BLACKPINK’s Jennie says she swapped Seoul for Los Angeles in a recent interview

BLACKPINK’s Jennie has officially traded the familiar streets of Seoul for the creative buzz of Los Angeles, and she’s not holding back on why. The star was feeling a bit comfy in South Korea, so she wanted a place to push her creative mindset forward. In an interview with Billboard, Jennie revealed that she “didn’t enjoy” staying in the same surroundings, which led her to pack her bags and visit L.A.

According to Jennie, her time in L.A. was anything but a vacation. She had to “throw herself out there,” connecting with new producers and collaborators to spark that next-level creativity for her upcoming solo album. This step came last year when the BLACKPINK girls decided to focus on their solo projects. Jennie established her own label OA Ateller, and partnered with Columbia Records.

Now, the good news for BLINKs everywhere: Jennie says she’s “almost there” with her solo album, hinting that the drop could happen sooner than we think. While fans wait, the single “Mantra” has conquered their playlists, serving as a sneak peek into Jennie’s upcoming record.