K-pop boy band SHINee has come back with its fifth album “1 of 1” which, both visually and musically, spins a hyper-modernized twist on the retro genre, according to its members.
The band appeared onstage in full embodiments of the new concept -- sporting multicolored bell bottoms, golden neck chains and slicked back hairstyles at the press showcase. Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation served as the MC for the event marking the release of the latest album held at SMTOWN Coex Artium theater in southeastern Seoul on Tuesday.
SHINY NEW SUITS -- Members of K-pop group SHINee pose at a press showcase for the release of the group’s fifth album, “1 of 1,” at the SMTOWN Coex Artium in southeastern Seoul on Tuesday afternoon. (Yonhap)
The album’s vintage feel hails back to “any period from the late 1970s to 1990s,” said lead singer Jonghyun. The producers strived to “balance the retro with a modern feel,” according to Mike Daley, who co-composed the album’s title track, also named “1 of 1.”
“We didn’t want (the new song) to sound like a fake version of an old song,” Daley said via video clip. For inspiration, the producers listened to a lot of SHINee songs, including the group’s 2008 debut song “Replay.”
The title track is a funky tune of the new jack swing genre -- a type of hip-hop infused with urban dance-pop -- produced by Daley, Mitchell Owens and Michael J, among others. A host of producers including Kenzie, S.M. Entertainment’s go-to composer; British electronic songwriting duo LDN Noise; and Swedish songwriter Andreas Oberg contributed to the album.
Jonghyun of K-pop group SHINee speaks at a press showcase for the release of the group’s fifth album, “1 of 1,” at the SMTOWN Coex Artium in southeastern Seoul on Tuesday afternoon. (Yonhap)
The album comprises of nine tracks including “Prism,” a two-step pop number featuring piano and synthesizer chords. SHINee members participated in the production of songs like “Don’t Let Me Go” and “Don’t Stop.”
“People like Kenzie and LDN Noise are producers that understand SHINee’s music better than anyone,” said Taemin. The British duo produced SHINee’s previous title track, “View,” released last year. “We get great synergy working with them.”
Many of the songs were created in April at a songwriting camp hosted by S.M. Entertainment, an entertainment powerhouse that manages SHINee, the producers explained.
Key (left) and Minho of K-pop group SHINee dance at a press showcase for the release of the group’s fifth album, “1 of 1,” at the SMTOWN Coex Artium in southeastern Seoul on Tuesday afternoon. (Yonhap)
The group’s five members had been busy this year, each pursuing separate activities before making the album, they said.
Minho starred in the film “Canola” in May and finished shooting the TV series “Hwarang: The Beginning,” set to air later this year; Taemin released solo albums in Korea and Japan; Jonghyun also dropped his first solo album in May here; Onew appeared in various television shows including “Descendants of the Sun”; while Key was active as a fashion editor, musical actor, and TV actor on the currently airing tvN drama series “Drinking Solo.”
The new album and the music video for “1 of 1” will drop at midnight, Oct. 5 and the group will kick off on-air activities with an appearance on Mnet’s music program “M Countdown” on Oct. 6.
Famous for its immaculate onstage dance choreography, live vocal performances and colorful costumes, the band is considered one of K-pop’s leading boy groups. Most recently, it held a concert last month at the Seoul Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium.
By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)
