Onew, the leader of the boy band SHINee, released his second extended play (EP) on Monday, marking his first new solo release in nearly three years.
The 32-year-old heartthrob released “Dice,” a six-track EP that includes the lead song of the same name.
According to SM Entertainment, the single “Dice” includes “refreshing synth tones.” Its lyrics depict a person who is willing to risk everything for a loved one, despite the fact that they are playing a losing game.
“The synth sound was so joyful and it got me energized when I heard the demo, which is why I chose it,” Onew said of the song in a YouTube livestream ahead of the EP’s release.
“Sunshine,” a funky electro-pop song about getting away from a boring day to go on a trip; “On The Way,” with dreamy sounds; “Love Phobia,” about the contradictory feelings of being skeptical yet wanting eternal love,” and “Yeowoobi,” with lo-fi and ambient sounds, are among the other tracks on the EP.
Onew is credited as a songwriter on the closing tune, “In the Whale.”
He remarked in the webcast, “I created the lyrics for all the songs, but this was the only song that made it.”
Onew’s real name is Lee Jin-Ki, and he made his solo debut with the EP “Voice,” which was released five days before he volunteered for his mandatory military service on December 5, 2018.
In July 2020, he was freed from the military, and he began acting in musicals and reality shows. In February 2021, he released an album with SHINee.
In 2008, Onew debuted with SHINee. He’s since branched out from K-pop, starring in TV dramas including the 2016 smash “Descendants of the Sun” and a number of musicals.