Fans have known of SEVENTEEN’s performance leader HOSHI’s dream to release a solo project for years. On April 2, that dream finally came to fruition in the sinfully sweet form of “Spider,” the singer’s first solo mixtape.

SEVENTEEN’s reputation as a performance powerhouse precedes them, and as their performance leader, HOSHI has been an integral part of the group’s success. On top of demonstrating his own skills as a talented dancer, HOSHI has been responsible for overseeing SEVENTEEN’s stages since their debut, and is also known for choreographing many of their biggest hits such as “Pretty U” or “Don’t Wanna Cry.” As a performer, he has incredibly stable vocals, solid control when it comes to rapping, and an on-stage presence that is second-to-none. And yet, perhaps due to SEVENTEEN’s overwhelming talent as a whole, he rarely gets the recognition he deserves as one of the all-rounders of K-Pop. “Spider” sees HOSHI break out of that shell, embracing his own colors as a solo artist, and the results are nothing short of spectacular.

Never one to shy away from more risqué themes, in “Spider” HOSHI likens passionate infatuation to being ensnared in a deadly spider’s web. The track opens with a mysterious plucking sound, immediately setting the alluring tone of the song as HOSHI sings of feeling trapped, but admitting that he likes the danger. The instrumentation quickly opens up to a fuller sound as the beat drops to half-time and swells with HOSHI’s vocals before dramatically cutting back to a deep bassline in the pre-chorus. It’s equal parts haunting and ominous, especially when HOSHI switches to falsetto, but it’s the explosion in the chorus where the magic happens. As a main dancer, it’s expected that the performance would be eye-catching, but HOSHI’s vocals in “Spider” are impressive in their own right, to the point where newer fans might be shocked to learn of his dancer position in SEVENTEEN. He’s always held his own as a sub-vocalist in the group, but “Spider” lets his vocals shine in a new light as he switches between falsettos, deep tones, and belted notes with ease.

A sultry electric guitar weaves in and out of the track, along with breathy backing vocals from fellow SEVENTEEN member Woozi who co-wrote the song. This climaxes in the lyricless bridge, ending with several labored breaths from HOSHI before leading into the final chorus. Though the song was produced by HOSHI and the rest of SEVENTEEN’s usual production team of Woozi, Bumzu, and Prismfilter, it sounds like nothing we’ve heard from the group before. Maybe it’s HOSHI’s proclivity for the provocative, or maybe it’s his own personal touch in both the lyrics and music, but “Spider” just hits differently than the majority of SEVENTEEN’s tracks.

As a song, “Spider” is already really good, with HOSHI proving himself as both a vocalist and a composer. But, to no surprise, where he really shines is the performance. The music video opens with HOSHI hanging upside down from a bar in all black before being joined by a group of background dancers that act as the web in which he is trapped. The video is filled with stunning shots, utilizing its black, red, and white color scheme to push the spider concept. The choreography does the same, showcasing HOSHI’s dance skills to the fullest—so much so that HOSHI admitted the point choreography of “Spider” is the entire dance itself.

The video is undeniably a visual experience from start to finish, though never once does HOSHI get swallowed by the cinematics. For even the most experienced of idols, going solo for the first time can be a little awkward, but at no point in “Spider” does HOSHI struggle to own the spotlight—it’s only fitting his stage name is the Japanese word for star.

Expectations for “Spider” were high, perhaps most of all from HOSHI himself, but it’s safe to say K-Pop might have underestimated him. He sunk his fangs so easily into the solo life that it’s almost silly to think that this is his first solo venture. Between composing the song, shining as a vocalist, and delivering one of the most dynamic performances of 2021 thus far, HOSHI is unquestionably K-Pop’s newest ace, and the industry needs to start taking note.

Check out the music video for “Spider” below.