María (EP)
María is the debut extended play by South Korean singer and Mamamoo member Hwasa. It was released on June 29, 2020, through RBW. The EP was supported by two singles: the lead single "Twit", which reached number one in South Korea, and the title track. Hwasa stated that the album "is like a diary that contains the emotions she felt as a 24-year-old". It was produced by Kim Do-hoon Kim Jin-woo, Park Woo-sang and Zico.
Background and release
In February 2019, Hwasa made her debut as a solo artist with the digital single "Twit", which she co-wrote and co-composed. The song successfully topped the Gaon Digital Chart and scored a "Triple Crown", topping the Gaon Digital, Gaon Download and Gaon Streaming charts in Korea. Hwasa also composed and wrote the song "In the Fall" and was released in October 2019. In March 2020, Hwasa teamed up with English singer Dua Lipa for a new remix version of "Physical" that includes Korean lyrics. In April 2020, it was reported that Hwasa had joined the original soundtrack lineup of the Korean drama and would be releasing her first solo soundtrack song titled "Orbit".On June 15 at midnight KST, Hwasa revealed the first teaser for her upcoming comeback with her first solo mini-album. It was also revealed that the mini-album and main track would be titled "Maria", and would be released on June 29 at 6PM KST. On June 16, a video introduction titled "Nobody Else" was shared in which she is shown in different locations as she tells a story in voiceover. On June 22, the track list for Maria was shared, containing seven songs, including the title track "Maria", the previous single "Twit" and a new song produced by Zico titled "Kidding". It also contains a song featuring rapper DPR Live called "I'm Bad Too".
Music and composition
At seven tracks, María is the longest EP in Hwasa's catalogue. Musically, the album is a K-pop record that contains influences of dance, R&B and Latin pop. The lead single of the same name was composed by Hwasa, with her working with producer Park Woo-sang and shows her growth as a singer-songwriter. Hwasa also wrote the lyrics for "LLM" and composed "Why".The opening track of the album, "Intro: Nobody Else", is a song with profound lyrics against a dramatic soft piano and synth melody convey how sometimes behind a dazzling demeanor, dark thoughts still hide and play on a person’s mind. Co-composed by Hwasa and producer Park Woosang, “María” combines elements of trap and synth with an upbeat Latin pop section over the bridge, which makes a slightly strange segue into a ballad-y string section. The lyrics describe the struggles that come with fame, outlining the emotions that need to be suppressed and the effect being in the public eye has on one’s mental health. Produced by Zico, "Kidding" is a song with a "playful R&B melody" that gives the song a bit of a 90s personality. The song tells the story of an unfaithful lover. "Why" is a dynamic contemporary ballad with a trap synth beat. The song is about an unrequited love. Hwasa's collaboration with DPR Live, "I'm Bad Too" is a dynamic song that features R&B and Latin influences. Hwasa wrote the song about her friendship with DPR Live. "LMM" is a "soul stirring track" with a orchestral tone, piano and violin based melody. The final track "Twit" is a bouncing pop melody that features chirpy trap beats and tropical house elements as the artist switches between chanting raps and her soaring, powerful vocals. The song was co-written and co-produced by Hwasa with Dohun Kim and Woosang Park.
Promotion
Singles
"Twit" was released on February 13, 2019 as the lead single from the album. On the same day, the music video of the song was released on YouTube. The music video was directed by Park Sangwon.. Commercially, the single reached the charts in three countries, peaking at number one on digital, download and streaming chart in South Korea. The song also debuted at number 3 on the US World Digital Song Sales chart. In New Zealand the song peaked at number 23 on the Hot Singles chart. Hwasa performed the song on several music programs in South Korea including Show! Music Core, Music Bank, Inkigayo, and M Countdown. "Twit" later won first place at MBC's Show! Music Core on March 2 and March 16.Accolades
| Year | Award | Song | Category | Result | |
| 2020 | 9th Gaon Chart Music Awards | "Twit" | Song of the Year – February |
| Song | Program | Date | Ref. |
| "Twit" | Show! Music Core | March 2, 2019 | |
| "Twit" | Show! Music Core | March 16, 2019 | |
| "Maria" | Inkigayo | July 26, 2020 |