Kwon Jin Ah faces the mirror and lets rock rip on SAVE ME

"I suffered from anorexia and bulimia for four years around the age of 18"

Singer-songwriter Kwon Jin Ah has returned with a new album that puts rock sounds at the forefront, marking 10 years since her debut. Her third mini-album, 'SAVE ME,' released on the 15th, is the result of moving beyond the lyrical ballad world she has built to reveal her intimate wounds through raw electric guitar sounds.

While preparing this album, Kwon Jin Ah confessed to her self-loathing. Having debuted at age 16 through 'K-pop Star Season 3' in 2014, she has been fighting a lonely battle behind the glamorous lights. During a press showcase held in Mapo-gu, Seoul, she revealed, "Debuting at such a young age, I hated my face, my body, and even my voice."

Eating disorders, in particular, tormented her. The anxiety of being unable to control herself led to body dysmorphia, eventually resulting in a long struggle with anorexia and bulimia. In 2021, she directly shared on Instagram, "Around the age of 18, I suffered from anorexia and bulimia for four years due to extreme dieting." At the time, she opened up about her pain, stating, "There were nights when I couldn't sleep because I was more afraid of the food in my stomach than losing my voice."

Autobiographical Narrative in Title Track 'MONSTER'

This past is embedded in the title track 'MONSTER.' The opening lyrics, "It was like that every morning. I thought I was a monster in the mirror that couldn't be loved," reflect her state of mind during the period she suffered from eating disorders. She used the metaphor of a 'monster' to describe the moments she hated herself.

The song does not stop at self-deprecation. The lyrics echoing in the chorus and the latter half of the song—"Endure," "Live on," "Lonely souls, sing along with me until we overcome it"—contain the will to rise above the scars. Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Bapsang Live,' Kwon Jin Ah presented the first live performance of the title track 'MONSTER,' saying, "I hope this becomes a song for everyone with low self-esteem."

"I write rock when I have something real to say"

Every track on this album is filled with rock sounds. "I use the genre of rock when I have something real to say," Kwon Jin Ah explained regarding her choice of genre, adding, "This time, I wanted to tell a slightly deeper story of mine." She chose the raw electric guitar sounds to express her inner self.

Through this album, Kwon Jin Ah sought to build solidarity with the youth living in the same era. She stated, "As an ordinary 28-year-old woman, I wanted to offer comfort to those living with similar worries by saying, 'Here is someone just like you.'"

Meanwhile, Kwon Jin Ah recommended the pre-release track 'Rain on me' from the album, adding, "I hope you listen to it often when it rains."