Ten months after leaving K-pop group Monsta X amid a spate of controversy, Wonho is finally ready to tell his story, with the release of his debut solo single, “Losing You.”
Released Friday, the highly anticipated track is the 27-year-old’s big comeback after he parted ways with Monsta X last October thanks to allegations of misconduct and all marijuana use prior to his time with the group (cannabis is still illegal in Korea, and in most parts of Asia). The singer was officially cleared of all charges in March, and announced new management and a solo deal only a few weeks later.
“Losing You” officially kicks off the new era of Wonho, and arrives when K-pop continues his influence on these shores. Performed entirely in English, the sweeping, piano-driven ballad shows Wonho’s delicate falsetto as he sings about protecting a cherished love at all costs. “Baby I would go to war for you / Build an army if you need me / Cause losing me is better than losing.”
The singer co-wrote the track with a team of A-list songwriters, including Corey Sanders and Jon Mcguire (Callum Scott “You Are the Reason”) and Neil Ormandy, who co-wrote James Arthur’s worldwide hit “Say You Won’t Let Go. ”The British songwriter and producer, Nick Gale, better known as Digital Farm Animals, helped produce the song, a seductive, R&B slow-burner sure to win the hearts of listeners. to win his swelling chorus and some of the most personal lyrics Wonho has written to date.
While the song is undoubtedly a love song, the singer says it was also inspired by his fans, who never left his side after his well-publicized departure from the group. ‘This is a love song, but even I would say it is [about] the love and appreciation I also have for my fans, ”he says Rolling stone. “I’m here today because of her, and the thought of losing her was the hardest thing I could think of.”
‘For me,’ he continues, ” you lose ‘is about the connection between people, and the selflessness of someone’s love, that you become one with them and they become more important to you than yourself.’
“Losing You” is the first single from Wonho’s upcoming mini-album, Share. 1 Love Synonym # 1: Right for me, from 4 September. The singer says he expects a mix of uptempo tracks and ballads from the album, citing artists such as Korean singer and actor Rain, and Usher, as artists he respects. Expect to see Wonho also take on an ongoing role in songwriting and production. “I chose my favorite styles and recorded both languages, Korean and English, in one EP,” he explained. “I feel like this EP reflects my own colors and sends out my personal message to my fans.”
Wonho says he started working on his solo project six months ago and was hesitant to finally put out new music for the fans. “I wanted to share with my fans the feeling and sentiment of what I was going through,” he says, of his time away from the spotlight. ‘I want to deliver a message that I am here for them, as they have been here for me. Together we can overcome everything. ”
It’s a message that apparently reflects his own cravings over the past year, a year in which Wonho says he has learned ‘many lessons’. The most important lesson: “Even when it’s dark, the light will come soon,” he says. “All you have to do is keep going.”
