Jennie gets personal about debut album ‘Ruby’ and teases upcoming Coachella performance _ Capital

Jenny, hello! Hello! Welcome to Capital's A Very British. Now, I found out that our birthdays are very close together. Is it? When's your birthday? Mine's the 14th of February. Wait, February? Yeah, and yours was last week, was it? The 16th of January. Really? I want to say it's so close. Just say it, just go with it. Okay, yeah. We're like birthday twins. Hey, our birthdays are so close together. Birthday twins. Yeah. So, we decided that we're going to do a bit of a British birthday day out. Okay. And what better than bowling and arcades? This place is so cool. You grew up in New Zealand and Korea. How did you celebrate your birthdays? It's quite a sad story where when I was living in New Zealand, I would go back to Korea for like a winter holiday, like break, and the time that I had to come back was around my birthday. So, I used to spend a lot of my birthdays on the plane. Oh, so you didn't ever get to do bowling? No. It's really sad. Oh, okay. Well, we'll look after you today. Are you quite competitive? I think it depends. It depends. I don't know. Let's see how I am today. Let's see. Right. Well, my name's up first. I'll go first. I'm not very good. I've got fat fingers, so I can never- Fat fingers, did you say? I've got sausage fingers. Oh, the jacket's off. Am I competitive? The jacket's off. Am I? Maybe. If you win, there won't be a prize, because you've got loads already. You've got loads of awards and prizes. Do you really need any more? I mean, what is it? An MBE? You've got- Yes. That's pretty mad. It's hard to believe it, you know, being still up to this day. And it was King Charles that gave it to you as well? Yes, yes. How did that come about? Just tell us about the day. Well, that day, I was just feeling very nervous and unreal, and I was so glad that I had the girls by our side, because we were all shaky. We were like, this is really happening for real. And it did. And it was the most honorable day that I could have had in, you know, ever in my life. So I'm still very grateful. Did you get to wear the badge as often? I mean, at home, I try it on and, like, check myself in the mirror here and there, be like, okay, yeah. But you'd never wear it on, like, a costume or an outfit? I'm saving it for a special day. All right, then. If I win, I'll get your MBE. If you win, you get to keep it. Deal. Okay. Here we go. I better win. All right. I haven't played bowling in ages, and I'm 35, so I'm probably going to do myself an injury. And you're left-handed. Okay. Here we go. Okay. Oh, what? Oh! Oh, God! Stop it. Somebody set this up. There is no way. I can't believe... Sorry. Play it cool, George. Yeah. Oh, my God. Don't leave me hanging. Yeah, I'm leaving you hanging. Oh, okay. I'm leaving you hanging. Don't leave me hanging. I'm not pressured at all now. I'm going to... Oh, Jesus. Go for it. I mean, it's... So, the new album? New album. Yeah. Yes. Ruby, tell us about it. You get another go as well. Oh, I do? We can bowl and talk. Okay. Well, my new album, Ruby, is... It has 15 songs. 15? It's my first-ever studio album, so this is my debut. Mm-hmm. Oh, sorry. I am competitive. You are competitive. I'm angry now. So... And with your build-up of, I haven't bowled in a long time... I haven't. I haven't, yeah. And he just gives a strike. So, new album. It's got 15... 15 songs. There are all my babies. I've been working on it for the past one year, and I'm sure there's things that I want to say left, but I try to put myself into all the messages in the album, so I think it almost represents me in a way. And, you know, I also got to collaborate with these amazing artists. I'm just so happy and grateful, and I'm so excited. So you're collaborating with Childish Gambino, which is amazing, Dua Lipa. Yes. What was it like working with Dua? Working with Dua is always a pleasure, you know, I've known her for the longest time, and this time we actually got, okay, I don't know how much I'm allowed to say, but working with her, it doesn't even feel like work, you know, it feels like you're hanging out with a friend for a day, like us. Like this? Yeah, like this. Oh, no, no. Okay. Okay, I can deal with this. Who else have you worked with on the album? Dolce is one of them. Just drop a name. Callie is in it. And there's FKJ, who is my... Yes! Yeah! Yeah, I wasn't so... That was me. What can any Blackpink fans expect from it, then, because this is your solo work? I want to say they should not expect anything in this, yes, because I feel like I've gone, you know, this was my first time creating an album ever, and that was a bad one. So, I know it's like asking a parent to pick their favorite child, which, we say that, my mum