After another long wait, Jeon Somi is finally making her return.
On June 20, THEBLACKLABEL confirmed that the soloist will drop her new single, “EXTRA,” in July. This marks her first release in nearly a year since the summer special single “Ice Cream” on August 2, 2024.
The announcement comes after months of silence, and honestly, it’s been a long time coming. Somi’s fans have been openly frustrated with THEBLACKLABEL for giving her such limited activities and just one release per year for the last couple of years.
For an artist as talented and versatile as the former I.O.I member, it has been tough for fans to sit through these long gaps. Hopefully, things will change as the label has lately become more active on the music front and in debuting new groups.
During a livestream to celebrate her 6th debut anniversary, Jeon Somi herself revealed that “THEBLACKLABEL is changing.” Fans are hoping that she will release more new music this year besides “EXTRA.”
Somi, who first gained attention through Produce 101 and debuted as a member of I.O.I, went solo in 2019 with her debut single “Birthday”. Since then, her discography has grown, but at a surprisingly slow pace.
After “Birthday”, she followed up with “What You Waiting For” in 2020 and the hit single “DUMB DUMB” in 2021, which quickly became a fan favorite. In 2021, she also released her first full album, “XOXO,” but after that, things slowed down again. She released her 1st mini-album “Game Plan” nearly 1.5 years after “XOXO” in June 2023.
Despite her strong chart performance and viral hits, fans have grown impatient with THEBLACKLABEL’s minimal promotion strategy. Many argue that Somi deserves more frequent comebacks, variety appearances, or even a full album. Instead, she has been largely inactive between annual releases.
There’s hope that “EXTRA” could lead to bigger things. Earlier this year, Somi revealed her official fandom name (“SOMMUNCHI“) and lightstick, hinting at potential tours or fan meetings. Given her strong international fanbase, a world tour seems long overdue, but THEBLACKLABEL has yet to confirm any plans.
Meanwhile, Jeon Somi will release her new single “Extra” on July 7 at 6 pm KST.
