i-dle’s Yuqi has a solo single album scheduled for later this month and has kicked off promotions early with pre-release track Gone. Much of Yuqi’s music has passed me by, but I absolutely loved 2021’s Bonnie & Clyde and her track Fly To The Youth (written for agency juniors NOWZ) was an early summer highlight. Her songwriting style and deeper-toned voice works best within the rock genre, and Gone uses that to its advantage.

Though the pre-release approach has changed over the years, it used to be common for these songs to be ballads — the kind of work that didn’t meet the demands of a traditional title track but still deserved spotlight on its own. Gone doesn’t feel like something you’d see on a music show, but it’s nice to hear Yuqi stretch her voice over a track without heavy choreo or music show posing. Gone is a straightforward rock ballad with a satisfying construction and effusive, emotional centerpiece.

This isn’t necessarily the kind of song I would seek out on its own, but it makes for a nice shot of sonic diversity within the context of an album. Yuqi commands the performance, switching between belt-it-out hooks and an edgier, rhythmic style during verse two. I like how the song gradually amps up its tension. The music video includes an extended instrumental interlude, blunting the overall force of the song. However, I can already tell its final chorus will hit hard.

Grade: B