NCT Mark's solo debut is just three days away.
Mark's first solo album ‘The Firstfruit’, set to be released on April 7, consists of a total of 13 tracks, including the title song ‘1999’. It is a work that encapsulates Mark's musical capabilities and narrative built over the past nine years, drawing significant attention.
# Mark, Established as a ‘K-Pop Trademark’, 9 Years of Musical Journey
Debuting in April 2016 as part of the group NCT, Mark has been active on stages worldwide, moving between NCT 127, NCT DREAM, and NCT U. With outstanding rap, performance, and vocal skills, he has played a key role in establishing NCT as a representative K-Pop group. Since his debut, Mark has consistently participated in songwriting, building his unique color and raising expectations for his solo activities as a ‘K-Pop Trademark’.
In particular, the solo songs Mark has presented alongside group activities have provided a glimpse into his musical world. His first solo song ‘Child’, released in February 2022, is a self-composed track that emotionally unravels inner struggles, gaining deep resonance from listeners and topping major music charts both domestically and internationally. Following that, his second solo song ‘Golden Hour’, released in April 2023, showcased another charm with witty lyrics and intense rapping, receiving enthusiastic responses.
Additionally, Mark has continued his musical activities through various means such as collaborations, featuring, and OSTs. In September 2022, the mission song ‘LIT’, created with Taeyong for the variety show ‘Street Man Fighter’, drew explosive reactions with its hot stage performance at NCT 127's solo concert. Last year, in the track ‘Time Machine (Feat. Taeyeon, Mark)’ from Doyoung's solo album, he added emotion with soft vocals instead of rap, garnering attention. Furthermore, he has shown flexibility in style through collaborations with artists like Lee Young-ji, Yesung, Joy, Park Jae-jung, and Big Naughty. With each release showcasing new charms, all eyes are on the complete musical world Mark will present in his first solo album.
# The Firstfruit, Mark's Journey Accumulated Step by Step
In his first solo album, Mark encapsulates his journey from the year he was born in 1999 to the moment he debuts as a solo artist. This album, which condenses years of effort and challenges, is a valuable fruit finally borne, just like its title ‘The Firstfruit’. Additionally, Mark has structured each chapter around the four cities he has lived in: Toronto, New York, Vancouver, and Seoul, unraveling his autobiographical story through music. Following the tracklist in order allows listeners to experience an immersion as if walking alongside Mark's life, highlighting the harmony between music and narrative.
The Toronto chapter in tracks 1 and 2 begins brightly, singing joyfully about the warmth of his hometown and the era he was born in through the title track ‘1999’. The New York chapter in tracks 3 to 5 expresses the unstable emotions felt in his first place of residence through rough hip-hop sounds, vividly conveying the feelings encountered in an unfamiliar environment. The Vancouver chapter in tracks 6 to 8 unfolds memories of school days with easy-listening sounds, offering a comfortable sentiment that anyone can relate to. The Seoul chapter from tracks 9 to 13 captures the present moment of realizing his dream of becoming a pop star with witty and lyrical music. This album unfolds like a movie, allowing listeners to naturally see how Mark has grown as an artist.
Moreover, Mark has put great effort into the production of all tracks in this album, as well as in rap, vocals, and detailed expressions, proving what ‘the most Mark-like music’ is. Collaborations with NCT Haechan, Code Kunst, Crush, and Lee Young-ji added diverse colors, while ‘Mom’s Interlude’, featuring his mother's piano accompaniment and warm conversations between mother and son, enhances the specialness of this autobiographical album.
# Title Track ‘1999’, Opening a New Era for Pop Star Mark
The title track ‘1999’ expresses the joy of this moment, where he is bearing the first fruit of his solo album, as if he is celebrating the year 1999 when he was born, and reveals his ambition to become a pop star who decorates the end of the century, having been born in the last year of the century.
The grand orchestration and funky sounds of guitars, brass sessions, and whistles that support this confidence create a lively atmosphere. The tight rap and singing that freely transitions between falsetto allows listeners to feel a fresh charm not seen from Mark before, and the conceptually structured performance, which stands out musically, is expected to draw listeners deeper into Mark's story.
Now, through his first solo album ‘The Firstfruit’, Mark proves the fruits of his journey so far through music and takes his first step toward a new era he will write.
[Geum Bitna, MK Sports Reporter]