would easily say Ryan, my older brother, but what is your favorite track from the album? Go on. You know what? I can't pick a favorite. Really? Maybe in time, maybe next time I'm back here I can tell you, but I can't already... They're not even birthed yet. They didn't even... They're not, you know? I love how you went, they're not out yet, you know? Okay, you're definitely better at me at balling. I have no chance at this, damn. No, no, no, no, no, no, we'll get the points up. Look how sad the scores are right now. I mean, I can't believe my name's just next to yours on the screen, I'm just happy with that. Okay, so you don't want to tell us what's your favorite track, but can you give us maybe your favorite lyric? Favorite lyric? Or a line from one of the tracks? Okay, maybe, this is one of my favorite ones. There's a line where I go, shake me, I dare you. Shake me, I dare you. Yeah. I think it works with the situation that we're in. Shake me, I dare you. Why, you're so good! Now I'm playing it cool. I'm going to be bold and choose a heavier ball. Mantra as well, talk to us about that. Mantra? Yep. Where should I start? I mean, it was a huge, oh, go on. It was a huge hit. What would be your mantra for 2025? To embrace everything that's happening, because I feel like a lot's going to change in my life. And it has. Just last year, working on this album itself was, you know, I feel like I was back in school. But this year, I want to enjoy every bit of releasing this album and, you know, looking at my fans enjoying it. I just want to be more, embrace. Yeah. Zen. What's the best bit? Is it making the album or is this it, like, when it's about to come out? Every single time I drop anything, I feel like, it feels like I'm unwrapping a gift myself, which is a rare thing. Like I thought it would feel the other way around, but it feels like I've just maybe like unwrapped the, not even the papers yet. Maybe I've like received a gift now that at this point, the album trailer is out. And then from now on, I feel I'm just going to be unwrapping every bits of it. And by the time the album is out, I'm going to be able to enjoy it with the fans together. And I really don't know what to expect. I don't know what to expect. It's exciting. Yeah, it's full of excitement. It's your go. Oh, it's my go. In Mantra, you say, my clothes are my pajamas. No chance. No. What do you prefer, actual pajamas or clothes? Actual pajamas all the way. All day. I think most people do, don't they? Wouldn't you want to be in pajamas all day? Yeah, I would. As soon as I get home, I like, I just shred. So just like a snake, just pull in, put my trackies on, I'm comfortable, especially when it's winter. Yeah, me too. All right. Here we go. Room, please. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. Thank you. A bit more. Thank you. Oh, that feels like, oh. Thank you. I know that hurt. I want to hear about Marmite, because I've got a friend who works at- At Marmite? No, not at Marmite. He works at HM Revenue and Customs, and he believes that someone from a certain popular girl group has been smuggling Marmite in suitcases out of the country. Now, I've told him, oh, gee, I wouldn't know who that would be. Well, okay, so there has been a little bit of misunderstanding. Okay. I do, I did used to love Marmite and Vegemite when I grew up in New Zealand, and every time I'm traveling the world and they serve us Marmite, I get super excited, because it reminds me of the days in New Zealand. But up to this day, I do enjoy it, but not up to a point where I need to smuggle it back home. Yeah, you don't smuggle it home. Yeah, but I do enjoy Vegemite here and there. What would you prefer, Vegemite or Marmite? Oh, Vegemite. Okay, wrong answer, but anyway. Oh, Marmite. Yay! No! Come on, it's your turn. Come on, let me get a strike. What other British foods do you like? So, on the first day when I got here, on this trip, I had a shepherd's pie. That's one of my favorites. Yeah, I love shepherd's pie. Shepherd's pie. Yeah, that's one of the memories of me living in New Zealand, too. Have you ever... Yes, I can feel it! Oh my God. Yay! So close. It was close. So close. Have you ever had or heard of corned beef hash? Corned beef hash? Yeah. No. That's my favorite. It's kind of similar to shepherd's pie. You know Kylie Minogue? Yes. She tried it and I made it for her and she really loved it. Really? Yeah, she was dead into it. It's my birthday today, why didn't you bring it? I know, sorry. But a birthday tradition we have here is calling the caterpillar. Caterpillar, okay, what's that? Take your turn and I'll explain. It's going to be a long one, this. Oh, yeah, there you go. So when I was growing up, most British kids had a caterpillar cake for their birthday. I've