Sandara Park returns to music scene, releases new mini-album

K-POP star Sandara Park has made her highly anticipated return to the music scene with the release of a new mini-album, marking her first solo endeavor in six years.

The album, titled “Sandara Park,” comes after the disbandment of her former girl group 2NE1 in 2017. It includes five songs and is led by the title track “Festival.”

Park's new album showcases her growth as an artist and her ability to experiment with different musical styles. She co-wrote the title track “Festival” alongside GRAY, Heize, and SJWA, who all receive production or writing credits on the B-Sides “Dara Dara,” “T Map,” and “Happy Ending,” respectively.

Renowned K-Pop star Sandara Park INSTAGRAM PHOTO/DARAXXI

One of the highlights of the album is the collaboration with Uhm Jung-hwa, a legendary Korean singer. The title track “Festival” samples Uhm Jung-hwa's 1995 song of the same name, and the music video features a special appearance by the iconic artist. Since its release on YouTube, the music video for “Festival” has already garnered over a million views in less than 24 hours, showcasing immense anticipation.

In addition to her musical comeback, Park has also made a significant career move by signing with a new agency, Abyss Company, in 2021. This new album marks her first official release under Abyss, which is also home to other notable K-Pop acts such as Sunmi and GOT7's BamBam.

Meanwhile, Park is also set to make a highly anticipated return to the Philippines for “The Super Stage by K-Pop” concert, scheduled to take place on August 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Park – who affectionately referred to as the “Pambansang Krungkrung ng Pilipinas (National Quirky Queen of the Philippines)” – initially gained a strong following in the Philippines when she participated in the talent search show “Star Circle Quest” in 2004 and finished as the runner-up.

She then went on to have a successful acting and singing career in the Philippines before returning to South Korea in 2007. In 2009, Sandara Park made her debut as a member of the K-pop group 2NE1, which quickly rose to fame and became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. They are famous for hits such as “I Am the Best,” “I Don't Care,” “Fire,” and “Come Back Home,” among many others.

Despite her international achievements, Park maintains a strong bond with her Filipino fans and frequently visits the Philippines for concerts, fan meetings, and various events. She continues to make regular visits to the country for concerts, fan meetings, and other events. In 2016, she even served as a judge on the Philippine reality TV show “Pinoy Boyband Superstar” and has made guest appearances on various Philippine TV shows.