Heo Sol-ji
Heo Sol-ji, known mononymously as Solji, is a South Korean singer. She was a member of the ballad duo group 2NB from 2006 to 2010. She later became a vocal trainer before joining EXID in July 2012 as the leader and main vocalist.
Career
Solji was formerly a member of the vocal duo 2NB with Blady's Gabin, and released solo singles in 2008. The duo disbanded in 2012. She then worked as EXID's vocal trainer before becoming a member. In April 2012, AB Entertainment announced that three original members Yuji, Dami, and Haeryeong would leave the girl group EXID. Solji then joined EXID along with Hyelin, a former Superstar K3 participant.In February 2013, EXID formed a sub-unit called "Dasoni", which consisted of Solji and Hani. The sub-unit released their debut single "Goodbye" on February 15, 2013, which also included the song "Said So Often".
In February 2015, Solji participated in a singing competition program, MBC's King of Mask Singer, for their pilot episode, in which she won the title. She appeared as Self-Luminous Mosaic and defeated singer and comedian, Shin Bora, and trot singer, Hong Jin-young, and became the first winner of the show, impressing the panel of judges as well as viewers. This drew a lot of attention to EXID and boosted Solji's reputation as a talented vocalist.
On February 8, 2016, Solji, as well as fellow vocal trainer and friend, Doo Jin-Soo, were invited to join MBC's Duet Song Festival for the pilot episode of their Lunar New Year Special. They went up against Block B's rapper Zico and his partner, Lee So-young. Solji and her partner emotionally sang Lee Seung-cheol's "The Sky in the West ". In the end, Solji and Doo Jin-soo won with a score of 477, which is still the highest score in the episode, and impressed the judges and the viewers yet again. On April 8, 2016, Solji and her partner were invited back to compete in MBC's Duet Song Festival for their first episode. They were the last performers to sing in the episode thus competing with f(x)'s Luna and Goo Hyun-mo. Solji sang Davichi's "8282". In the end, Solji won again with a score of 439 and thus further increasing EXID's popularity and her reputation as a singer.
On December 21, 2016, Solji was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, putting her career on hold, while the other four members of EXID continued their schedules in the year-end awards season. She made a surprise appearance in EXID's Asia Tour in Seoul on August 13, 2017, but she was still not medically cleared to return to group activities. She, however, participated in recording for the group's fourth mini-album, Full Moon, despite not being involved in its promotion and live performances. She also stayed active as a Radio DJ. On July 4, 2018, Solji revealed that her condition has stabilized enough to prepare for her return for EXID's next comeback. On July 27, it was confirmed by the agency that she would be back for EXID's Japanese debut.
From July 22-October 23, 2018, she competed and defended her title as King of Masked Singer 5 more times. With her wins, she became the only person to had won the title under both incarnations.
On February 5, 2020, Solji left Banana Culture although she remains as a member of EXID in the future activities.
On March 23, 2020, Solji signed with C-JeS Entertainment to pursue her solo career.
In 2022, Solji made a comeback with her first mini album First Letter on February 25. On November 21, 2022, Solji released a single album, The days we were us.
Personal life
Solji majored in Applied Music at Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts. In December 2016, she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and went on hiatus from EXID's group activities until July 2018. She also enrolled in Kyung Hee Cyber University to study the practical music program during her hiatus time.In October 2021, Solji was appointed as a professor in the Department of Applied Music at Yongin University.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Song title | Notes |
| 2008 | "The Day I Loved" | |
| 2008 | "Love Shake" | Soundtrack of LOVE & LAW |
| 2009 | "If You Want to Give Up" | with Sin-gun |
| 2009 | "Goodbye, My Lover" | with Hye-sung |
| 2009 | "First Love" | with Ah-in and Back Attack |
| 2010 | "You are Away from Me" | Soundtrack of Wife Returns |
| 2011 | "Be with You" | with PK Heman |
| 2011 | "Last Tango" | with Heo In-chang and PK Heman |
| 2012 | "Unromantic" | with PK Heman and Kim Hyun-joo |
| 2015 | "Don't Touch Me" | Cover of Ailee with Shin Bo-ra on King of Mask Singer episodes (2015)|King of Mask Singer]'s pilot episode |
| 2015 | "The Reason I Became a Singer" | Cover of Shin Yong-jae on King of Mask Singer Pilot Episode |
| 2015 | "We Should've Been Friends" | Cover of Gummy on King of Mask Singer Pilot Episode |
| 2015 | "Maria" | Cover of Kim Ah-joong on King of Mask Singer Episode 1 |
| 2015 | "Love Sweet" | Soundtrack of The Producers |
| 2015 | "Shouldn't Have Treated You Well" | with Welldone Potato |
