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| Photo Cr. SM Entertainment |
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Rooted in the idea of forging one’s own path, “Soar” offers unwavering encouragement for those facing change or uncertainty. Through emotionally driven vocals and sincere storytelling, DOYOUNG delivers a body of work that aims to comfort, inspire, and empower – with each track acting as a quiet companion for those pursuing their dreams or searching for the courage to begin again.
Anchoring the album is the poignant title track ‘Memory’, a pop-rock anthem that blends vibrant guitar riffs with DOYOUNG’s soaring vocals. The song expresses the desire for shared moments to live on as precious memories, long after they’ve ended.
“Soar” opens with ‘Wake From The Dark’, a rock-inspired ballad that captures the moment just before taking flight. Warm guitar melodies and a crescendoing drum beat emulate the feeling of breaking free and soaring towards the sky. The bright tone continues with ‘Be My Light’, which uses shimmering string arrangements and DOYOUNG’s crystalline voice to capture the desire to be someone’s welcoming light at the end of a long night.
‘First Step’ is a bossa nova-inspired pop track co-produced by British singer-songwriter Etham. It blends soft piano, jazzy bass, and vintage strings to evoke the thrill and hesitation of learning something new, like riding a bike for the first time. DOYOUNG then turns inward with the ballad ‘Just Friends’, exploring the bittersweet ache of unrequited love.
That emotional complexity deepens with ‘Luminous’ – a piano-led ballad that blooms into a grand string arrangement, contemplating the tension between the desire for freedom and the fear of letting go – and ‘Still’, which layers lyrical piano, weighty strings, and DOYOUNG’s gentle comfort to everyone striving to find their own path in an uncertain world.
As the album nears its close, ‘Sonnet’ offers a heartfelt tribute to those who have stayed by DOYOUNG’s side throughout his journey as an artist, even in moments when he felt he had lost everything. ‘Sand Box’ follows with a dreamlike soundscape of Moog synths and layered guitars, offering soft encouragement and comfort amid life’s tougher moments.
The final track ‘Eternity’ closes the album with a rush of alternative rock energy and a message of enduring connection. Rather than mourn distance or temporary separation, the song looks towards reunion with unwavering hope – a powerful ending note that reaffirms DOYOUNG’s faith in what lasts beyond the moment.
Additionally, DOYOUNG participated in Dingo Music's "Killing Voice," the first and only NCT member to do so as a soloist.
“Soar” follows a breakout year for DOYOUNG as a soloist. His first solo album “YOUTH” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Top Albums charts in 13 countries and earned him praise as a multifaceted artist with a voice that resonates with all, which was further solidified with his subsequent single ‘The Story’. He went on to hold a sold-out solo fan concert series, “Dear Youth”, with 10 dates across Asia, followed by three additional encore shows in Seoul.
Last month, DOYOUNG announced his 2025 concert tour “Doors”, which kicks off with three nights at Seoul’s Jamsil Indoor Stadium starting 13 June, before continuing across Asia in July. In between, DOYOUNG will join NCT for a performance at SMTOWN Live in London at London’s O2 Arena on 28 June. The epic stadium concert, in celebration of SM Entertainment’s 30th anniversary, features over a dozen other K-pop stars, including aespa, RIIZE, and Red Velvet; plus other NCT subgroups NCT DREAM, WayV, and NCT WISH – marking the first time all NCT subgroups have performed on one stage in Europe.
Rooted in the idea of forging one’s own path, “Soar” offers unwavering encouragement for those facing change or uncertainty. Through emotionally driven vocals and sincere storytelling, DOYOUNG delivers a body of work that aims to comfort, inspire, and empower – with each track acting as a quiet companion for those pursuing their dreams or searching for the courage to begin again.
Anchoring the album is the poignant title track ‘Memory’, a pop-rock anthem that blends vibrant guitar riffs with DOYOUNG’s soaring vocals. The song expresses the desire for shared moments to live on as precious memories, long after they’ve ended.
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“Soar” opens with ‘Wake From The Dark’, a rock-inspired ballad that captures the moment just before taking flight. Warm guitar melodies and a crescendoing drum beat emulate the feeling of breaking free and soaring towards the sky. The bright tone continues with ‘Be My Light’, which uses shimmering string arrangements and DOYOUNG’s crystalline voice to capture the desire to be someone’s welcoming light at the end of a long night.
‘First Step’ is a bossa nova-inspired pop track co-produced by British singer-songwriter Etham. It blends soft piano, jazzy bass, and vintage strings to evoke the thrill and hesitation of learning something new, like riding a bike for the first time. DOYOUNG then turns inward with the ballad ‘Just Friends’, exploring the bittersweet ache of unrequited love.
That emotional complexity deepens with ‘Luminous’ – a piano-led ballad that blooms into a grand string arrangement, contemplating the tension between the desire for freedom and the fear of letting go – and ‘Still’, which layers lyrical piano, weighty strings, and DOYOUNG’s gentle comfort to everyone striving to find their own path in an uncertain world.
As the album nears its close, ‘Sonnet’ offers a heartfelt tribute to those who have stayed by DOYOUNG’s side throughout his journey as an artist, even in moments when he felt he had lost everything. ‘Sand Box’ follows with a dreamlike soundscape of Moog synths and layered guitars, offering soft encouragement and comfort amid life’s tougher moments.
The final track ‘Eternity’ closes the album with a rush of alternative rock energy and a message of enduring connection. Rather than mourn distance or temporary separation, the song looks towards reunion with unwavering hope – a powerful ending note that reaffirms DOYOUNG’s faith in what lasts beyond the moment.
Additionally, DOYOUNG participated in Dingo Music's "Killing Voice," the first and only NCT member to do so as a soloist.
Last month, DOYOUNG announced his 2025 concert tour “Doors”, which kicks off with three nights at Seoul’s Jamsil Indoor Stadium starting 13 June, before continuing across Asia in July. In between, DOYOUNG will join NCT for a performance at SMTOWN Live in London at London’s O2 Arena on 28 June. The epic stadium concert, in celebration of SM Entertainment’s 30th anniversary, features over a dozen other K-pop stars, including aespa, RIIZE, and Red Velvet; plus other NCT subgroups NCT DREAM, WayV, and NCT WISH – marking the first time all NCT subgroups have performed on one stage in Europe.