Hwang Min-hyun gets a third fresh start, this time as a solo artist

K-pop

Published: 27 Feb. 2023, 18:41

Hwang Min-hyun gets a third fresh start, this time as a solo artist

Singer Hwang Min-hyun performs his new lead track “Hidden Side” from his solo debut EP “Truth of Lie” during Monday’s showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District the same day. [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

Eleven years and two boy bands later, singer-and-actor Hwang Min-hyun is ready to face the world alone in his third fresh start.

The singer introduced his first solo EP “Truth or Lie” during a showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District on Monday.

“It took 11 years for me to release an album that contains my voice alone,” he said. “I’m excited and nervous, but I will do my best to show you great music and performances, so that none of those 11 years go to waste.”

He premiered the music video and stage performance for the lead track “Hidden Side,” a sleek dance number with a heavy bass line tying the minimalist beats together. In the song, the singer tells the audience to “see the Hwang Min-hyun you want to believe.”

Hwang Min-hyun performs his new lead track “Hidden Side” from his solo debut EP “Truth of Lie” during Monday’s showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District the same day. [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

“Since it’s my first solo EP, I wanted to talk about myself,” he said. “There are so many sides of me, but I don’t think people know about all of them yet. I want to let them know through this EP.”

Hwang said he realized the biggest difference between being part of a boy band and being a solo artist while he was filming the music video for “Hidden Side.”

“We filmed the music video over the span of two days,” he said. “It was my first time shooting a music video that only has me in it, so I was excited. But I soon realized that I had no moment to rest, because unlike a boy band’s music video, I have to appear in every single scene. It was quite physically challenging.”

Hwang Min-hyun talks about his solo debut EP “Truth of Lie” during Monday’s showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District the same day. [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

Hwang first entered the K-pop scene as a member of boy band NU’EST in 2012. After the boy band initially saw lukewarm success, Hwang left the group to challenge himself to the audition show “Produce 101 Season 2” (2017) and made it into the final lineup of 11 winners, who went on to form project boy band Wanna One. Both the show and the band proved to be hits, and Hwang rocketed to stardom — a dramatic experience that helped Hwang connect with contestants on the Mnet audition show “Boys Planet” (2023), for which he is currently starring as a mentor.

“I was honored to be able to participate as a ‘star master’ on ‘Boys Planet,’” he said. “I really see the look in the contestants’ eyes, how dearly they want to debut. As someone who has experience betting my everything to make it onto the debut lineup on an audition show, I always ask myself what are the most helpful advices I can give them.”

Hwang Min-hyun poses during his solo debut showcase on Monday at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District the same day. [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

After Wanna One’s contract ended, Hwang returned to NU’EST in early 2019 and remained until the group disbanded in early 2022. In the meantime, Hwang has also been actively balancing his music career with acting, landing his first lead role in 2020 and recently starring in the popular tvN series “Alchemy of Souls” (2022-23).

“I dedicated most of my time recently to the filming of ‘Alchemy of Souls’ and working with many amazing actors,” he said. “But I couldn’t give up on music. So I had been participating in original soundtracks, but I had a thirst to be on the stage and meet fans, which led me to release this EP. Music and acting are two fields each with so much appeal, that I couldn’t miss out on either. I’ve thankfully been cast as a lead role in an upcoming series, and I will do my best to return consistently with music as well.”

“I’m worried how fans will see me as a solo artist,” he said, wrapping up the showcase. “I simply hope they listen and think, ‘Wow, Hwang Min-hyun can do something like this too?’”

Hwang Min-hyun poses during his solo debut showcase on Monday at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District the same day. [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]