South Korean singer and songwriter Solar earned widespread success in the mid-2010s as a member of the versatile K-pop girl group Mamamoo. At the start of the 2020s, she transitioned into a solo career with the Latin-infused dark pop single "Spit It Out," followed by her 2022 mini-album Face.

Born Kim Yong-sun in the Gangseo District of Seoul, she graduated from Hanyang Women's University before pursuing a career as a musician. She soon signed on with the RBW entertainment firm, which paired her with three other singers -- Whee In, Moonbyul, and Hwasa -- to form the quartet Mamamoo. The group debuted in 2014 with a sound that blended retro-modern K-pop with '90s girl group and jazz influences. Solar contributed not only as one of Mamamoo's primary vocalists but also as a songwriter.

Following the group's breakout period, she released the 2018 solo EP Solar Emotion. Along with covers of older Korean pop songs, the set featured her own version of the Mamamoo track "Star Wind Flower Sun," which she co-wrote. Her official solo debut, "Spit It Out," arrived in April 2020, peaking at number two on Korea's pop chart. Solar returned in early 2022 with Face, a five-song mini-album led by the hypnotic single "Honey." ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi