With (EP) explained

With
Type:ep
Artist:Nam Woo-hyun
Cover:Nam Woo-hyun - With.jpg
Length:19:20
Language:Korean
Label:Woollim
Prev Title:A New Journey
Prev Year:2019

With is the fourth mini-album by South Korean singer Nam Woo-hyun. It was released on October 19, 2021, by Woollim Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment. After releasing his previous record A New Journey (2019) and completing his Arbor Day 2 concerts, Nam enlisted in mandatory military service that October. He completed his duties and was discharged in August 2021. He held two concerts entitled Ontact Concert: Arbor Day On shortly after his return, where he announced his forthcoming project.

Regretting some of his music from previous works, Nam crafted an R&B and pop mini-album. Following a series of photo and video teasers, With and the lead single "Calm & Passion" were simultaneously released. Nam promoted the song by performing it on music chart programs across various television networks. The mini-album peaked at number eleven on South Korea's national Gaon Album Chart and has sold over 25,000 copies since its release.

Background and recording

On October 24, 2019, Nam became the fifth member of Infinite to enlist in mandatory military service. Due to an injury he had sustained, he worked in public service to fulfill his obligations.[1] He was discharged from his duties on August 4, 2021.[2] During his deployment, Nam gained weight and peaked at about 82kg (181lb). Ahead of the album release, he dieted and exercised for three hours a day and lost 20kg (40lb) in four months.[3] [4] During preparations, he struggled to learn the choreography for the lead single, citing military responsibilities as impediments of his ability to rehearse dancing during his tenure.[5] From October 2–3, he held two online productions entitled Nam Woo-hyun Ontact Concert: Arbor Day On, his first performances since Arbor Day 2 in August 2019.[6] During the second show, the release of his forthcoming album was announced before the encore stage.[7]

