Im Si-wan is officially debuting as a solo artist, marking a new milestone in his 10-year career.
He releases his first solo album The Reason on December 5 at 6 p.m. through major streaming platforms. Ahead of the drop, he shared his excitement, admitting, "I've released OSTs and performed as part of a group, so I thought I wouldn't be too nervous — but now that it's almost here, I'm incredibly thrilled."
A Performance-Driven Album
Si-wan emphasized that the stage shaped every part of this album. "The biggest reason this album exists is the performance," he said. He chose the title track with fans in mind, aiming for a song that makes on-stage interaction fun and dynamic.
He also blended years of stage experience into the music. "I tried to bring different moments I've lived through on stage," he explained. "I love calm songs, but performance matters too, so I looked for a middle ground."
A Thank-You to Fans
He expressed deep gratitude to supporters. "I want to stay with my fans for a long time. I worked hard on this album, and I hope listening to it creates happy moments for all of us."
The Reason explores various shades of love and includes five tracks: "The Reason," "My Love," "Just the Two of Us," "Where I Need To Be," and "Piece."
The title track is a mid-tempo pop song with dynamic instrumentation and a sweet, cinematic energy reminiscent of a romance film.
Im Si-wan's Q&A Highlights
Q. How do you feel about debuting solo?
I thought it would feel similar to releasing an OST, but as the album release got closer, I felt a rush of excitement.
Q. What was the core focus while preparing the album?
The stage. I constantly imagined performing — wondering whether fans could sing along, and whether they'd enjoy hearing these songs live.
Q. Your musical preferences in this album?
I brought in experiences from past performances. I personally love calm music, but performance is important, so I aimed for balance. Overall, the tracks are easy to listen to.
Q. Why choose "The Reason" as the title track?
It best captures the fun interaction I want to have with fans on stage.
Q. Reactions to your bleached-hair transformation?
People were shocked everywhere I went — asking what happened or if something had changed in my life. I kept explaining it was for the album.
Q. Favorite track on the album?
All of them are songs you won't get tired of. Depending on the day, my favorite might change — but right now, I want to listen to "Where I Need To Be."
Q. Goals as a solo artist?
To share meaningful time with fans and build great memories.
Q. Message to global fans waiting for your solo debut?
The moments I shared with fans have meant so much to me. I prepared this album to express that gratitude. I may still be growing, but I hope we can enjoy this together and share joyful moments.
