| ⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING This page includes mentions of death by illness and may be sensitive to certain readers. |
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Ni.U is the Featured Idol of October 2022
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![Floral Ni.U art.[1]](/wiki/File:Floral_Ni.U_art.png "Floral Ni.U art.png (1.88 MB)")
![Danganronpa: Idols are Dead illustration.[2]](/wiki/File:DRIAD_Official_Illustration_-_Ni.U.PNG "DRIAD Official Illustration - Ni.U.PNG (2.49 MB)")
Yoo Minji (Korean: 유민지), known professionally as Ni.U (니유; pronounced "ni-yu"), is a South Korean singer-songwriter, guitarist, dancer, producer and actress currently under FI Entertainment. She made her solo debut on December 14, 2019 with the mini album Iridescent Love, and the title track "pipipabpab". As an actress, she is well recognised for her role in Not So Bad (2022).
She is featured as one of the characters in the popular fictional murder mystery, Danganronpa: Idols are Dead.
Personal life[]
Ni.U was born on December 14, 2000 in Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea, to a Korean father and a Korean mother in an upper middle class household. Her early years of childhood had been surrounded by her own, as well as her younger sister's, creative thoughts and ideas. By the time she had reached her teen years, Ni.U had lots of ideas of where she wanted to be in the future.
It wasn't until around mid 2015, aged 14, did she gain a heavy interest in the music industry thanks to the exposure to solo acts such as OOHYO, saevom, Lovey and Haze Moon. She grew very fascinated by how beautifully raw the emotions of said solo acts were, and felt inspired to begin singing as well.
In 2016, she had been accepted into School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA). After joining the Department of Applied Music, Ni.U learned many techniques and had even picked up how to play the guitar.
In October later that year, she was encouraged by her family, friends, and even teachers to audition for FI Entertainment—then home to Geonu and LuckY—for a chance to pursue a career in music. Despite believing there would be no way she'd get accepted, she auditioned anyway with a vocal-guitar cover of OOHYO's "Girl Sense". The staff had informed her of her acceptance as a trainee in early November before she officially started her training towards the later half of the month.
In July 2019, FI officially announced on Ni.U's behalf that she was in a happy relationship with a non-idol boyfriend. Because she was still a trainee at the time, the announcement had brought her negative comments explaining that her focus should be her training, not relationships. Despite so, Ni.U remained in her relationship with her partner.
Career[]
2019–present: Pre-debut success, solo debut[]
In August 2019, Ni.U was offered an exclusive contract which solidified her chances of debuting, as a solo artist however. Since her chances of debuting with her trainee group were more slim, she'd agreed to take the offer on.
Prior to her debut, Ni.U was confirmed to be the feature singer for soloist Geonu's b-side, "Interlude: SNS" (from his mini album Uphill), which was released on September 4, 2019. When her participation as a vocalist, producer and lyricist was first announced, HOMEU (Geonu's fans) were skeptical with whether they wanted Geonu working alongside "Someone who doesn't take the industry as seriously as she should." This was because of FI's previous announcement, from July that year, regarding Ni.U being in a relationship. However, after the song was dropped, her vocals had been described as "graceful and emotionally expressive", with some also stating that her vocal blending with Geonu was a "gift for the ears." Her ability to complement Geonu's tone yet mirror his technique, as if she were his female counterpart, had brought a lot of positive attention to Ni.U. While there were still malicious comments targeted at her, Ni.U had started to gain a very loyal fanbase.
FI Entertainment then teased her debut with a short introductory film on November 22, 2019. The following day, on November 23, Ni.U's official social media accounts were launched. Also on this day, FI had announced the title of her debut mini album, Iridescent Love, along with the confirmation of her debut date. Ni.U made her official debut as a solo artist on December 14, 2019—her 19th birthday.
Two weeks after debut, on December 28, 2019, Ni.U revealed her fandom name, Newie, and her fandom colour.
