Don't Miss

SHINee’s Onew to drop 1st individual studio album

March 6, 2023

Onew, the leader and lead vocalist of K-pop boy group SHINee, will release his first full-length album as a solo artist Monday, his agency said.

“Circle” and its music video will hit various online services at 6 p.m., SM Entertainment said.

The upcoming album consists of 10 songs about various moments of life that are relatable to everyone, such as being in love, breakups, expectations and disappoints, growth and anxiety.

The singer singled out “healing,” “recovery” and “circulation” as the album’s keywords.

Onew, a member of K-pop boy group SHINee, is seen in a concept image provided by SM Entertainment for his first full-length individual album set to drop at 6 p.m. on March 6, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

“I made this album with the conviction that good moments will return no matter what happens,” he said in a Q&A released through the agency.

Since it’s his first full-length album, he has tried different methods to sing quality songs. But instead of showing off what he can do, he said, he focused on exhibiting his musical tastes through the album.

The title track is a dreamlike R&B track that compares life with the circle of nature.

“I thought I must do this,” Onew said of the main single. It was before the release of his latest solo EP, “Dice,” in April last year that he first heard a draft version of the song, but he saved it for a long time for the studio album.

He said he wants the people to say any album by Onew is worth listening to at least once in their lifetime.

The 33-year-old singer debuted as a member of the popular quintet in 2008. He has also been working as an actor and an individual artist, not only as a group member, appearing in the 2016 smash-hit Korean drama “Descendants of the Sun” and various stage musicals.