When a K-Pop idol debuts as a soloist after being known within a group for so long, it's always interesting to see what their solo identity looks like. Sometimes a company chooses a member who's always stood out among their group who could benefit from embarking on their own journey separate from group releases (ex. SHINee's Taemin or TWICE's Nayeon). Other times, a company wants a quick cash grab. They pick someone who fits perfectly within their group, but doesn't have the power to command a stage alone, something that isn't noticeable during a group performance (ex. TWICE's Tzuyu).

KAI of EXO is one such case where a company took one of the group's most talented idols and watched him blossom on his own stage both by himself and accompanied by talented back-up dancers. Ever since KAI's completion of his mandatory military service in February, fans have been wondering when he'd finally return to the studio. When he enlisted in May 2023, he was in the middle of promotions for his third mini-album. Now, with an official announcement including an April 26 release date, fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for his return to the stage.

Who Is KAI?

EXO & His Solo Journey

EXO debuted in 2012, making them one of the biggest groups of K-Pop's third generation who would be in direct competition with BTS, a group who would debut a year later. Until then, EXO would make themselves known as one of the most essential K-Pop groups, both vocally and performance-wise. like Baekhyun and Chen stood out vocally while KAI, one of the group's youngest , was clearly born to perform. His powerful, clean style of dance has inspired other idols known for their dancing, like Juyeon of THE BOYZ and San of ATEEZ.

Vocally, KAI falls to the wayside in group releases. His vocals aren't lacking in any way, but it's difficult to stand out in a group that boasts one of the most talented vocal lines in K-Pop. KAI is known as the group's main dancer, so he's presented in that way during their comebacks. He'll often have a few lines in each song, but never the amount that the other vocalists receive, and never on the same scale. His rounded, sultry tone jumps out at listeners when he finally does sing, though.

He stakes his claim over each stage he performs on and presents himself as someone who deserves to have their individual talents appreciated in this way.

After the success of Baekhyun's solo mini-albums, as well as leader Suho's Self-Portrait, SM chose KAI as the group's next solo venture. By combining his undeniable dance abilities and his unique voice, KAI tapped into an R&B style that perfectly balanced everything he has to offer as a soloist. He stakes his claim over each stage he performs on, creates essential K-Pop albums, and presents himself as someone who deserves to have their individual talents appreciated in this way.

Breaking Down His Last Three Albums

KAI - The 1st Mini Album

KAI's solo debut mini-album arrived on November 30, 2020, with six tracks and a seven-minute performance video showcasing every song's atmosphere. KAI leans into the R&B genre to deliver a perfect solo debut that straddles the line between the K-Pop world and the world of solo stars like Taemin and Taeyeon. His voice is as sweet as honey, moving through each song with expert-level ease that listeners can't resist. His vocals shine especially on "Ride Or Die," the fifth track with an instrumental that feels reminiscent of something off The Weeknd's Starboy.

As a whole, this mini-album is an incredible introduction to KAI: the soloist. As a performer, he's more than capable of holding his own, but he proves that he can do that vocally as well. From start to finish, it never feels like something, or someone, is missing. These songs were made for KAI to perform as a skilled vocalist and an impressive dancer, and he never lets either of those attributes overshadow the other. My favorites from this project are "Amnesia," "Ride Or Die," and "Hello Stranger."

Peaches - The 2nd Mini Album

After proving himself as a deserving soloist with his debut, KAI's second mini-album, Peaches, was released exactly a year later on November 30, 2021. While sticking with a similar R&B sound, this mini-album presented a more gentle side of KAI. He debuted with a collection of punchy, sexy songs that built off of the image fans recognized from EXO songs like "Love Shot" and "The Eve." This time around, he let his serene vocals do the talking.

The title track is a mesmerizingly sweet track accompanied by a beautiful music video which sees KAI surrounded by peach trees and basking in soft sunsets. He compares his lover's sweetness to a ripe peach, with lines that would make anyone blush. The other five tracks have a similar feeling to them. "Vanilla," "To Be Honest," "Come In," and "Blue," in particular, are riddled with softness and honesty. If I had to name one flaw, it'd be that "Domino" feels more like an extension of his debut mini-album than a track that belongs on Peaches.

Rover - The 3rd Mini Album

KAI's most recent mini-album was released on March 13, 2023. Its title track, "Rover," is a reggaeton-infused track that, after one listen, has the ability to get stuck in your head for weeks. Like his debut, this album came with a performance video featuring an individual section for each song, this time coming out a week after the mini-album was released. In it, KAI embodied the personality of each song with impressive sincerity.

"Say You Love Me," my personal favorite track, sees him frantically running through a hotel covered in blood and trying to avoid security cameras, while "Sinner" sees KAI adopting a contemporary choreography style as he vulnerably vents his internal frustrations. As a whole, this album takes all the best aspects of his debut and Peaches to craft an incredibly cohesive project fit for a superstar. The success of this mini-album was cut short by his enlistment, but I expect KAI's K-Pop comeback album, Wait On Me, to pick up right where he left off.