| Xiumin, a member of K-pop act EXO / Courtesy of SM Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Xiumin of K-pop boy group EXO is slated to bring out his first solo album "Brand New" on Sept. 26, more than a decade after debuting as part of EXO.
The upcoming album will offer five tracks of "various genres," according to his management company SM Entertainment, Monday. But the agency did not reveal more details about its lead single.
On Aug. 20, Xiumin performed "Serenity" ― one of the songs to be included in "Brand New" ― for his fans during the "SM TOWN LIVE 2022 : SMCU EXPRESS @HUMNA CITY_SUWON" concert that took place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.
"Xiumin has been enjoying global popularity as an all-rounder in the field of music, musicals and film," SM said in a statement. "He is expected to showcase another of his unexplored sides in his solo material."
Xiumin is the seventh EXO member to put out a solo album, following Baekhyun, Chen, Suho, Lay, Kai and D.O.
The 32-year-old, whose real name is Kim Min-seok, debuted as an EXO member in 2012 with the tune, "MAMA." EXO was catapulted to prominence with its smash-hit "Growl" in 2013 and has since dropped popular songs such as "Call Me Baby" (2015) and "Ko Ko Bop" (2017).
Xiumin is also part of EXO-CBX, the first official sub-unit of EXO that was formed in 2016. EXO-CBX consists of three members ― Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin ― and made its name known to the public with the tracks like "Hey Mama!" (2016) and "Blooming Day" (2018).
Xiumin has also been pursuing an acting career after making his big screen debut in the 2016 movie, "Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River."
He was discharged from compulsory military service in 2020.