K-pop singer Jeon Somi says her second EP, Chaotic & Confused, marks a turning point in her decade-long career — a creative leap born from what she describes as “a truly chaos-ridden phase” in her life.

“I’m in my tenth year in this career, but I’m still only 24,” Jeon said during a press interview in Seoul on Thursday ahead of the album’s Monday release. “I’ve shown so many sides of myself over the past 10 years, and the question has always been: how do I come up with something new?”

Jeon rose to fame after winning Mnet’s Produce 101 in 2016 and debuting with project girl group I.O.I, following an earlier appearance on Sixteen (2015). She left JYP Entertainment in 2018, joined producer Teddy Park’s The Black Label, and launched her solo career the following year.

Her latest project departs from youthful hits like “Fast Forward” (2023) and “Dumb Dumb” (2021), leaning into experimental, stutter house sounds. The five-track EP features lead single “Closer,” which samples Sean Kingston’s 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls,” as well as the prereleased “Extra” and three B-sides.

“For a while, I avoided songs with lyrics because I had so much going on in my head,” she said, explaining her turn toward house music. The “Closer” music video, with its silver-and-white aesthetic, aims to leave fans feeling “a bit of a wall” from her — an intentional distance she hopes will spark understanding of her artistic direction.

Jeon also balances mentoring younger labelmates, running her cosmetics brand GLYF — which will debut a new lip line alongside the EP — and preparing for an unpredictable future. “I might be in Egypt, or in space, in 10 years,” she said with a smile. “I have no idea. But I have no regrets.”

Reflecting on her path, Jeon said: “If I stopped, my story would end there. Now, I want to move forward naturally — like the seasons changing — and take in what’s around me as it comes.”

Sayart / Kang In sig insig6622@naver.com