While recording songs for With, Nam listened to his previous solo albums and expressed remorse over "a few things". He decided to make music that would not bring him regret in the future, stating: "As a singer of popular music, I wanted to make this album with my own color and strong points... This album leaves out my weaknesses and maximizes my strengths."[8] [9] Upon hearing the demo of "Calm & Passion", Nam was reluctant to record it because it was a "very good song", which put him under pressure. After making modifications to the track and penning a portion of its lyrics, he felt that it matched him well.[10] "My Diary" was composed with a free and flowing ternary form. Nam utilized his falsetto in its chorus.[5] Nam was inspired by teen dramas to conceive "A Song for You".[11] While making the track, he wanted to make a song that would allow him to romp around on stage.[5] Nam influenced the hairstyle and fashion that was presented for the album photos.[12] He decided to dye his hair red because "it would go well" with the lead single's concept.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lee. Ho-yeon. ko: 인피니트 측 "남우현, 오늘(24일) 조용히 입소→대체복무" [공식]. https://www.vop.co.kr/A00001600537.html. Hankook Ilbo. Dongwha Enterprise. November 9, 2021. ko. October 24, 2019.
  2. Web site: Han. Su-ji. ko:"우현이 내게 오나봐" 인피니트 남우현, 오늘(4일) 소집 해제. http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=14618826. Top Star News. November 9, 2021. ko. August 4, 2021.
  3. Web site: Go. Seung-a. ko:"새 앨범은 필살기" 남우현, 20kg 감량→삼두 자신감까지(종합). https://www.news1.kr/articles/?4472713. News1. November 9, 2021. ko. October 26, 2021.
  4. Web site: Seo. Yu-na. ko:'정희' 남우현 "82kg까지 살쪄, 4개월만 20kg 감량 성공". https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202110271155580010. Newsen. November 9, 2021. ko. October 27, 2021.
  5. Web site: Lee. Seung-hun. ko:"남우현의 전성기"..인피니트 남우현, 절제된 섹시美로 눈+귀 다잡을 '냉정과 열정 사이'[종합]. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1111675584. Osen. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  6. Web site: Cheon. Yun-hye. ko:인피니트 남우현, 소집해제 후 본격 활동..10월 온택트 콘서트 '식목일 ON' 개최(공식). http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=202109031501088621066_1. Herald Pop. Herald Corporation. November 9, 2021. ko. September 3, 2021.
  7. Web site: Jung. Hee-yeon. ko:인피니트 남우현, 첫 온택트 콘서트 '식목일 On' 성료. https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20211004/109537793/1. Sports Dong-a. Dong-a Ilbo Company. November 9, 2021. ko. October 4, 2021.
  8. Web site: Kim. Yeong-jin. ko:남우현 "인피니트로서 멋진 성공...군백기 동안 내려놓으려 노력". https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20211019010010812. Asia Today. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  9. Web site: Lee. Nam-kyeong. ko:인피니트 남우현 "'위드', 나만의 색깔+장점 극대화시킨 앨범". https://star.mbn.co.kr/view.php?year=2021&no=990597. MBN Star. Maeil Broadcasting Network. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  10. Web site: Go. Seung-a. ko:남우현 "데뷔 12년차, 여전히 무대에 냉정하고 열정적이다". https://www.news1.kr/articles/?4465848. News1. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  11. Web site: Hwang. Chae-yeon. ko:[종합]남우현, 군백기 깬 '나른 섹시'. http://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=202110191705003. Sports Kyunghyang. Kyunghyang Company. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  12. Web site: An. Ha-na. ko:인피니트 남우현, '위드' 기대 포인트 셋...#파격변신 #나른섹시 #무한성장. https://star.mbn.co.kr/view.php?year=2021&no=986428. MBN Star. Maeil Broadcasting Network. November 9, 2021. ko. October 18, 2021.
  13. Web site: Herman. Tamar. Best K-pop releases of October 2021: NCT 127's Favorite, Aespa's Savage, CL's Alpha, IU's Strawberry Moon, and more. South China Morning Post. SCMP Publishers. November 9, 2021. October 31, 2021.
  14. Web site: Park. Jae-yeong. ko:인피니트 남우현, 'With' 트랙리스트 오픈···다채로운 장르의 총 6곡. http://www.mhns.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=513511. Munhwa News. November 9, 2021. ko. October 14, 2021.
  15. Web site: Bael. Ji-eun. ko:[SC현장] "인피니트 넘을것"...남우현, '냉정과 열정사이'로 열 '솔로 전성기'(종합). https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=202110190100131300008613&servicedate=20211019. Sports Chosun. Chosun Media. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  16. Web site: Kim. Na-yeong. ko:인피니트 남우현, 19일 네 번째 미니 앨범 'With' 발매...2년 5개월 만. http://mksports.co.kr/view/2021/949714/. MK Sports. November 9, 2021. ko. October 7, 2021.
  17. Web site: Heo. Seon-cheol. ko:인피니트 남우현 컴백...타이틀곡 '냉정과 열정 사이' 티저 공개. http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=300911. Single List. November 9, 2021. ko. October 8, 2021.
  18. Web site: Ha. Gyeong-heon. ko:남우현, 빨간머리 깜짝 변신. http://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=202110090929003. Sports Kyunghyang. Kyunghyang Company. November 9, 2021. ko. October 9, 2021.
  19. Web site: Seon. Mi-kyeong. ko:'컴백' 인피니트 남우현, 아련vs시크 독보적 분위기. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1111670133. Osen. November 9, 2021. ko. October 10, 2021.
  20. Web site: Lee. Deok-haeng. ko:인피니트 남우현, 마지막 콘셉트 포토 공개...범접 불가 '섹시 카리스마'. https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2021101108353198093. Starnews. November 9, 2021. ko. October 11, 2021.
  21. Web site: Lee. Min-ji. ko:인피니트 남우현, 몽환·섹시·시크 다 잡은 가을 남자...콘셉트 트레일러. https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202110120747530010. Newsen. November 9, 2021. ko. October 12, 2021.
  22. Web site: Lee. Seul. ko:인피니트 남우현, '위드' 프리뷰 공개...다채로운 장르+탄탄한 완성도. https://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1486782. xportsnews. xportsmedia. November 9, 2021. ko. October 15, 2021.
  23. Web site: Hong. Seong-hun. ko:인피니트 남우현, '냉정과 열정 사이' 티저 공개. http://www.nbnnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=624094. NBN News. November 9, 2021. ko. October 16, 2021.
  24. Web site: An. So-yun. ko:남우현, 2년6개월만에 앨범 '위드' 발매. https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20211019_0001618916. Newsis. November 9, 2021. ko. October 19, 2021.
  25. Web site: Seo. Sang-hyeon. ko:인피니트 남우현, 색다른 테이프 아트 버전 앨범 커버 공개. http://www.topdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=121028. Top Daily. November 9, 2021. ko. October 18, 2021.
  26. Web site: Kim. Na-yeong. ko:'쇼케이스 섭외 1순위' MC하루, 에이티즈 이어 남우현 쇼케이스까지 섭렵. http://mksports.co.kr/view/2021/992843/. MK Sports. November 9, 2021. ko. October 20, 2021.
  27. Web site: Kim. Su-jin. ko:인피니트 남우현, SNS 라이브→'마이크 인 더 신' 오픈..글로벌 팬심 저격. https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2021102123212437405. Starnews. November 9, 2021. ko. October 21, 2021.
  28. Web site: Jang. Min-su. ko:인피니트 남우현, 나른 섹시 매력 '냉정과 열정 사이' 무대 (뮤뱅). http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=304880. Single List. November 9, 2021. ko. October 22, 2021.
  29. Web site: Kim. Hye-yeong. ko:'음악중심' 남우현, '냉정과 열정 사이'로 컴백... 치명적 섹시美 눈길. http://enews.imbc.com/News/RetrieveNewsInfo/328669. MBC Entertainment. Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. November 9, 2021. ko. October 23, 2021.
  30. Web site: An. Eun-jae. ko:인피니트 남우현, '나른 섹시' 완전 무장...'손가락 하트' 화려한 컴백 무대. http://www.sportsseoul.com/news/read/1070025. Sportsseoul. November 9, 2021. ko. October 24, 2021.
  31. Web site: Lee. Dong-keun. ko:'더쇼' 인피니트 남우현, 역대급 컴백 무대...스윗→나른 섹시까지. http://www.mediapen.com/news/view/673459. Mediapen. November 9, 2021. ko. October 24, 2021.
  32. Web site: Hwang. Jee-young. ko:'엠카' 인피니트 남우현, 글로벌 팬심 녹인 '나른 섹시'. http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=24160176. Ilgan Sports. November 9, 2021. ko. October 24, 2021.
  33. Web site: Kim. Han-kil. ko:세븐틴·씨엔블루·씨엘·남우현·이진혁, 세련미 가득한 신보 [이번주 뭐 들었니?]. http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=16350610181609784010. TV Daily. November 9, 2021. ko. October 24, 2021.
  34. Web site: Jeon. Hyo-jin. ko:세븐틴 'Pang!', 빈틈없다 [전효진의 사심픽]. https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20211029/109973006/2. Sports Dong-a. Dong-a Ilbo Company. November 9, 2021. ko. October 29, 2021.
  35. Web site: ko:2021년 43주차 Album Chart. http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=43&hitYear=2021&termGbn=week. Gaon Music Chart. ko. November 9, 2021.
  36. Web site: Hicap. Jonathan. Seventeen's 'Attacca' tops monthly chart with 1.76-M copies sold; debuts on Billboard 200. Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. November 9, 2021. November 1, 2021.
  37. October 24, 2021. Whoa Whoa Calm Down Woohyun Triceps | 'With' Album Jacket Behind|language=ko|url=https://www.vlive.tv/post/1-26125417|website=V Live|publisher=Infinite|access-date=November 9, 2021}}

