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After the success of “body” and “What’s a girl to do,” all eyes are on DAYOUNG. Originally a member of WJSN (aka Cosmic Girls), DAYOUNG recently made her solo debut in September 2025 with her first single album, gonna love me, right?. With songs that feature a more mature sound paired with unforgettable choreography, DAYOUNG’s solo music allows her to reveal a refreshingly authentic side to herself that fans may not have seen before. Her new release, “FLIRTY,” proves that she isn’t stopping any time soon, and that she’s worth obsessing over. 

After teasing her collaboration with Jay Park through cryptic, caption-less Instagram photos akin to a hard launch, the internet went crazy. The accompanying music video featured cheeky choreography between the artists and had fans flooding the comment section praising their chemistry. Through a blend of contemporary pop, R&B, and reggaeton, “FLIRTY” explores the moments of tension before people fall for each other, or if they even want to fall at all. Following the release of the song, we caught up with DAYOUNG over email to talk all things “FLIRTY.”

OnesToWatch: Congratulations on the release of “FLIRTY”! This song is your first collaboration with Jay Park. How did that come about, and what was the collaboration process like?

DAYOUNG: The project came about after the MMA (Melon Music Awards) stage, when people around me kept saying, “I think you and Jay Park would sound really great together.” I felt the same way, so I went straight to LA and started exploring different beats and songs. In fact, I had Jay Park in mind from the very beginning when I was working on “FLIRTY.” The first time I heard the version with his vocals in the recording studio, I immediately thought, “This is it!” His voice blended with the song even more naturally than I had imagined, and the final result exceeded my expectations. It was such a satisfying and enjoyable collaboration.

Before you released any information about the single, you posted cryptic photos on your Instagrams hinting at either a collaboration or a hard launch. Whose idea was that, and were you excited to tease the song for your fans in that way? 

From the beginning, I wanted to create a process that fans could enjoy alongside the music itself. When we released only the photos at first, fans came up with so many different theories and guesses. It was really fun reading their comments, and I enjoyed sharing that sense of anticipation with them. I think it created a fun atmosphere where everyone was eagerly waiting to see what the project was about, and I really enjoyed that experience. It also made me even more excited to share “FLIRTY” with everyone as soon as possible. 

The lyrics for “FLIRTY” are, well, flirty! How does it feel to put out music that touches on these more mature topics paired with dance-focused beats? When you release music, do you keep dancing and choreography in mind? 

I’ve always felt that music and performance should connect like one story. From the very first time I heard “FLIRTY,” it was a song that naturally made me want to move, so as we prepared the performance, I imagined how we could express the excitement and confidence of the moment when love begins through movement. On stage, I didn’t want to simply showcase the choreography. I wanted to convey the mood and emotions of the song as well, so that the performance could tell the same story as the music.

After the release of “body” and “What’s a girl to do,” you have definitely established a signature sound for yourself as an artist. You’ve previously cited Brandy, Monica, and Alicia Keys as inspirations from your youth. How does it feel releasing solo music that feels true to your identity as an artist? 

That really means a lot to me. I still feel like I’m constantly learning and growing, but I think I’ve become more confident in saying, “This is the kind of music that feels like DAYOUNG.” I’ve loved artists like Brandy, Monica, and Alicia Keys since I was young, and now I’m taking those musical influences and gradually developing a sound and color of my own. Going forward, I want to continue exploring different genres while creating music that feels uniquely “DAYOUNG.”

Give us a TMI from the time you were writing “FLIRTY.” 

While we were working in LA, I was really excited and kept wondering, “Will this song really suit Jay Park?” Then, the moment we heard the first version with his vocals in the recording studio, everyone reacted at the same time and said, “This is it!” That moment is still one of the most memorable parts of the process for me. It was also when I felt certain that “FLIRTY” had truly come together.

What has been a highlight since your solo debut last year, and what else can fans look forward to? 

The most memorable moment since my solo debut was the first time I stood on stage under my own name. Until then, I had always created performances as part of a team, so being able to share my own music and stories directly with fans felt incredibly special. Going forward, I want to continue showing new sides of myself through not only new music, but also a variety of performances and collaborations. I hope fans will look forward to what’s next.

Who are your OnesToWatch? 

These days, I enjoy discovering all kinds of music without limiting myself to a particular genre. Rather than naming one specific artist, I naturally find myself drawn to emerging artists who have a unique identity and are bringing something fresh to the music scene. Whenever I discover music like that, I find myself getting a lot of new inspiration. I also hope that, going forward, I can continue making great music and putting on memorable performances so that I can be remembered by someone as an artist whose future they’re excited to see.

Listen to "FLIRTY" below: