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SHINee's Onew taps into animal instincts with new album 'PERCENT'
Onew of K-pop boy band SHINee performs "ANIMALS" during a media showcase at Myunghwa Live Hall in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Pyo Kyung-min
SHINee's iconic vocalist Onew returned as a soloist with a breezy new track that calls on listeners to return to their animal instincts this summer.
The singer dropped his second full-length album, "PERCENT," on major streaming platforms Tuesday, marking his solo comeback about five months after his fourth EP, "CONNECTION."
Onew, dressed in a crisp white jacket, introduced the album during a media showcase at Myunghwa Live Hall in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District Tuesday afternoon, a few hours before the album release.
"I wanted to express my different emotions in numbers, and that's why I came up with the current title," he said. "Even when we're happy, there's always that little percentage of anxiety, and even when things are tough, there's still some hope. I tried to interpret those everyday feelings exactly as I experience them in this album."
Solo singer and SHINee member Onew speaks during a media showcase at Myunghwa Live Hall in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Tuesday. Yonhap
The title track, "ANIMALS," is a song about finally setting those feelings and instincts free. Its refined bass line and acoustic guitar drive the track, while Onew's trademark soaring vocals add a burst of energy, making it a perfect fit for the summer season.
Onew wowed the audience with a powerful live performance of the new single, his famous vocals commanding the venue.
The singer described the song simply as "a fun track for summer."
"These days, everyone seems to wear a mask," he said. "I felt that we need to feel free just the way we are ... I hope this song helps listeners feel this similar something along with me."
The 11-track album explores a range of genres, with Onew taking part in the entire production process.
Onew of K-pop boy band SHINee performs "ANIMALS" during a media showcase at Myunghwa Live Hall in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Tuesday. Yonhap
To mark the album's release, the solo singer also opened a pop-up store under the name "PERCENT" at the Shinsegae Gangnam Department Store the same day. The pop-up, according to the singer's label Griffin Entertainment, features multiple interactive fan events and special attractions aimed at boosting engagement.
Onew will embark on his first solo world tour in August, starting in Seoul. The tour will take him to 16 cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Kaohsiung, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Mexico City, Paris, London, Madrid, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Tilburg, Marseille and Berlin.
Aware that it's uncommon for a K-pop solo artist to tour both Europe and South America, Onew shared his mix of nerves and excitement.
"It's my first time going alone to Europe and South America," he said. "I was really worried back when I did my solo U.S. tour too, but once I met the international fans there and actually settled in, it began to feel natural and gave me so much confidence ... So it might seem like a big challenge now, but I believe I'll come back with a whole new sense of confidence after this tour."