Long time fans of UP10TION may be a bit thrown off by the debut of Kim Wooseok, better known as Wooshin among the group’s fans. After the singer’s stint on Produce X 101 and subsequent addition into the X1 lineup, Wooseok has become fairly popular among K-Pop fans after taking second place overall in his Produce X 101 stint, so anticipation for his solo debut was quite high. It’s pretty safe to say that no one expected him to take the route that he did.

The Title: “Red Moon”

Whatever you were expecting from Wooseok, we can almost guarantee it wasn’t this sexy and sultry concept. The track has a classic R&B rhythm and melody, which is also particularly surprising, yet a welcome change. If you’re a fan of UP10TION or even X1, you know neither of these groups have released a song along these lines and tend to be more focused on traditional pop. The melody itself is particularly haunting and leaves an air of sensuality just by itself. That atmosphere is heightened by Wooseok’s alto vocals. Even without full understanding of the lyrics up front, it’s quite clear that this song is meant to be sexy in all meanings of the word.

Listening to the track itself, it’s pretty easy to predict how the music video will go as well. Wooseok’s sultry stare is unmatched and many scenes are particularly alluring, including shots of him sitting in a large bed below the floor, in an all white tent with a full leather outfit, and close up shots of Wooseok with face jewelry and fishnets on his arms. There’s also an air of sophistication in many of the sets, with the use of diamonds and modern housing along with flashy outfits. The choreography, in addition, is particularly suggestive, with close ups on Wooseok running his hand down his own body in the chorus. It’s totally a new concept for the soloist, but it’s done amazingly well and Wooseok is definitely fit for it. 

The Album

The mini-album 1ST DESIRE [GREED] features seven tracks in total, a great treat for fans and a great start for a solo debut. The motif for the album is quite clear in the title track and that continues through the album.

It begins with “Intro: Lost,” a track that kicks off with Wooseok whispering in your ear before he’s accompanied by a modern, catchy pop beat. The buildup to the drop is particularly impactful, especially in the shift in the melody at the drop. It’s a strong and groovy start, differentiating itself enough from the title while remaining similar in theme. “SINphony” follows the title, the sultry R&B melody continuing in this track, but with a bit of a slower tempo and a surprising rap verse. If you’re a fan of the title, you’ll probably love this follow up as well.

“Somebody Like You” shifts the overall mood of the album, introducing a more upbeat and EDM influenced song that has a more mainstream feel. The driving bass line in the chorus adds quite a bit of charm to the song overall, which in our opinion makes it additionally great. “Do U Like” has a more acoustic feel, bringing a brighter outlook to the album and is good for fans of mainstream pop.

“Beautiful” has a softer appeal, putting more focus on Wooseok’s higher register. It has a more innocent vibe, giving a different look to the soloist than he presented with the title. The album concludes with “The Winter,” a wholesome ballad with very little melody that places even more focus on the vocals than the previous track. If you’re not big into emotional ballads, this will probably be a skipped track for you. 

All in all, 1ST DESIRE [GREED] is a great start to Wooseok’s solo career and presents numerous different sides to the singer from dark, to light, to purely emotional. Fans will surely be delighted with this debut and those that had not known the singer before will surely find respect for his talent.