Despite coronavirus, K-pop continues with new releases from Kang Daniel, Exo’s Suho, (G)I-dle, Stray Kids and more
K-pop concerts, showcases and various other promotional events have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. But that does not mean the industry is at a total standstill.
Many established and rising K-pop artists, including Kang Daniel and Exo leader Suho, are ready to drop new albums in coming weeks, according to their management agencies.
Kang's first EP, “Cyan”, dropped on March 24, officially bringing him back to the music scene after he suspended his show business career in December, complaining of mental health problems.
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The new album – led single 2U, an uplifting song befitting the spring season – carries a total of five tracks including Touchin’, which was previously released as a digital single.
“I am delighted and happy to be able to resume music and stage performance … I feel like I can do a good job,” Kang was quoted by his agency Konnect Entertainment as saying.
Marking the second anniversary of its debut, roaring boy band Stray Kids also unveiled a new digital single, Mixtape: On Track, on March 25.
Two solo albums will also light up streaming platforms in coming weeks, the first being the debut solo album of Suho, which landed on Tuesday, March 30. The six-track album, “Self-Portrait”, marks the Exo leader’s first solo album since he debuted with the nine-piece boy band in 2012.
The singer’s management agency, SM Entertainment, says the album's lead track, Let's Love, of the modern rock genre, will amplify Suho's tender vocals. Suho lent his talent in writing the lines for the lead track as well as the other tracks on the album.
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Another SM artist, Changmin of male duo TVXQ, is on track to drop his first solo EP “Chocolate” on April 6.
Including the title track Chocolate, the album, Changmin's first solo outting since his debut in 2003, carries a total of six tracks.
On the same day, girl band (G)I-dle will unveil its third EP, “I Trust”, the band's first music release since its previous digital single Uh-Oh, released in June last year.
(G)I-dle was one of many K-pop bands and artists who indefinitely postponed or called off their concerts in and outside the country in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which dealt a heavy blow to the K-pop industry. The six-piece girl group was to kick off a concert tour of 32 cities across the globe in April.
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Boy band Winner is also on track to drop its third full-length album, “Remember”, on April 9. Ahead of the album release, the band dropped the lead single, Hold, on March 26.
The 12-track album is likely to be Winner's last full-length album before member Jinwoo's temporary leave from band duties this year to serve in the military.
This article originally appeared in the Korea Times.
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While K-pop concerts, showcases and promotions are put on hold, rafts of top acts are still releasing new music into the world – here’s our pick of what to hear next