(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – Chanyeol of the K-pop group EXO has officially debuted as a solo artist with the release of his first mini-album, Black Out, on Wednesday.
“It’s been 12 years since I debuted with EXO. Now, I’m thrilled to present something new as a solo artist,” Chanyeol shared during a press conference on the day of the album’s launch.
Black Out showcases a blend of diverse genres while highlighting Chanyeol’s ability to evoke deep emotions through his vocals. The album features six tracks, including the title song “Black Out.” Chanyeol described it as a pop-rock track with a fast tempo, minimal acoustic guitar, and lyrical synth melodies. The song’s lyrics use the concept of a ‘blackout’ to symbolise the aftermath of a breakup, where the protagonist, overwhelmed by emotions, experiences disarray in daily life, akin to a darkened street or a phone screen shutting off unexpectedly.
Chanyeol also contributed as a lyricist for two of the album’s B-side tracks, “I’m on Your Side Too” and “Clover.”
“When writing lyrics, I typically mix personal experiences with imagination. However, for this album, I focused on sharing my cherished memories. Since this is my solo debut, I wanted the songs to reflect my personal story. ‘I’m on Your Side Too’ was inspired by the happiness I felt while performing in front of EXO-Ls (EXO’s fandom),” Chanyeol explained.
The album also includes the tracks “Hasta La Vista,” “Ease Up,” and “Back Again.”
Chanyeol is set to embark on his solo tour, titled “City-scape,” starting in Seoul on September 6-7. The tour will take him to 10 cities across Asia.
