Ahead of releasing new single “Growls and Purrs,” singer-actress Jo Yu-ri attends the screening of … More
As the third season of Squid Game earns its ninth day atop Netfix’s Top TV Shows chart following its June 27 release, one of its breakout stars Jo Yuri is simultaneously pushing forward with her music career with a new single “Growls and Purrs.”
As a standout Squid Game star playing the desperate, down-on-her-luck Kim Jun-hee (a.k.a. Player 222), Jo Yuri earned widespread recognition for her acting but the 23-year-old first ventured into entertainment through music. In 2021, the Busan, South Korea star competed in the girl group competition series Produce 48, landing in third place and ultimately earning a spot in the girl group IZ*ONE that performed together until 2021, where they landed two Number One albums in Korea, along with a Number One album and two Number One singles in Japan. Jo broke out on her own as a soloist with several singles and EPs to her name. Her latest track, “Growls and Purrs,” marks her music return ahead of her new EP, titled Episode 25, out on July 14, 2025.
While Jo has experimented with everything from whimsical synth-pop on 2021’s “GLASSY” or feel-good rock-pop on “Love Shhh!” from 2022, this latest track is a noticeably more mature style for the superstar. The easy-listening, jazz-tinged track allows Jo to step into a different kind of sonic soundscape, using lyrical motifs that describe her atypical way of loving, much like the way one’s pet cat or dog might act.
A significant part of this musical evolution can come at least in partial thanks to Jo writing “Growls and Purrs” with Cloud, who also produced the track. Alongside his work in bands like The Volunteers, singer-songwriter-producer-keyboardist Cloud has kept his pool of collaborators small, working extensively with acclaimed singer-songwriter Yerin Baek on several of her albums, including massive hits like her 2017 breakout solo cuts “Bye Bye My Blue” and “Across the Universe,” as well as her Number One smash “Maybe It’s Not Our Fault” from 2019. Cloud recently signed with Blue Vinyl, the independent agency that Baek set up after she parted ways with her original agency, JYP Entertainment, which is home to huge K-pop acts like TWICE, Stray Kids and ITZY.
Cloud has also collaborated with other female K-pop soloists, including Chung Ha, Hyolyn, Fei of miss A, and now Jo Yuri.
“Growls and Purrs” also comes paired with a “VHS Diary” visual that showcases Jo through a raw, lo-fi, and colorful visual in an unexpected yet fascinating telling of the track. Viewers see the pet theme of “Growls and Purrs” played out as Jo embraces several cat motifs, such as staring into a fishbowl, playing with a feathery cat toy, and knocking over tiny household items.
Alongside the unexpectedly raw visuals, it’s also refreshing to hear Jo Yuri take on this style and contribute to the songwriting. To date, the star only has a small amount of creative credits on her musical works, like co-writing the song “Opening,” off her first EP titled Op.22 Y-Waltz: in Major, and “SOMEDAY” from IZ*ONE’s 2020 album BLOOM*IZ.
With Squid Game looking unlikely to relinquish its hold on the Netflix charts anytime soon, Jo Yuri dropping “Growls and Purrs,” as well as Episode 25, this week should all prove to be a savvy move to make this year an even bigger one for the singer-actress.
