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IU 'BYLAC': Live stream, release date, teasers and all you need to know about the K-pop idol's comeback album

'BYLAC' will mark the fifth studio album in her discography. It will drop approximately 4 years after 'Palette' that spawned three hit singles, two pre-release singles and the self-titled lead single

IU is back! Stans, keep your heads on a swivel for a new era of IU music as the K-pop songstress gears for the release of a new album. IU's return has been a long wait for fans but the singer had a busy month in January, as she was cast in Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda’s upcoming Korean debut, 'Broker'.

She will reportedly join a star-studded cast lineup featuring Song Kang-ho of 'Parasite', Bae Doo-na of 'Sense8', and Kang Dong-won as the film follows a group of individuals whose lives become intertwined after they discover a mysterious ‘Baby Box’.

But there's much to be said about her new era. The 'Through the Night' singer dropped the title of her brand-new full-length on Wednesday, February 17, titled 'BYLAC'. So here's all you need to know about 'BYLAC' below.

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Release date

Although an official release date for the LP hasn't been confirmed yet, IU has teased that it is expected to arrive in the near future. "IU 5TH ALBUM soon," the idol wrote on Instagram, along with a dreamy black-and-white photo. Check out her announcement below.

Concept

As noted in the teaser, 'BYLAC' will mark the fifth studio album in her discography. It will drop approximately four years after 'Palette', which spawned three hit singles; two pre-release singles, 'Through the Night', and 'Can't Love You Anymore', and the self-titled lead single. The album was met with both commercial and critical success, and Billboard magazine ranked the album at No 1 on its list of "Best K-Pop Albums of 2017."

In 2020, IU dropped two singles: ‘Eight’ (a collaboration with BTS’ Suga) and ‘Give You My Heart’ as part of the soundtrack for the Korean drama 'Crash Landing On You'. Back in 2019, IU released her EP 'Love Poem', which included the popular song ‘Blueming’.

IU's efforts have consistently been welcomed significantly and fans will undoubtedly be in high anticipation for her next project. As far as the overall themes or sound of 'BYLAC' goes, the singer is keeping it under wraps for now but she did give fans a glimpse when she released the single ‘Celebrity’. “[The song] has a bright and cheerful pop sound that can energize those listening to it. It’s a genre of music that IU is trying for the first time," IU's agency EDAM  Entertainment said.

Meanwhile, new listeners can listen to 'Celebrity' or enjoy one of IU's popular hits 'BBIBBI' below.

How to stream

At the time of writing this article, there is no update on which platform the album will hit exactly, but we will update this space as soon as there is some information available.

Fan reactions

Meanwhile, fans are ecstatic on Twitter in response to her latest announcement. "Ohh i luv it kpop girls charts just spilled the tea" said a fan while another wrote, "I still can't over about Celebrity...and she dropped this."

One fan said, "Hide your faves ya'll she's just going to be the top of the charts again. Dijimon is back. #BYLAC." Another fan speculated the deeper meanings of the album's title, asking "BYLAC = BY LILAC????" with screenshots of symbolism behind the lilac. "When her agency said IU5 release date was unconfirmed and now she drops this like..." added another fan with a gif.