Donghae of Super Junior Releases First Regular Album ALIVE, 21 Years After Debut, Kickstarting a New Wave of Solo Comebacks with Double Title Tracks

Donghae of Super Junior marks his 21st year since debut by revealing a deeper musical world as a solo artist. His first regular album ALIVE will be released on April 20 at 6 PM through various online music platforms. The 13-track record reportedly focuses on capturing the brightest moments and sincere feelings from his long journey in a single narrative. Notably, Donghae personally contributed to writing and composing 11 of the 13 tracks, solidifying his roots and color as a singer-songwriter. The album’s core message revolves around vitality—letting listeners feel that they’re alive—and it weaves tracks of different moods into a road-movie-like immersion. The edition’s highlight, the double title tracks, reveals the album’s message with distinct energies. The first title track 해 떴네 links the rising sun imagery to Donghae’s name, delivering nonstop energy and confidence over a strong beat and a Brazilian funk-influenced synth bass. By contrast, the second title track 굿 데이 features gospel-inspired pop with guest appearances by 박재범 and 1iL, offering warm and bright optimism. Other tracks include the emotionally deep goodbye (굿바이, feat. TABLO), Flower as a bouquet symbol for fans, and Beautiful, which was warmly received at fan concerts. The album’s tracklist spans ALIVE (SKIT), EAST COAST, RACE, HELP, ROCKET, GOODBYE (Feat. TABLO), TOO LATE, FLOWER, TO YOU (SKIT), HBD, BEAUTIFUL, for a total of 13 tracks. The arrangement crosses pop, hip-hop, rock, and ballad genres to create a cohesive musical journey. This album also stands out for Donghae’s extensive involvement in writing and composing, not just singing, marking it as a bold expression of his unique musical voice. The release is seen as a significant moment in expressing his inner sensibilities and musical tastes. Shortly after the album drops, Donghae announced a solo concert tour across seven Asian cities, signaling ALIVE as a milestone in establishing him as a solo artist. His 21-year debut record underscores his versatile musical palette, with 11 songwriting/composition credits and the impactful double-title tracks already generating strong fan buzz. On the same day, EVNNE emerged with a parallel comeback in a similar mood. After gaining attention on Mnet’s Boyz Planet season 1 in 2023, EVNNE reformed into a five-member group and released the single Backtalk. The title track Backtalk, along with the B-side STAY, leans into a tech-heavy hip-hop vibe and a late-2010s nostalgia through electro-classic elements. Notably, all five members—케이타, 박한빈, 이정현, 문정현, 박지후—participated in writing all tracks, highlighting a broad creative involvement. With this, EVNNE signals not only a new direction for their title track but also an expanded musical spectrum and a fresh start as a group. Thus, on April 20, 동해’s regular album release and the simultaneous re-emergence of two notable acts in the contemporary K-pop scene converge, heightening fan expectations.