SHINee’s Onew is back in the spotlight with his latest mini-album, FLOW, and he’s sharing why he decided to leave SM Entertainment and embark on this new solo journey.
In a recent interview with Star News at a café in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, Onew discussed his upcoming release and his move to Griffin Entertainment. FLOW drops on September 3 at 6 PM across various music platforms.
This album comes after his first full-length album, Circle, which was released in March of last year. With his move to Griffin Entertainment in April, Onew is ready to solidify his solo career while continuing his group activities with SHINee.
The title track of FLOW is ‘매력 (beat drum)’, a lively pop song with a catchy synth melody. The song uses a drum beat to symbolize excitement, combined with a disco vibe. Onew’s unique vocals add a memorable, intense touch to the track.
The mini-album features six songs: ‘매력 (beat drum),’ ‘Hola!,’ ‘Maestro,’ ‘Shape of My Heart,’ ‘월화수목금토일,’ and ‘Focus.’ Onew took on the roles of producer and lyricist for this project, with contributions from well-known songwriters Kim Ina and Jo Yoon-kyung.
To celebrate FLOW, Onew will host a pop-up store from September 5 to 15 and fan concerts titled '2024 ONEW FAN CONCERT 'Hola!'' in Korea on October 5-6 and in Japan on November 21-22.
Onew explained why he left SM Entertainment: “Honestly, it was about seeking a new challenge. I felt too comfortable there. It was a great company, and things were running smoothly without much effort on my part. But I wanted to test myself and see what I could achieve on my own.”
When asked about continuing group activities with SHINee, Onew said, “We still discuss and work on things together. If there are opportunities for us to collaborate or do activities, we will. Even if it’s not a full project, we plan to do something with SHINee soon.”
On his move to Griffin Entertainment, he shared, “I’m happy with the new experiences I’m having. In a big company, there aren’t always chances for artists to get involved directly. I enjoyed working directly with writers and coordinating during the A&R process.”
Onew also discussed the creative process for FLOW: “I’ve wanted to create music that resonates personally. This album reflects the flow of my life and the importance of making people happy. I chose ‘Shape of My Heart’ because it represents my voice and my style.”
Regarding his collaboration with Kim Ina, Onew said, “Kim Ina and I have worked together before. She was excited to help with the title track ‘Hola.’ She’s always been supportive and captured everyday moments well in her lyrics.”
For those curious about the track ‘4:30’ in ‘Shape of My Heart,’ Onew explained, “I wrote the lyrics at 4:30 AM. It’s a time when I can reflect and write without comparing myself to others.”
Catch Onew’s new album, FLOW, and stay tuned for his upcoming activities!
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