Singer Choi Yena is back with a brighter yet more mature side fans have not seen before. The former IZ*ONE member unveiled her fifth mini album “LOVE CATCHER” and it holds a special spot in the singer’s career as she helped build it from beginning to end.
A New Chapter for “Yena Core”
With her comeback Yena continues to showcase what her fans call “Yena core” which is her signature character blending colorful visuals and energetic upbeat sound. While her new album is supposed to have a more mature take on the perspective of love she is maintaining her playful quirky aura. “If the previous album showed a clumsy first love, this one expresses how my attitude toward love has grown,” she said.
Yena also revealed she drew inspiration from second generation K-pop acts such as T-ara and Orange Caramel reinterpreting their retro aesthetic. But the thing that stands out the most about this album is the fact that Yena herself helped in the creation and producing. “I participated in everything from the beginning to the end,” she said. “It’s an album we created together from zero to one hundred.”
A Diverse Tracklist
‘LOVE CATCHER’ features five tracks that explore different emotions tied to love:
- “Catch Catch” (title track)
- “Because It’s Spring” (feat. DinDin & Jung Hyung-don)
- “Sticker” (feat. Yunmachi)
- “April’s Cat”
- “Question Mark” (feat. Paul Kim)
The title track “Catch Catch” is an electropop song built around addictive synth loops and a dynamic melody. It captures the tension of a playful chase between two people falling in love. Yena said she instantly connected with the song. “When I first heard it, my body moved before I even realized it,” she recalled.
Playful Choreography
The performance for “Catch Catch” highlights Yena’s energetic personality with a signature dance move fans are already calling the “aegyo bomber dance.” The music video also introduces a cinematic concept, showing Yena walking through a mysterious space in red high heels while shadowy figures appear to chase her, creating a playful yet suspenseful mood.
2026 marks Yena’s eighth year since debut, and the singer expressed gratitude to her fans, known as Jigumi. “I’m always thankful that I can stand on stage because of them,” she said. “I want to stay with my fans for a long time and become a singer whose music people remember.”
Choi Yena’s mini album ‘LOVE CATCHER’ was released on major streaming platforms on March 11 at 6 p.m. KST.