From K-pop princess to a solo star in her own right, the Girls’ Generation member is ready to make a name for herself beyond the world of Hallyu.

Following her illustrious decade-spanning career in one of the biggest K-pop girl groups, Korean-American singer Tiffany Young made the decision to part ways with longtime label SM Entertainment for a shot at solo fame. Her first original post-SNSD release ‘Over My Skin’ came a couple of months after her departure – a sensual, ’90s-inspired pop ditty that steers away from K-pop’s penchant for bright melodies and bubblegum hooks. Her sultry vocals take centre stage here, a testament to her newfound maturity as she sings of inner confidence and female empowerment.

But what really made us view the songstress in a new light, is her name in the songwriting credits alongside Far East Movement, Khwezi, Kev Nish and Rachel West. “I’ve been learning how to write over the past year, and I’m having so much fun with it,” she explains over a phone interview. “It’s a time of growth for me, and it’s nice to be able to come out and show what I’ve been working so hard on.” Not many K-idols are able to take control of their own creative freedom, with most of their tunes meticulously crafted in big-name studios instead. Not to discredit them of course, but we’re very proud of Tiffany’s upgraded composing chops and the trailblazer certainly has the potential to carve out a successful career as a burgeoning singer-songwriter.

However, she’s never one to completely detach herself from her girl group roots either. When asked what gave her the confidence to be the Tiffany Young we see today, she spares no hesitation in giving her beloved bandmates a shoutout. Her latest single, for instance, was also largely driven by her time in Girls’ Generation and the sisterhood between them. “Last year was our 10th anniversary and that was such a great moment for us to make sense of what Girls’ Generation stands for. As females, we’ve been together for 10 years and I want to continue the message of always loving and supporting your girlfriends. I hope that women of all ages could feel fabulous listening to it,” she shares.

She makes her intentions loud and clear between the lines, where female empowerment is a major theme throughout the song. “When I wear something, I wear it for myself and not because I want a guy to look at me. If I wanna show skin, I show skin and there’s nothing wrong about it. This song is really created around that conversation.” It’s a bold move that might not work well in the rigid landscape of K-pop, but it’s Tiffany we’re talking about – and she has never been shy to speak up for herself.

She ends off with a laugh, “There’s a wonderful quote by Audrey Hepburn, ‘Happy girls are the prettiest’, and I think that is so true. Growing up, I didn’t think much about it but now, I feel that there’s nothing more beautiful than someone with a smile on their face. At the end of the day, having confidence is all about being happy.”

‘Over My Skin’ is the result of Tiffany truly coming into her own as a soloist, and it couldn’t sound better.

Featured image credit: Universal Music Singapore

Tiffany Young’s latest single ‘Over My Skin’ is now available for purchase and streaming.