Taemin of SHINee (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – Taemin of K-pop boy band SHINee, the darling of S.M. Entertainment, set sail with his first full-length solo album “Press It” on Monday, determined to show his musical assets in one shot.
Almost eight years since the band’s debut EP “Replay” in 2008, Taemin, 22, returned with the 10-song album, featuring title track “Press Your Number,” with a wide spectrum of genres and style.
Monday’s media showcase began in silence with the screening of the star’s black-and-white music video for “Press Your Number” at the SMTOWN theater in SM COEX Artium in southern Seoul.
After allowing a brief peep of the candid, but somewhat shy singer, the screen lit up to show Taemin exploding onto the main stage.
Taemin of SHINee (Image : Yonhap)
Taemin’s showcase included four tracks from his LP: “Drip Drop,” “Guess Who,” “Soldier” and “Press your Number.”
Performing a medley of “Drip Drop” and “Guess Who” first, then “Soldier” second, the Korean heartthrob flaunted his charisma in a black leather jacket, nude-toned top and black jeans, matched with black ankle-high sneakers.
In the third performance, the K-pop star gleamed in full in his burnout performance of “Press Your Number” in a black suit.’
In addition to Taemin’s musical charms, his star label poured the utmost support into the album-making process. The full-studio album includes collaborations with global big-name artists from home and overseas, including Bruno Mars, Teddy Riley, The Stereotypes, LND Noise, SHINee’s Jonghyun and G. Soul.
“This is a new full-studio album made in one and half years (by a SHINee member), and I put a lot of effort into the performance moves,” Taemin said at the media event.
“I wish that my music, and not just me (as an individual), would be a source of energy to you,” he continued.
The album’s title track “Press Your Number,” composed and arranged by The Stereotypes, Bruno Mars and Philip Lawrence, is an urban pop dance song, with an addictive melody that starts off with a slow main guitar riff, and picks up into rhythmical electro dance beats.
Taemin participated in writing the lyrics and shared his concept of a desperate man waiting for his lover.
Taemin of SHINee (Image : Yonhap)
“Already,” an R&B ballad composed and arranged by Teddy Riley and various composers, is set to impress with a melodious piano tune. The song, with lyrics by SHINee’s Jonghyun, depicts a heart-wrenching message to an ex-lover.’
Among the 10 songs on “Press It,” Taemin’s favorite turned out to be “Drip Drop,” a revelation of “extreme frankness,” as SHINee’s youngest artist shyly puts it.
“‘Drip Drop’ is something that came to me so naturally, a style that I could wear (in perfection),” the singer said.
“Drip Drop” is an R&B-based future bass track, composed by Jamil “Digi” Chammas, Jonathan Perkins, Michael Jiminez, Sara Forsberg, Tay Jasper, Leven Kali and Paul “MARZ” Thompson, and arranged by Chammas and Perkins. Featuring groovy drum beats and synthesized sounds to add to the song’s mysterious ambience, the song portrays loving emotions that spread gradually but surely, basing its motif on water drops.
Regarding SHINee’s placement and biggest strengths outside their home terrain, the hallyu star glowed with a sense of visionary passion.
“In SHINee’s activities abroad, we are doing our best to increase Korea’s presence globally, as a team that I am proud to call ‘a team of perfect dancing performance.’”
Taemin said he was not informed of plans for a solo concert from his agency, but if he is given a chance, he will put together the best performance.
Following the media showcase, S.M. Entertainment will officially release “Press Your Number” through music streaming services at midnight.’
(Yonhap)
