Is Jessi’s What Type of X K-pop’s new self-love anthem? Co-written with Gangnam Style sensation Psy, the banging single follows hot on the heels of hip-hop hit Nunu Nana – interview
- Jessi’s Refund Sisters bandmates – Mamamoo’s Hwasa, Lee Hyori and Uhm Jung-hwa – praised the Korean-American singer’s new pop-rock track
- The song is ‘not exactly about battling the Covid-19 pandemic’, but Jessi hopes ‘it can cheer people up amid these tough times’, she said in a press conference
The hip-hop song Nunu Nana enjoyed resounding success when it came out last summer. For Korean-American singer Jessi, now a figure of the entertainment industry for some 15 year, that meant the pressure was on as she geared up for her new single What Type of X.
I feel like I am not fully prepared ... Still, I am quite content with the single’s quality
“When I first heard What Type of X, it sounded quite unfamiliar to me,” Jessi said during an online press conference ahead of the track’s March 17 release. “I also had a limited time – only about a month – to arrange the track, write the lyrics and practice choreography. Being a perfectionist, I feel like I am not fully prepared, but will strive to do my best to shine on stage. Still, I am quite content with the single’s quality.”
After Nunu Nana took multiple music streaming charts by storm, helping Jessi carve out a stronger presence on the music scene, many guessed that she would return with another hip-hop song. But Jessi didn’t. Instead, she put out a pop-rock track with trap beats, which includes lyrics that highlight her confidence and self-respect.
When asked how she maintains her confidence, Jessi said, “I am a woman of strong mentality and for me, loving myself is the most crucial thing. If you do not love yourself, nobody will do so. On top of that, you have to be surrounded by people who give off positive vibes. Many people say I always look self-assured, but I also have some ups and downs. Nonetheless, I can get over the hardships with self-love and the support from my people.”
For What Type of X, Jessi wrote the lyrics with Psy – the founder and CEO of her management company P Nation, who rose to global stardom with his smash-hit Gangnam Style released in 2012.