, and indie pop with a huge sprinkle of youth flavour, you’ll love BOL4’s music.

Check out ▶️
♫ Hug
♫ Leo
♫ Dancing Cartoon

4. Chung Ha

Where have you been for the past few years if you haven’t heard about Chung Ha? Chung Ha, a former member of I.O.I, the first Produce series group, has always been a dark horse placing in fourth place at the finale, and her journey to solo popularity has been a pleasant surprise packed with good dance tracks. She debuted as a solo artist in 2017 with Why Don’t You Know, which was a huge hit with the general public, and then went on to have a meteoric rise in 2019 with three chart-topping singles in a row: Roller Coaster, Gotta Go, and Snapping.

Chung Ha won Producer of the Year and Hot Performance Award of the Year with Gotta Go at the 2019 Gaon Chart Music Awards for her achievements in 2019. Later, Chung Ha signed with 88rising — a US-based label with amazing artists such as Joji, NIKI and Rich Brian in late 2020. Querencia, her debut studio album, was released in February to widespread acclaim from international music critics, with several of the pre-release tracks charting on multiple music charts. Give Chung Ha a listen if you’re looking for some fun dance music to bop to.

Check out ▶️
♫ Gotta Go
♫ Snapping
♫ Roller Coaster

5. Lee Hi

Lee Hi, a K-pop Star season 1 alumna, was the season’s runner-up and went on to sign with YG Entertainment. She is recognised for her low soulful voice. She made her debut in 2012 with the upbeat 1,2,3,4 and rapidly rose to the top of the charts and won multiple awards, as she also did three years later with the release of Breathe. Lee Hi, just like the frequent but unfortunate case of solo artists signing deals with major labels, was unable to release new songs despite her desire to sing.

Her collaborations with Code Kunst, an AOMG producer in X and XI, drew a lot of attention, and unsurprisingly when her contract with YG Entertainment was up, she then signed with AOMG as her new label.. On September 9, 2021, her third album was released with the title track, Red Lipstick featuring Yoon Mirae climbing music charts left and right; former labelmate B.I who is also a frequent collaborator featured in one of the tracks, Savior. For soulful music with an impeccable low register vocal, have a listen to Lee Hi.

Check out ▶️
♫ Breathe
♫ Rose
♫ HOLO

6. Baek A Yeon

Baek A Yeon, the second runner-up in the first season of K-pop Star, began her career with JYP Entertainment and is now signed with Eden Entertainment. She’s a singer-songwriter, like many of the others on this list. She stunned everyone in 2015 when she topped various charts with Shouldn’t Have…, a song that received almost no promotion at all and beat out big groups like BIGBANG and EXO. So-So received the same treatment a year later, when it stormed the music charts despite minimal promotion.

She just recently released 0% on September 7, 2021, a relatable song about not wanting to do anything because of a lack of battery power and the desire to recharge. Baek A Yeon’s crooning whimsical and sweet longing love songs will melt your heart, making her a fantastic pick for those who are in their love-struck phase.

Check out ▶️
♫ Sad Song
♫ Shouldn’t Have…
♫ So-So

7. BIBI

BIBI is signed to Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae’s company; Feel Ghood Music after Yoon Mirae discovered her self-produced tracks on Soundcloud. She was also the runner-up for SBS competition show, The Fan. There’s no way but up for this singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer, who made her debut in 2019 with Binu.

R&B, soul, hip hop, and ballad are among the genres represented in her songs. She recently made a comeback with her latest single, PADO with Little Mermaid inspired music video. Probably the hottest rising solo act now with people clambering for a collaboration with, her recent featurings include GOT7’s Mark Tuan for Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings OST,  Hyoyeon in Second and (G)I-DLE’s Jeon So Yeon in Is this bad b****** number? For addictive trendy tracks that makes you feel like a bad b****, make a leap of faith and listen to BIBI.

Check out ▶️
♫ NABI
♫ KAZINO
♫ BAD SAD AND MAD

Whether it’s jazz, folk, dance, R&B, or even hip-hop they’re the best of the best and a great starting point to start your female soloists appreciation journey. Now, after going through the list do you agree that girls are indeed on top? The list only included a small sample of the great female soloists in South Korea to keep an eye out for. Feel free to recommend your favourite female soloists as well. Have a great time bopping and popping to your favourite tunes!

Written by: Ain
Featured Image by: Agnes