| 2015 | "One Dream One Korea" | One Korea Global Campaign to raise awareness and unify Korea |
| 2015 | "Today" | with Hwan Jae-hwan and Jung Hyung-don |
| 2016 | "You And I" | Soundtrack of Sweet Stranger and Me |
| 2016 | "8282" | Cover of Davichi with Doo Jin-soo on Duet Song Festival |
| 2016 | "Love Is Like Rain Outside My Window" | Cover of Lee Yeong-hyeon on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend |
| 2017 | "Leaning On The Wind" | Soundtrack of Witch at Court |
| 2017 | "Flame" | Soundtrack of Money Flower with Hani |
| 2018 | "Is There Anybody?" | Cover of Han Young-ae with Park Kyung-lim on King of Mask Singer |
| 2018 | "Can't Do" | Cover of 4Men ft. Mi on King of Mask Singer Episode 164 |
| 2018 | "Father" | Cover of Insooni on King of Mask Singer Episode 166 |
| 2018 | "How Are You" | Cover of Lee Jeong-bong on King of Mask Singer Episode 168 |
| 2018 | "I Will Show You" | Cover of Ailee on King of Mask Singer Episode 170 |
| 2018 | "Please" | Cover of Lee So-ra on King of Mask Singer Episode 172 |
| 2018 | "Confession" | Cover of Jung Joon-il on King of Mask Singer Episode 174 |
| 2018 | "In This Place" | Soundtrack of Ralph Breaks the Internet |
| 2019 | "Within Your Reach" | Soundtrack of Perfume |
| 2019 | "I Miss You" | Cover of Kim Bum-soo on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend |
| 2019 | "Nocturne" | Cover of Lee Eun-mi on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend |
| 2019 | "Night After Night" | Cover of Insooni on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend |
| 2019 | "Even a Bitter Wound May Hurt" | Soundtrack of Love with Flaws |
| 2020 | "Falling Star" | Cover of Travel Sketches on Two Yoo Project Sugar Man 3 Episode 06 |
| 2020 | "Walking On This Street" | Soundtrack of Forest |
| 2020 | "One Day" | Soundtrack of Find Me in Your Memory |
| 2020 | "Sangnoksu 2020" | Remake song dedicated to medical staff around the world who are fighting Corona 19 beyond Korea, sung by 34 Korean artists, released at 60th anniversary of the "April 19 Revolution", |
| 2020 | "Breathe" | Cover of Lee Hi with IRO on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Summer Special Vol. 1 - Friends Special) |
| 2020 | "Heavenly Reunion" | Cover of Choi Jin-hui on Romantic Call Centre |
| 2020 | "You Like Me, I Like You" | Cover of Hyeoni & Deoki, with Jang Minho on Romantic Call Centre |
| 2020 | "One Person" | Soundtrack of 18 Again |
| 2020 | "MAMF on my mind" | Cultural Diversity Festival MAMF 2020 theme song |
| 2020 | "The Trace You Left" | Soundtrack of The Spies Who Loved Me |
| 2021 | "Remember my love" | Soundtrack of "Bunny and Guys" webtoon |
| 2021 | "Will You Come Slowly" | Third song of Play Life Project in support of youth with depression |
| 2021 | "If It's Fate" | Soundtrack of "Scripting Your Destiny" |
| 2021 | "This Comfort" | Soundtrack of "Mad for Each Other" |
| 2021 | "Still Parting From Us" | Soundtrack of "The Listen: Wind Blows", as part of "The Listen", along with Kim Nayoung, Kassy, Seunghee, HYNN |
| 2021 | "That's the Reason that Hurt Me" | Cover of Yoo Hyun-sang on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Artist Yoo Hyun-sang) |
| 2022 | "Youth" | Cover of Kim Chang-wan on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Artist Kim Chang-wan Part1) |
| 2022 | "Loadstar" | With 2F, soundtrack of Elsword game, Luciel theme song |
| 2022 | "The Blue in You" | Soundtrack of DNA Singer - Fantastic Family Round 2&3, with Heo Ju Seung |
| 2022 | "Just The Way We Love" | Soundtrack of DNA Singer - Fantastic Family Round 2&3, with Heo Ju Seung |
| 2022 | "Oblivion" | Soundtrack of New Festa EPISODE.3, remake of Jeon Eun-jin debut song, with Yoonsang |
| 2022 | "Fight" | Korea Tourism Organization campaign album Feel the Rhythm of Korea , with Lee Hyun |
| 2022 | "By Your Side" | Soundtrack of Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist |
| 2022 | "It's all the same" | 'Second' after the project breakup |
| 2022 | "I believed it was love" | ODR PROJECT PART.3 |
| 2022 | "Knight " | Soundtrack of Tales Runner game |
| 2023 | "Miracles" | Soundtrack of Nine Number of Us webtoon |
| 2023 | "The pain of love" | Cover of Jo Jeong-hyeon on Monthly the Stage |
| 2023 | "Something Like That" | Performed on Into My Playlist |
| 2024 | "Uphill Road" | Cover of Choi Jung-in on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Artist Yoon Jong-shin) |
| 2024 | "Night Road in Hannam-dong" |
Filmography
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
| 2015 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant | as "Self-Luminous Mosaic" | |
| 2015 | EXID's Showtime | Cast Member | with EXID members | |
| 2016 | Battle Trip | Contestant | with Hani | |
| 2018 | Under Nineteen | Judge/Mentor/Vocal director | ||
| 2018 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant | as "Dongmakgol Girl" | |
| 2019 | Love Me Actually | Special MC | Episodes 9, 10 & 11 | |
| 2021 | Shutdown Fairy | Cast member | ||
| 2021 | The Listen: Wind Blows | Cast member | ||
| 2023 | Boys Planet | Vocal master |