Boy band EXO’s Chanyeol is kicking off his solo career with upgraded music on the singer's first solo EP “Black Out,” set for release on Wednesday.

The EP comes 12 years since the EXO member debuted in April 2012 as a part of the boy band.


The boy band member described the EP as a "start" in Wednesday's press release. "This is my first solo album, and with this new chapter, I felt a strong desire to show you even better music and various aspects of myself in the future."

The EP contains six tracks: lead track “Black Out,” “I’m on your side too,” “Clover,” “Hasta La Vista,” “East Up” and “Back Again.”

“It is a pop rock song with a fast tempo, minimal acoustic guitars and a serendipitous synth melody,” said Chanyeol. “The lyrics compare the moments after breaking up to blacking out.”

Chanyeol himself is credited for the lyrics to the songs “I’m on your side too” and “Clover.” The first song is about the joy he felt performing in front of EXO’s fan club, EXO-L, and the latter is about the time he spends with his pet dog.

“I like to merge personal experiences with imagination when I write my lyrics,” said the EXO member. “This time, I focused on my precious memories. I thought it would be meaningful since this is my first solo album.”

Chanyeol said that Suho, another EXO member, encouraged him after listening to some songs off the album.

“Suho said he could see how hard I tried and that I experimented a lot,” said Chanyeol. “I have many enthusiastic musical exchanges with Suho, and it always helps me. Part of the reason I work hard is because I want to live up to his expectations.”

To find out more about Chanyeol, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]