MAMAMOO member Hwasa has finally released her first full solo mini-album Maria, and on the title track, she’s unafraid to face her critics and come out on top.
Hwasa, whose real name is Ahn Hyejin, is the youngest member of MAMAMOO; she previously made her solo debut last year with the song “Twit.” On June 29, she released the song “Maria” (titled after her baptismal name) with an accompanying music video that unpacks her experiences with fame and mental health.
Prefaced by haunting teasers and a soulful intro track “Nobody Else," “Maria” is a message from Hwasa to Hwasa. “Maria is an album that I put emotions into, like you would in a diary. It’s the product of my sweat and tears,” she said to The Korea Herald.
The message of “Maria” and its music video are very much linked to her sweat and tears – Hwasa has been a constant target for online criticism and trolling for years. “If you really want to see me cry, here, tears,” she sings, per a fan translation from @ch0sshi. In the music video, Hwasa crouches in a corner with sharp pencils aiming at her like daggers, a metaphor for all the cutting comments that have been thrown at her. She has previously been outspoken about the scrutiny she’s faced around her body; there’s a frequently-circulated clip in which Hwasa opens up about being body-shamed in auditions, even though her singing was praised. “If I don’t fit in this generation’s standard of beauty, then I will have to become a different standard,” she said while on stage.
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“There is sadness buried under the uplifting beats in ‘Maria,’” Hwasa told The Korea Herald, and yet the song’s message is not to be found in that sadness, but rather in Hwasa’s self-assurance that she remains unapologetically herself, strong in her identity and secure in her work and talent. “Oh Maria, these are words for you/Why are you struggling, you’re already beautiful,” she sings. If she’s encouraging herself to become a different standard (and wowing everyone in the process — do the 2018 MAMA Awards ring a bell?), she’s also encouraging fans to do the same.
Ultimately, “Maria” is an honest reflection on being under an intense spotlight, and a powerful reminder to herself not to lose her sense of self because of that. Further, the music video concludes with a sweet homage to Hwasa’s MAMAMOO groupmates (who also appear in the “Twit” music video). In the music video’s final scene, Hwasa sits alone in a room before the door opens and Solar, Moonbyul, and Wheein appear, all bearing gifts and bright smiles — a final image of hope as well as a celebration of the support among them.
Check out the music video for “Maria” below:
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