KIHYUN 1st Mini Album YOUTH
Los Angeles, CA — Kihyun, of Monsta X, is taking off with his 2nd solo journey with the release of, KIHYUN 1st Mini Album YOUTH. Dropping 6 months after his solo debut of VOYAGER, and 7 years after his debut in Monsta X; YOUTH is filled with songs stemming from personal stories and the things Kihyun wants to tell his own self. Kihyun expands “YOUTH is about my current perspective on my youth and my determination as a solo artist. The lyrics include the things I want to tell myself, both in the past and present. Even though this album is my personal story after 7 years as an artist, I think many people can relate to my emotions because everyone reflects on their youth at some point in time.” Youth is a transient world that everyone visits but cannot return to, making it a world that we all wish to visit again someday. In this album, Kihyun acts as an observer and storyteller as he asks, answers and discovers himself.
Following the success of his solo debut in March, which entered multiple Billboard charts and also scored the year’s largest opening first-week album sales for a K-pop male soloists so far [Forbes]; this album’s title track of the same name, “Youth,” vividly expresses Kihyun traveling back to the raw emotions that he felt when he was younger. An alternative track that features Kihyun’s refreshing vocals, “Youth” has present day Kihyun alternating between telling his younger self about his past emotions and his current resolutions. From imagination to reality, Kihyun unapologetically tells the range of emotions he feels while on the path to his destination. The song offers a new experience for listeners to empathize with as Kihyun expresses his confidence as a seasoned artist, now 7 years post debut, and his newness to being a solo artist.
“It is really meaningful that I can share my story to all my fans through my music. I hope you will fully enjoy all the songs and stories I’ve shared with you through this album! Thank you!” – Kihyun
Through the album’s 5 tracks, Kihyun shows off his diverse range as a vocalist and the variety of genres he can perform. “Bad Liar,” written, composed and arranged by Hyungwon, an active DJ and fellow member of Monsta X, artfully expresses the bad lies and conflicted heart of wanting to break up but also get back together. Another track by Monsta X’s Hyungwon and inspired by the movie Closer, “Where Is This Love” expresses a love that cannot be felt. “Stardust” shows off Kihyun’s dynamic vocal charm. The full English-language track, “Where Is This Love” showcases Kihyun’s raw emotions through his vocals and powerful lyrics. “Cause of You,” an easy listening pop number with a bright acoustic guitar, closes out the album with a surprise appearance from Monsta X’s Joohoney. The support of RYAN JHUN, Ea Na Kim, Hyungwon, BrotherSu, among many others, boost Kihyun’s confidence in releasing this album.
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Kihyun’s solo debut back in March, The 1st Single Album ‘VOYAGER,’ caused undeniable excitement from not only his fans, but from media across the globe; Rolling Stone, Forbes, Teen Vogue, Clash Magazine. With Forbes referring to one of the tracks, “Rain,” as “some of the powerhouse’s biggest vocals of his career.”
It’s been evident that Kihyun has been cementing himself as a powerful vocalist ever since Monsta X formed; with Refinery29 backing that statement in 2019 “Powerhouse vocalist Kihyun, whose relatively lithe stature is balanced by a monstrous range, even heard that their peers in K-pop felt intimidated by them when they first debuted.” Throughout the years PAPER Magazine has also praised his abilities, writing “The wailing guitar is no match for main vocalist Kihyun […],” along with Grammy.com stating that his “bright vocal color” is “one of the pillars of Monsta X.” Showcasing his true love for artistry, Kihyun has been paying homage to some of his favorite musicians throughout the past few years with YouTube covers. His cover of Tom Grennan’s “Little Bit of Love” and Imagine Dragons “Believer” and “Natural” have been praised not only by the fans, but by both of those respective artists.