So far, R&B has been the genre characterising MINHO's budding solo music career. But, there's a little twist on his newest album!
If you are not acquainted with this Korean pop Idol of over 15 years, let me get you started!
MINHO
MINHO is a singer, rapper and songwriter who debuted with the Korean boy group SHINee in 2008. After 14 years of actively promoting with his group, in late December 2022, MINHO released his debut EP “CHASE” making him the last of all 5 SHINee members to debut solo.
CHASE, a cohesive body of work comprises six mid-tempos songs leaning towards root genres hip-hop and R&B. The EP sees MINHO as a writer and lyricist, while featuring known K-rnb artists like GEMINI and LIM KIM
Following Chase in 2022, Minho started the year 2024 with his single “Stay For a Night”. Reminiscent of his earlier works like “I'm Home”, the track is R&B swinging, with lyrics co-written by MINHO.
CALL BACK – The 1st Album
In the second-half of this year, MINHO announced his debut full length album – CALL BACK, with the title track of the same name. Released on November 4th, the album of 10 songs features two of Minho’s label mates, NINGNING of aespa, and RIIZE’s SOHEE.
Although still considerably R&B influenced, this album exudes a brighter-pop colour as opposed to the mellowed and melancholic feel of his previous works. This, MINHO expressed in an interview, is his attempt to show a new side of himself in his music journey.
In view of showing new "sides", the 7th track on the album– “Affection” draws attention for infusing Afrobeats genre.
K-pop's growing "Affection" for Afrobeats.
The K-pop industry's venture into Afrobeats over the last two years has been increasingly noticeable to the watchful eye. K-pop and Afrobeats intersection pro, Joella Nuer estimates there are currently over 35 afro-inspired songs from the south korean music scene. It seems the Afrobeats rush in the K-pop is not ending soon.
However, MINHO drawing from the energising wells of Afrobeats was not on my, and most likely anyone's, bingo card for 2024. Perhaps because the idol, in both his solo and group music, over the last 15 years has never attempted an Afrobeats-based song.
Not until now.
Co-composed and co-written by LeyeT and ARYAY, “Affection” blends pop-R&B with soft Afrobeats rhythm, creating a swaying sound to groove to. Aryay has also worked on music for K-Pop acts like ITZY, and KHH rapper, CAMO.
“Affection” is the type of afrobeats song you are gently vibing to as you sip your drink at a bar, unwinding or rewinding on a weekend.
To my Nigerian Afro-listening ears, it gives an inkling of the soft, less loud, and rhythmic sounds that decorate the discographies of Nigerian Afrobeats talents like Oxlade, and Joeboy. With sultry sounds, bolder rhythm and fiercer beats, these Afropop stars, amongst others, create home-made fusion of Afrobeats and pop sounds. It would not be far fetched if these artises (and their songs) are on the music briefs for producing tracks like ‘Affection’ in K-pop.
The introductory verse of Affection; “Loosing all meaning, in an instant, i feel myself sinking…” expresses the overall sentiments of the song. That is, the unquenchable thirst to be drowned in the affection of one's lover.
Mola (KOR), the lyricist for Affection also co-wrote MINHO's single “stay for a night”, and has worked on music for K-pop acts such as EXO, aespa, MONSTA X, BAEKHYUN, and TAEMIN.
'Affection's pop-R&B inclination helps it fit in with other tracks on the CALL BACK album, maintaining its cohesion. One may even argue it blends in a little too much to stand out explicitly to the non-afro inclined ears. This stance, however, alludes to the covert stereotypical perception of “Afrobeats sound” amongst non-african K-pop fans.
Ultimately, though "Affection" may have been unexpected from MINHO, it is nonetheless an enjoyable incorporation of Afrobeats in K-pop music.
Give Affection and the full CALL BACK album a listen here!