On January 31, 2020, FI teased that she would make her first comeback with a digital single titled "My Love 2 You". On February 4, 5 days prior to the single's release, the artist uploaded a short teaser-type video to her Twitter which she captioned as "The song's raw vocal version." She made an official comeback with the single on February 9, 2020—to which she received 6 music programs wins and a peak ranking of #3 on two charts.
Artistry[]
Fashion and style[]
During her early teenage years, a career Ni.U had planned to potentially endeavour was fashion designing. As a child, expressing her feelings was something she liked to do through her choice of clothing. Though not as prominent in her fashion choices nowadays, Ni.U holds a value in colours and patterns, since she believes they are important for expressing herself.
Examples of Ni.U's fashion style.
In a 2022 interview, Ni.U shared that her go-to outfits often incorporate patterned button-up shirts, typically flannels, over the top of plain tees which she tucks into denim shorts. She said that such outfits are not only comfortable and practical, but they also allow for her to try different coloured shirts over her tees (top row in image). For formal events and for cooler weather, she shared that she loves mixing and matching blouses and oversized shirts with either high-rise straight pants or A-line mini skirts. To top it off, she often pulls out one of her—many—trench coats or oversized blazers (middle row in image). Lastly, her outfits—for when she's practicing or not in the mood to dress up—show that she's passionate about her New Balance hoodies, tracksuit pants and joggers (bottom row in image).
Influences[]
Ni.U has previously expressed that many solo artists have influenced—and continue to influence—her music style and lyricism. The very first two artists she'd found inspiration in were soloists OOHYO and saevom, stating that she'd "fallen for both of their vocals and emotional delivery." Discovering the world of indie artists had led her to come across Shaun in 2018 after listening to his first EP, Take. While the formerly mentioned are her three biggest role models in the industry, Ni.U has also cited other solo acts—such as indie and ballad singer HARAM, pop and ballad singer Yong Hwa, pop singer (and label-mate) Geonu and R&B and pop singer Heeyeon—as musicians she admires.
As well as the aforementioned artists, Ni.U also conveyed her admiration for the work of idols who are—or were—members of a group. Her first year as a SOPA student had been "a little rough," but she stated that the debut of four-member girl group Xi² allowed her to have an escape from the stress. She named member Xiulan as a singer she can always find herself applauding—not just because of her "insane talent," but also because of her "respectable and fun personality."
Lastly, she is also an avid supporter of leading self-producing group 6topia. She's claimed that, "Their discography does sound beautiful, but there's more to it then just 'catchy songs.' Through their inspiring lyrics that also fit like puzzle pieces into their overarching lore, 6topia are a group of genuine artists that can create a sort-of... retreat, from life, you know? Their songs may just be fun to sing-along to for many fans but to me, their songs hold a really special place in my heart." Ever since her debut, Ni.U has never failed to express gratitude for the members' artistry in songwriting and production.
Songwriting[]
Ni.U had began songwriting in her third year in middle school. Her well-received song, "Strawberry Bubblegum", was written during her early high school days. Her writing journal had accidentally been discovered by—her current songwriting partner—NKM, who promised to work alongside her to refine her skills furthermore. The lyrics she writes and shares with her fans often represent something that occurred in her life, or something she wishes would occur in her life, in one way or another.
Other ventures[]
Endorsements[]
In January 2020, Ni.U received her first endorsement as the new face of retailer company >Lotte Hi-Mart. In February 2021, she became the brand ambassador for sports footwear and apparel manufacturer New Balance. In March 2022, she received her third endorsement after becoming a model for Korean skincare brand COSRX.
Philanthropy[]
On January 6, 2021, Ni.U revealed to have begun donating money to ChildFund Korea. She stated that it's always been one of her goals to help underprivileged children achieve their full potential.
In May 2022, Ni.U donated ₩5,000,000 to the Yangpyeong County in Gyeonggi Province in order to give support to the children of low-income classes—this was also in celebration of Family Month. On August 11, she donated ₩15,000,000 to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association to help victims who were affected by the 2022 South Korean floods.
