Evan, formerly of Enhypen, returns as a solo singer. [Provided by Belift Lab]
Evan, formerly of Enhypen, returns as a solo singer. [Provided by Belift Lab]

"I deeply understand the disappointment and concern fans may feel."

He walked away from a group on the rise to stand on his own — and fans were left stunned. Heeseung of Enhypen, by far the most prominent among boy groups that debuted around the same time, has now voluntarily stepped away from the security of the group to begin a solo career. He goes by the name Evan.

Evan, formerly of Enhypen, held a media showcase Monday afternoon at the Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, to mark the release of his debut mini album "Death of Me" and officially launch his solo career.

"After a long period of reflection on what kind of music I wanted to share, I decided to pursue a path as a solo artist," Evan said. "I want to repay that with music that is genuine."

Evan was a vocalist in Enhypen, which was formed through Mnet's talent show "I-LAND" in 2020. He announced his departure from the group in March. Three months later he released a solo single, "Ride or Die," under the name Evan, and two months after that he unveiled the eight-track mini album.

Evan, formerly of Enhypen, returns as a solo singer. [Provided by Belift Lab]
Evan, formerly of Enhypen, returns as a solo singer. [Provided by Belift Lab]

After Evan's departure, Enhypen regrouped as a six-member act and topped the Billboard 200, the main US album chart, marking a career high — which only drew more attention to Evan's next move.

"I am sincerely proud of them. Reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 is not an easy achievement," he said. "The best I can do is give my all from where I stand and show the best of myself in my own place."

"Death of Me" strips away the group's sound to reflect Evan's identity in full. The emotional thread running through the album is a resolve to hold the reins of tangled feelings and press forward without wavering. Evan wrote the lyrics for all eight tracks and led the composition and production of seven of them.

The title track "Death of Me" is a heavy pop R&B number built around the declaration that nothing can break him. The anguish of hitting his own limits and the fierce struggle to stand as a solo artist are woven throughout the lyrics.

Evan described the album as "a self-portrait and a mirror." He cited his recently disclosed battle with childhood cancer as central to the album's authenticity. "It would be a lie to say the grueling treatment process has had no effect on who I am today," he said. "It was a story I could not avoid if I wanted to put my inner self into music as it truly is. I hope it can be a small comfort and source of hope for those going through pain."

For Evan, who has moved from main vocalist of a boy group to an independent solo musician handling his own songwriting and production, the album is "music that carries the meaning of a comeback, but also feels like a new starting point. I sincerely hope it reaches the hearts of many people," he said.

"It is my calling to deliver, through music, the strength to overcome hardship," he added. "Even in the face of fear, I will keep moving forward."


shee@heraldcorp.com