Maps of Music

Querencia (2021)

Where the lyrics of Querencia take you, and where it was really made.

The album's title is a Spanish word for a place where one can be one's true self, and its release was pushed back from January to February 2021 after the singer tested positive for COVID-19.

Key places

Mixing at CUBE STUDIO (2021)

Recording site CUBE STUDIO — The album was mixed at CUBE STUDIO. The point uses the studio's building coordinates, but the source names only the studio and does not give further details about the session. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Querencia: debut studio album by South Korean singer Chung Ha
• Released 15 February 2021 under MNH Entertainment and 88rising
• Originally set for 4 January 2021, then delayed
• 21 songs divided into four sections: Noble, Savage, Unknown and Pleasures
• Guest appearances by R3hab, Guaynaa and Colde
• Primarily a pop record mixing EDM, synth-pop, R&B, afrobeat, house, Korean ballad and Latin pop
• Longest material in the singer's catalogue

Background

• Title comes from the Spanish word 'querencia', described as a place where one can be one's true self
• On March 10, MNH Entertainment announced that Chung Ha had signed with American agency ICM Partners for American and global promotions
• On December 7, Chung Ha tested positive for COVID-19
• The release was delayed to focus on her recovery
• Album released with the 'Bicycle' music video as the fifth and primary single
• Lead single 'Stay Tonight' released on April 27, 2020
• Second pre-release single 'Play' featuring Changmo released on July 6, 2020
• 'Dream of You' with R3hab was revealed as a collaboration on November 23, 2020

Recording

• The producers came up with the idea of the four sections
• Chung Ha took part in composing and writing 'Bicycle' and 'Byulharang (160504 + 170607)'
• Sumin co-wrote 'Bother Me' and Baek Yerin co-wrote 'All Night Long'
• The album was mixed at CUBE STUDIO

Cover

• Online cover image released on January 14, 2021
• Shows Chung Ha staring intensely at one place with her hair slicked back
• Glass is edited onto the artwork, and the singer said the cover symbolizes breaking through any limitations

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Kim Chan-mi on February 9, 1996, in Seoul; known as Annie Kim, she lived in Dallas, Texas for eight years before returning to South Korea.
• Finished fourth on Mnet's girl group survival show Produce 101 and became a member of the girl group I.O.I, which debuted on May 4, 2016.
• After I.O.I dissolved in 2017, she debuted as a solo artist with the EP Hands on Me.
• Graduated from Sejong University, majoring in dance; she was previously a trainee at YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment before joining MNH Entertainment.

Career

• Released the EPs Offset (2018), Blooming Blue (2018), and Flourishing (2019); the single album Gotta Go (2019) ranked third on Billboard's 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019.
• Signed with American agency ICM Partners in 2020 for promotions in the United States and globally, and with 88rising in November 2020.
• Released her first full-length album Querencia in 2021 and the first part of her second full-length album Bare & Rare in 2022.
• Left MNH Entertainment in 2023 and signed with Jay Park's label More Vision in October 2023.
• Released the digital single album Eenie Meenie (2024) and the mini album Alivio (2025).

Endorsements

• Endorsed brands including Nike, Clinique (global ambassador, 2019), Sprite Korea, and Dolce & Gabbana Beauty (2020).

Philanthropy

• Joined the Green Noble Club of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation in 2021 and donated to the foundation on her 27th birthday in 2023.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• NME critic Rhian Daly: the album reflects its creator as a curious, confident and passionate artist
• Rolling Stone India, Divyansha Dongre: the debut shows Chung Ha's versatility as a vocalist and gives a bigger glimpse of her rap and songwriting
• Nylon, Crystal Bell: the album is a testament to the singer's metamorphosis from a captivating performer into a true global superstar
• Dork, Abigail Firth: an album where her desires are protected and where she is in control of them
• Billboard, Nolan Feeney: praised the album's concept and production, and said it may mark a turning point for K-pop's international reach
• Beats Per Minute, JT Early: gave the album a score of 76/100 and described it as an exciting and surprising debut
• IZM, Kim Doheon: a mixed review; the production does not create flashy moments and the singing does not exceed expectations

Reappraisal

• Billboard included Querencia on its 'Best Albums of 2021 So Far: Staff Picks' list in June 2021
• NME placed the album on its 'The Best Albums of 2021 (So Far)' list
• South China Morning Post included it on its 'Best K-pop albums of 2021 so far' list

Records

• Debuted at number 1 on the Gaon Retail Album Chart with 1518 sales in its first hour of tracking
• Sold 8921 copies in Korea on its first day, a new record for Chung Ha
• Reached the top three on the all-genre US iTunes sales chart, behind two other releases
• Debuted and peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard World Albums chart
• Peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, her second entry on that chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album's 21 tracks make it the longest material in the singer's catalogue.
• 'Demente' with Guaynaa is described as the first Latin and K-pop collaboration for a female Korean soloist.
• 'Byulharang (160504 + 170607)' is named after her fandom, with its dates referring to her I.O.I debut and her solo debut a year later.
• 'Stay Tonight' had a promotional CD made available only through special events.
• A Spanish version of 'Demente' with Guaynaa was released as the sixth single on March 17, 2021.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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