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | US World | ||||
| STRESS |
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12 | — |
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— |
The Ni.Unity
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8 | 9 |
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— |
Forget Me Not
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3 | 4 |
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| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
Mini albums[]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | US World | |||
Iridescent Love
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39 | — |
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2.D.S
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12 | — |
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C-THRU
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6 | 5 |
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| B.2.S |
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46 | — |
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Silver
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7 | — |
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| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Single albums[]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | US World | |||
Under Sun, We Glow
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13 | — |
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| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Singles[]
As lead artist[]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | JPN Hot | MLY | NZ | SGP | US World | |||||
| Circle | Hot | KOR songs | ||||||||
| "pipipabpab" | 2019 | 25 | 15 | — | — | 55 | — | — | — | Iridescent Love |
| "My Love 2 U" | 2020 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 55 | — | 22 | 5 | Non-album single |
| "2 Da Starz" | 15 | 18 | — | 86 | 59 | — | 26 | 21 | 2.D.S | |
| "Under Sun, We Glow" | 9 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Under Sun, We Glow | |
| "how beautiful are your eyes?" | 14 | 11 | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | C-THRU | |
| "음악을 듣고 (Listen)" | 2021 | 10 | 7 | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | STRESS |
| "Expensive Lady" | 2 | 8 | — | 45 | 43 | — | 20 | 17 | Non-album single | |
| "Back 2 Space" | 31 | 34 | — | — | — | 41 | — | — | B.2.S | |
| "사랑의 만리장성 (Great Wall of Love)" | 2022 | 8 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | The Ni.Unity |
| "Golden Belle" | 6 | — | 8 | 39 | 45 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Glitterful" | 2023 | 9 | — | 15 | — | 42 | — | — | — | Silver |
| "Sunrise" | 1 | — | 1 | 27 | 1 | 15 | 1 | — | Non-album single | |
| "Film" | 2024 | 1 | — | 1 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | Forget Me Not |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||||||
As featured artist[]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | US World | ||||
| Circle | Hot | ||||
| "Interlude: SNS" (Geonu feat. Ni.U) |
2019 | 27 | 28 | — | Uphill |
| "Those Sticky Notes" (Geonu feat. Ni.U) |
2020 | 25 | 28 | — | Downhill |
| "사랑해 미안해 (I Love You, I'm Sorry)" (YUKI feat. Ni.U) |
2022 | — | — | — | Like Dancing |
| "Code" (Noa feat. Ni.U) |
2023 | — | — | — | Picturesque |
| "that vibe" (MERAVI feat. Ni.U) |
63 | — | — | vication | |
| "sad love story" (Jack feat. Ni.U) 
|
2024 | 4 | — | 2 | SUMMER HAILSTORM |
| "More than me" (khaos feat. Ni.U) |
2025 | — | — | — | Illusions of Dreams |
| "WHO ARE YOU" (Moon Yujin feat. Ni.U) |
— | — | — | SUPERSTAR | |
| "You" (R3THR0 feat. Ni.U) |
— | — | — | Everybody Is Watching | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
Soundtrack appearances[]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||||
| Circle | Hot | ||||
| "Painted With You" (나의 가장 아름다운 캔버스) | 2022 | — | — | Not So Bad O.S.T | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
