Taemin back with stylish sounds

SHINee’s youngest member Taemin is coming back to the stage in his own right with his first studio-length album “Press It.” The 10-track album includes two songs with self-written lyrics, as well as collaboration tracks with top hit-makers including Bruno Mars, Teddy Riley, LDN Noise and The Stereotypes.

The record shows Taemin’s growth as a solo performer, with tracks like “Drip Drop” and the lead track “Press Your Number” built to showcase his stage performance skills with heavy beats, and R&B tracks “Soldier” and “Already” to highlight his singing talent. As a whole, the album has a mysterious vibe and a sexier mood than his previous work. 

Taemin performs for press at SMTOWN Coex Artium (Kim Soo-hyang/The Korea Herald)

“After my EP, I did perform with SHINee but I also spent a lot of time preparing my next solo album,” Taemin told reporters at a media showcase hosted by fellow SHINee member Minho at the SMTOWN Coex Artium in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Monday. It has been 1 1/2 years since his first solo EP “The 1st Mini Album ACE.” 

“I took a lot of private lessons for voice and dance, and looked over my past songs. I want to say that I’ve become a stronger performer.”

Although he brought back his bowl cut from his debut back in 2008 with SHINee, Taemin has certainly evolved as an artist. The 10 tracks on “Press It” are filled with futuristic sounds utilizing a music box on “Mystery Lover” and a funky electric guitar on “One by One.” On “Until Today,” singer-songwriter G.Soul’s first collaboration with an SM artist, Taemin performed “the most mature lyrics” of any of his past songs. 

As for his lead track “Press Your Number,” Taemin said that it was a chance for fans to see his different style of dancing. 

“It’s not a strong, explosive style,” he said. “It’s more about controlling my body, strong and soft. It also has a very clear beginning, middle, and end, so it won’t be boring.”

(Kim Soo-hyang/The Korea Herald)

Taemin said there were no official plans for overseas promotions or a solo concert, but noted eagerly that “if I ever get the chance, I would want to work really hard to make it a success.”

Taemin’s first studio-length album “Press It” is set for release at midnight Monday. He will perform his lead track “Press Your Number” on air for the first time Thursday on Mnet’s “M! Countdown.”

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)