Speaking on the process of creating The Winning, Korean singer-songwriter (don’t you dare call her “just” a K-pop star) sensation Lee Jieun (much better known as IU) reflected, “It felt like I was getting the results of my devotion.” This statement drives right to the conceptual core of The Winning, her first body of work since 2021’s double serving of LILAC and Pieces, which nicely represented two sides to her artistry; the former a widescreen pop vision and the latter … Continue reading Album Review: IU – The Winning