Three years ago, (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi released the brilliant Bonnie & Clyde — a pummeling piece of pop/rock with the driving energy of a dance track. That song utilized her husky tone in ways we rarely hear from (G)I-DLE’s work, making me long for more solo work. That era is finally upon us with a mini album slated for the end of the month. Before that, we have pre-release Could It Be.

Pre-releases tend to go one of two ways. They’re either the strongest song on the album, launched early to give the project instant success. Or, they’re a pleasant — but inessential — mood-setter, whetting listeners’ appetite before the main course. Even without having heard Yuqi’s album, Could It Be most certainly falls in the latter category. It sets its ambitions low, coasting along good vibes as a strumming, toe-tapping mid-tempo. Yuqi sounds comfortable and confident, but the song doesn’t give her all that much to do.

More than anything, Could It Be feels like a lazy summer afternoon. The production has a haziness to it, incorporating shimmering synth textures that paint a kaleidoscopic backdrop under the chorus. This depth of sound helps counter the song’s repetitive structure. The melodies are nice, but they quickly lose potency as Could It Be loops itself without much modulation.

Grade: C+