never heard of that, that's so interesting. Yeah, it was called calling, calling the caterpillar. Okay, I need to look into that. I will sort you out with a calling next time you're here. Okay. Because I have contacts on that one. Oh, okay. Yeah, I do. Got it. And then I want to hear about plans for 2025 because I hear somebody might be doing Coachella. Oh. I wonder who. Thank you, thank you. So, Coachella, this is pretty massive. Are you nervous about that because you're doing it solo? Yes and no. I told myself to kind of focus on the album just for now, but still in the back of my mind, I'm prepping it and, you know, we're doing as much as we can to be ready. So, mostly excited, but I am also kind of curious what the difference would be like than playing it as a group and, you know, doing it solo. Yeah. But mostly excitement. You know, I've been there and I've seen people enjoy music as they want. So I hope I could be someone that could contribute to the audience. Oh, you'll be fine. You'll be great. Will you join? Yeah. Will you come and watch my Coachella? I thought you was going to invite me. I've always wanted to go. Of course I'd love to watch. Have you been to one? I've never been to Coachella. No. Yeah. I think I'm ready for it because I've done most of the British ones. Yeah, I did Tea in the Park in Scotland. Yeah, that was rough. And our festivals here are completely different to the American ones. Really? Because obviously we get rain and we all look sweaty and horrible. And the American ones, they look great. No, but the American... Go on. Shall we mix it up a bit? Yes. Okay, are you ready for the bowl of truth? Oh, no. Okay, so we're going to take it in terms of the bowl. Okay. Whoever gets the highest score gets to pick out a question and ask it to each of you. Oh, okay. Okay, got it. Who do you want to go first? I would go first. You go first. Go on. I'll go first. You've got this. Swing. One more go? Yeah. Maybe I'm just not a great bowling player. A bowler. Yeah. So? I'll answer. Yeah, why don't we just stand here and save some energy and just... Alright. You can ask me questions. I'm up for that. I'm ready to answer them. Okay. If you could switch lives with a fictional character for a day, who would it be? Khaleesi. From Game of Thrones. No way. Yeah. Really? Yeah. That's such a cool answer. Is it? Yeah. Have you re-watched them recently? I've been re-watching. Okay. Yeah. What is the one topic that you are secretly nerdy about that people might not know you love? Well, if I'm secretly nerdy about it, I think it's just stay and remain. It's a secret. Okay, but you can tell me. Well, I might. So, it's kind of... What is it? I mean, there's many things. Mine's the channel tunnel. The channel tunnel? Yeah. Channel tunnel? Jenny, it blows my mind, right? There's a tunnel at the bottom of the sea, yeah, that you can get from Dover to France and you can drive in the tunnel from the sea. Get out of here. It blows my... It's not at the bottom. That's what even blows my mind even more. It's like in the middle. It's mad. Am I so gullible that I'm just like... No, I promise you. Really? Get home tonight and Google the channel tunnel. Okay, I'm getting on it. They built it in the 90s and you can go from London to Paris on a train. Yeah. So, what would your geeky topic be? Something that fascinates you. Well, I like to watch ocean documentaries. That's great. Is that? Yeah. Is that an ad? Yeah. Okay. Would you rather sing everything you say for the rest of your life or be stuck dancing every time you want to move? I can't sing unlike yourself and I can't dance. So, I'll probably, because I need my voice, I'll probably go for the dancing. Plus, you'd lose a lot of weight. You know what? I would rather be dancing every time I want to move. Okay. Because why not? So, you would rather dance? Like, I would want to save my voice. Yeah. And just move around. I will sing to you now as if I have to sing and talk and say thank you so much for taking time to do this interview. I hope you've had a good... I know what I'll sing to you. What? Happy birthday to you. Nobody knows where to look. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Jenny. Happy birthday to you. I'm so overwhelmed. Thank you. Thank you so much. Happy birthday. Thank you. Happy birthday. Happy early birthday. Thank you. I will be so bad at this. I'm going to warn you. Okay. I'm picking the song. Wait. Is there a Blackpink song? Yeah. Where's Blackpink? Oh, how about we do... Do you know this? Yeah, Beethoven. Let's do Beethoven. Yeah. Okay. Here we go. We're doing Beethoven. Okay. Oh, my God. That was amazing. Oh, my God. This is so hard. Switch. Go. Wow. I'm really good. Coachella doesn't know what he's got coming. Fest. Birthday ever.