Not everyone could live up to being born on Valentine’s Day, but K-pop star Jaehyun makes it very clear that he is indeed a man who understands love and all its complexities. On his debut album, ‘J’, the NCT singer spends most of its length submerged in impassioned R&B, revelling in his multifaceted voice, never shying away from falsettos or weaving his lower registers into layered harmonies, while navigating through the ups and downs of romance.
As someone who’s been a part of a boyband for the better part of the last decade, Jaehyun hasn’t had many opportunities to showcase who he is as an individual – the handful of SM Station and NCT Lab tracks notwithstanding. So, it’s unsurprising that the K-pop star’s fingerprints are all over this record, including writing credits on a majority of the tracks and a couple of production assists, as he takes a step into the spotlight solo.
The dark, moody ‘Roses’ is a standout showcase of the singer’s artistry and sonic identity. Affecting and effective, the freefall of a lost love is relayed through Jaehyun’s mournful verses. When the chorus arrives, he’s overwrought in immensity, enhanced by an echoing choral backing, and discordantly overwhelmed by wailing synths repeating the titular phrase as if breaking up and tearing apart ‘Roses’ can make everything better.
Album opener and lead single ‘Smoke’, meanwhile, is a sensual ode to a lingering romance, slinking through a smooth, aura soundscape. Jaehyun’s rich vocals are on full display here as he weaves in-and-out of harmonises, then sing-songs his way in the chorus, drawing us in over snapping beats, bold bass and groovy, fingerpicked strings.
‘J’ really starts to shine, though, when it opens up to a lighter, more earnest, at times even cheeky, view of love. The honey-tinged ‘Flamin’ Hot Lemon’ is sexy and playful, interlacing humour with honey-tinged romantic overtures as the Valentine Boy declares how he “loves the way you taste”. Jaehyun continues to ride this vibrant and bouncy vibe on ‘Dandelion’ and ‘Easy’, which are as charming as they are easy on the ears.
Closer ‘Can’t Get You’ – notably co-written by legendary songwriter and producer Babyface – is sophisticated, with each moment introducing a new, jazzy musical element to bolster the complexity of being overwhelmed by the object of affection. As the song builds in intensity, it turns from a simple jazzy slow jam into a full orchestral arrangement, with hypnotising synths and dramatic backing vocals bolstering Jaehyun’s profession of love.
As a formal introduction to who Jaehyun really is as a singer, ‘J’ makes quite a stylistic declaration, dedicating itself to slow jams and sensual love songs – and it works, even if piano ballad ‘Completely’ breaks the flow of the record. The problem with it, like so many albums nowadays, is the length. For a release that’s billed as a full-length, ‘J’ is absurdly short, clocking in at under 25 minutes (even less so without the English version of ‘Smoke’).
By the time ‘J’ starts getting warmed up, the adventure is over. The record almost feels like being ghosted half-way through a relationship that had seemed to be going so well – though, in its own way, that’s quite apt for an album that explores the many facets of romance. And now that it’s over, you look back on the tantalisingly sweet moments with a wishful yearning, pining for more of what might have been.
