Minnie releases 'END+ing' music video, singing of guilt within frozen time

Minnie of the global sensation (G)I-DLE has captured the profound inner world of a character through her vocals. Through the music video for "END+ing," the Part 6 OST for the tvN weekend drama 'Spooky Romance' (Directed by Lee Min-soo / Written by Choi Jung-mi / Planned by CJ ENM / Produced by CJ ENM, CJ ENM STUDIOS, B.pic, and Sangsang Film), Minnie visualizes the song's chilling yet sorrowful emotions.

The meaning of a halted 'END' and a continuous 'ing'

The title "END+ing" carries a dual meaning. It signifies the state of an 'END'—a life halted by a past accident—and the 'ing'—the ongoing guilt experienced as the character isolates themselves to avoid harming others. The overarching emotion of the track resonates with the hidden scars of the female protagonist, Cheon Yeo-ri (played by Park Eun-bin). The core narrative of the song lies in the character's isolated psyche, fearing that even love might be contagious, forcing her to keep her distance from others.

To maximize the song's theme, the sound design adopts a minimal pop ballad format. Instead of a lush instrumental arrangement, a restrained production was chosen to bring the unique texture of Minnie's voice to the forefront. Composed and arranged by WINZ and Luen, the sound—centered around piano, guitar, and bass—transparently reflects the character's isolated psychological state. In particular, WINZ's drum performance, Kim Seong-jae's guitar, and Xxunbin's chorus add depth to the song's spatiality, delving deeper into its emotional core.

Minnie's dreamy vocals complete the character's sense of isolation

As a member of the global powerhouse group (G)I-DLE with a distinctive vocal color, Minnie has once again proven her musical prowess through this OST. Beyond her group activities, Minnie has solidified her standing as an artist by showcasing a wide musical spectrum through her first solo mini-album, 'HER.' This musical depth is fully evident in "END+ing." She unravels the lonely emotions of a protagonist who distances herself from others for fear of spreading love, using dreamy and delicate vocals to heighten the emotional density that intertwines with the song's narrative through subtle tremors and breaths.

Minnie has previously contributed to various popular OSTs, such as 'Lovely Runner' and 'Resident Playbook,' enhancing the atmosphere of those works with her signature emotive vocals. This track record shines once again in the 'Spooky Romance' OST. Much like the title suggests, Minnie's unrivaled tone translates the character's pain—which seems finished yet continues to persist—into a heavy, lingering resonance, playing a pivotal role in conveying the character's inner self to viewers.

Emotional immersion crafted through sophisticated production

'END+ing' achieved high quality through a meticulous production process. The lyrics were written by All day on and WINZ, while WINZ and Luen laid the foundation for the track through composition and arrangement. Kang Ro-i handled recording and digital editing at Cube Studio, Shin Bong-won performed mixing at Glap Studio, and Kwon Nam-woo oversaw mastering at 821 Sound to elevate the sonic perfection. Additionally, Lee Ju-mi, Yoon Min-ah, and Song Ye-jin from CJ ENM participated as OST producers to establish the song's direction.

Ultimately, Minnie's voice serves as a bridge connecting the chilling atmosphere of the drama 'Spooky Romance' with the complex emotions of the character Cheon Yeo-ri. Flowing over a minimal sound, Minnie's vocals transcend being mere background music, functioning as a narrative that speaks for the character's wounds, which is expected to maximize immersion in the series.