    Music structure

    Nam classifies With as an R&B record. Tamar Herman of South China Morning Post labeled it "mid-tempo contemporary pop".[13] The mini-album opens with its eponymous intro, a jazzy number that begins with lyrical guitar melodies and progresses into an escalation of brass sounds. It is followed by "Calm & Passion", a dreamy R&B-pop song that integrates a heavy bassline with a succinct and sentimental beat. Its lyrics convey "intense love" and the resulting deep thoughts through a concealed and composed demeanor.[14] Nam described it as an "exciting" dance-pop song that "contains a man's calm and passion". "My Diary" conveys the expectation and wait for the arrival of a person to love. A medium pop track, "Lonely Night" comprises an emotional melody and lyrics.[15] Nam expresses feelings of loneliness and love. Conceptually a noir piece, "Alone" is a cinematic synth-pop track. The mini-album closes with "A Song for You", a tropical house song which produces a "warm and refreshing sensation".

    Release and promotion

    On October 6, 2021, Woollim Entertainment published a poster unveiling the title of the mini-album, With.[16] Dual voice teasers with "calm" and "passion" versions were uploaded to YouTube a day later.[17] Beginning on October 8, a pair of concept photos were posted for three consecutive days: the first batch presents a red-headed Nam donning a luxurious white shirt in one image and a sleeveless white jacket in the other;[18] the second bundle shows him wearing a sheer wine-colored shirt and dressed in a refined suit;[19] in the final grouping, the singer sports a black leather jacket in the first picture, while the second is set at a bar and displays him wearing a suit.[20] Nam is seen in all the outfits in the concept trailer for With that was posted the following day.[21] An album preview was shared on October 14 and the music video teaser of "Calm & Passion" was published on the subsequent day.[22] [23]

    With and the music video for "Calm & Passion" were simultaneously released on October 19.[24] The mini-album was also released in a tape art version with album artwork designed by artist Jo Yoon-jin.[25] It marked two years and five months since the release of Nam's previous mini-album A New Journey in May 2019, and his first single since "When Fall Comes" that November. Hosted by MC Haru, Nam held an online showcase for the mini-album on the day of its release and performed the single on social media platform Twitter's live video feature Blue Room.[26] [27] Nam began promoting "Calm & Passion" on weekly music chart shows two days later. He performed the song on KBS2's Music Bank,[28] Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation's (MBC) Show! Music Core,[29] Seoul Broadcasting System's (SBS) Inkigayo,[30] SBS MTV's The Show,[31] and Mnet's M Countdown.[32]

    Critical reception and commercial performance

    With received favorable reviews from all three critics from TV Daily. Park Sang-hu felt that the sexy concept suited Nam. Kim Ji-ha sensed a different impression and complimented the singer's "weighty" vocals, while Kim Han-kil noted his "appealing tone and more mature aura".[33] Writing for Sports Dong-a, Jeon Hyo-jin chose "Alone" as the "hidden track" of the album, saying that she could listen to Nam's "sexy voice to the heart's content".[34] On the chart dated October 17 – 23, 2021, With debuted at number eleven on South Korea's national Gaon Album Chart.[35] According to chart aggregator Hanteo Chart, the mini-album sold 25,379 copies by the end of the month.[36]

    Chart

    Chart (2021)! scope="col"
    Peak
    position
    South Korean Albums (Gaon)11

    External links

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