BLACKPINK's Rosé has ventured into the traditionally white-dominated 'Folk' genre.
On June 27, at 1 PM KST, Rosé released 'On My Mind,' a collaboration with renowned American folk singer-songwriter Alexander Warren Hughes, known as Alex Warren. The track blends rhythmic acoustic guitar strokes characteristic of folk with the powerful kick and snare of rock, creating a unique folk-rock sound. This marks the first time a K-pop artist has collaborated with an American folk singer to release a folk song.
Alex Warren, born in 2000 in California, is a folk singer-songwriter and short-form content creator. He first entered the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Burning Down' last year and achieved the number one spot on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200 charts with 'Ordinary' released in February.
The collaboration between Rosé and Alex Warren on 'On My Mind' is significant as it conveys the message that music knows no racial boundaries. The folk genre, once considered exclusive to white artists, is gradually breaking down these barriers, and Rosé has stepped into this space as a K-pop artist.
Folk music gained attention during the 1930s Great Depression in America, highlighting the lives of migrant workers and the impoverished. Similar to how hip-hop encapsulates the historical struggles of Black people, folk music has traditionally expressed the hardships and solidarity of the white working class.
Non-white artists have often faced rejection in the folk scene. Odetta, a Black female folk singer-songwriter who greatly influenced famous pop star Bob Dylan, did not receive the same mainstream recognition as her white contemporaries.
This is akin to the country genre, which also emerged from Southern American labor culture. Despite Beyoncé's 'Texas Hold 'Em' topping the Billboard Country chart, an Oklahoma radio station refused to play her music, stating, "We only play country music, so Beyoncé is not allowed."
In this context, Alex Warren, a leading figure in folk music, has introduced Rosé into the folk scene by featuring her. This move is attributed to Rosé's previous work in her album 'rosie,' which showcased high-quality folk music tracks like '3am' and 'too bad for us.' Her musical style has often been compared to that of Taylor Swift, a central figure in folk music.
Rosé's track 'APT.' reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and maintained a position on the chart for 35 consecutive weeks, setting a record for the longest entry by a K-pop artist. With 'On My Mind,' she has officially entered the American folk scene as the first K-pop artist to do so. It remains to be seen what new records and achievements Rosé will accomplish with this release.