After much anticipation and several months of patiently waiting, beloved former MONSTA X member Wonho has made his solo debut! Right off the bat, Wonho brings his first ever mini-album titled Love Synonym #1: Right For Me, which is the first installment for the Love Synonym series Wonho has planned for the future.

Tracklist: 

1. Open Mind 

2. I just 

3. Lost In Paradise* 

4. Losing You (Korean Version) 

5. Interlude: Runaway 

6. WITH YOU 

7. Open Mind (English Version) 

8. Losing You 

Note: Thoughts on “Losing You” will not be covered in this article, as we have previously covered it here. 

“Open Mind”

Upon the announcement of Wonho’s solo debut, fans from across the world knew that the artist would bring a mature sound to the mix. He surely does not disappoint with “Open Mind” as he delivers a steamy and sultry song that will have one blushing from ear to ear. Fans should keep in mind that “Open Mind” is meant more for mature audiences with deeper meanings of wanting to take it further with the person the narrator is interested in. Strings attached or not, Wonho is at the ready to fulfill any desire that one wishes. He just asks to keep an open mind to all that may and can happen when going forward. Taking a step away from the meaning of the song, the song is a blend of pop and electro funk that is definitely catering to the ‘80s style that is trending within the music industry lately. “Open Mind” is smooth and catchy, right up the alley of great summer songs that have been coming out this summer. A bonus to “Open Mind” is that Wonho also treats fans to an English version of the song as well, giving fans twice the opportunity to combust over this song. 

The music video for “Open Mind” is just as jaw-dropping as the song, filled with stunning visuals of the artist himself donning outfits that complement his physique that fans know he is confident in showcasing. The music video also does a great job of highlighting moments of the choreography for the song, which are very fluid and smooth in the style and movement. “Open Mind” features bold colors such as reds and blues, colors that are often associated with passion and desire. But there are also implementations of neutral, black, and white colors to help accentuate the sleek music video. One cannot ignore the pretty black panther that makes its appearance in moments of the music video, which can be interpreted as the animal version of the soloist. Another aspect of the music video that viewers should take note of is the use of this coin that is flipped throughout the video. As the video ends with the coin being in hand, this coin may have special meaning for the future for Wonho. But only time will tell what the soloist has planned. Altogether, “Open Mind” is a visually brilliant music video that leaves viewers wanting more and more from Wonho. 

The Album

With his first mini-album, Wonho gives a cohesive blend of songs that is synonymous to the different stages of love. “I just” and “Losing You” are more focused on longing for one during love; however, “I just” is more of the stage of searching for and finding love. It’s not quite there but at the end of the tunnel he knows that they are going to be there in his heart. “Losing You” however focuses on the heartbreak and the fear of losing one. 

“Lost In Paradise” is the happy, bright, and upbeat track on the album and is all about getting lost in the happiness of love and wanting to escape the everyday realities of life, just to spend more time with the person the narrator loves the most. Should he get lost in the paradise that is love, he knows that it’ll lead him back to the person whom he cherishes. “Lost In Paradise” is also the Wenee anthem off the album, with Wonho’s sweet lyrics about knowing that Wenee will always be there for him, even in the darkest of days. 

“Interlude: Runaway” is the palette cleanser of the album, as it is purely EDM beats and instrumentals. This transitions the album to the much hotter and more intense vibes that the second half offers. Although “Open Mind” is the opener to the album, the English version of this track and “WITH YOU” are the tracks that represent the hot and fiery stage of love as they follow after the interlude. “WITH YOU” is another upbeat dance track that carries similar elements to “Open Mind,” but this time blending pop and EDM together. “WITH YOU” is the club banger off the album and fans are in for a ride when Wonho also ties Spanish into the song as well. There is an aura of charisma and confidence that “WITH YOU” carries that draws listeners and fans in much more, and it’s a song that will be a definite repeat. 

Final thoughts on the album is that Wonho delivers a great first solo album and kicks off his solo career with a smash. It is for sure an album that is a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end. As it is the first installment to the Love Synonym series that he has planned for fans, the bar has been set to see what Wonho will do in the next album and what themes of love will he tackle next. A large congratulations to Wonho for making his solo debut! Fans can look forward to seeing Wonho grace the stage once again and cannot wait to see what the future holds for him. 

*Author’s Favorite Track Pick: “Lost In Paradise.”