Filmography[]
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Sisters Class | Guest (Episode 30) | With Sangwon |
| Beat Bop | MC with Kihun and ORCHID's Ryozo | Music show | |
| Not So Bad | Yang Sooyun (main character) | Coming-of-age romance drama on KCC2 | |
| 2024 | Find Your DREAM | Dreamer Guider alongside FANC:Y's Amber | Survival show on KBC |
Credits[]
✔︎ = Participated as a writer/producer/arranger
✘ = Did not participate as a writer/producer/arranger
Awards and nominations[]
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGN Awards | 2021 | Song of The Year | "Listen" | Won |
| Asian Performing Arts Awards | Best Female Artist | Ni.U | Nominated | |
| Asia Rising Artist Awards | 2022 | Best Soloist | Won | |
| Best Collaboration | "Discovery Awaits" (Ni.U feat. YUKI) | Nominated | ||
| Best Producer | Ni.U | Nominated | ||
| Best Vocal Performance | "Golden Belle" | Nominated | ||
| Inspirational Artist | Ni.U | Nominated | ||
| Top 10 Fan Choice Artist | Won | |||
| Legacy Award - Solo | Nominated | |||
| Best Favourite MC on Music Shows | Ni.U, Kihun & Ryozo (for Beat Bop) | Nominated | ||
| Best Screen - Soloist | Ni.U | Nominated | ||
| Worldwide's Artist Style Icon - Soloist | Nominated | |||
| Album of the Year | The Ni.Unity | Won | ||
| Song of the Year | "Sparkle Sparkle" | Nominated | ||
| Collective Performing Arts Awards | 2021 | Soloist Of The Year | Ni.U | Nominated |
| K-Vibe Awards | Ballad Artist | Won | ||
| MBS Artist Awards | Hit Artists Award (3rd quarter) | Won | ||
| Plum Awards | 2022 | Female Soloist Of The Year | Won | |
| Seoul Music Performance Awards | 2020 | Best Female Soloist | Nominated | |
| Best Solo Vocal Performance | "2 Da Starz" | Nominated | ||
| Best New Female Soloist | Ni.U | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Best Female Soloist | Nominated | ||
| Best Solo Vocal Performance | "Listen" | Nominated | ||
| Best Collaboration | "Expensive Lady (feat. B.Y and River)" | Nominated | ||
| Shining Groove Awards | 2020 | Best Rookie Artist | Ni.U | Won |
| Fan Choice Rookie | Nominated | |||
| 2021 | Song of the Year | "Listen" | Won | |
| 2022 | Best Vocal Performance Artist | "Great Wall of Love" | Won |
Trivia[]
- See also: Ni.U's Profile and Facts
- She gained 250k followers on Instagram 5 months after debuting, as she gained recognition for her various concepts in her debut mini album, Iridescent Love.
- In 24 hours, Ni.U's lead single "how beautiful are your eyes?" (from mini album C-THRU) gained 5.7 million views, which is her highest 24 hour view mark.
- Her first win was on December 20, 2019 on KTB Music Show with her debut song "pipipabpab". Her win also marked the first ever win on KTB Music Show.
- Her mini album, C-THRU, won second place on the K-On! Album Cover Awards 2020.
Fandom[]
- See also: Ni.U/Newie
As of December 28, 2020, Ni.U's fandom name is "Newie" (뉴이), pronounced: "new-ee".
Her official fandom colour—which was also revealed on December 28, 2020—is New Purple .
References[]
[]
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|---|---|
| Mascots | Monokuma • Exisals |
| Participants | AXENN • Aziz • Binnie • Haku • Harumi • Hwaseong • Hyunah • Jiwoo • Lyubov • Minju • Ni.U • Riah • Sangwon • Seoah • Shion • Xao |
| Pages | Main • Gallery |
| Prologue | Full |
| Chapter 1 | Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 |
| Chapter 2 | Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 |
| Chapter 3 | TBA |
| This page belongs to Amy ! | |
|---|---|
| Please understand that this page is property of Amy ❤︎ | |
| If you wish to make any significant changes, please message me first ! | |
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| AMiAMY74 | AMiAMY74 (driver page) • Category:AMiAMY74's (ownership category) |
| Female Artists | Ni.U (soloist) • Alora (group) • Hyeonju (soloist) |
| Male Artists | MERAVI (group) • Illusion (group) • D.IV.ERGENT (group) • IMMORPHIA (group) |
