Tune into XIUMIN’s Interview X
EXO’s XIUMIN explores new sides of his solo artistry in his second EP, Interview X. Released on March 10, this six-track EP tries to answer the question, “Who is XIUMIN?” Despite the singer’s presence in the music industry since 2012, XIUMIN has spent few of those years as a solo artist.
Interview X seeks to highlight previously-hidden aspects of his solo identity. The lively title track “WHEE!” generates curiosity for what the EP has to offer. Interview X is his first release under INB100, a company founded by EXO’s Baekhyun.
TRACKLIST:
“Can’t Help Myself”
“WHEE!”
“Make You LaLa”
“Switch Off”
“Lost Paradise”
“Love is U”
Though the “X” in Interview X stands for an unknown variable, XIUMIN makes finding the answer entertaining. “WHEE!” takes from the UK garage genre for its energetic percussive beats: this song brings a positive energy to the idea of introspection. The music video for “WHEE!” shows XIUMIN visually in this period of self-exploration: looking into his own brain, conducting an interview with himself, and trying to understand what activities work for him.
Prior to the EP’s release, XIUMIN described the B-sides for Interview X as “anything but boring.” Interview X uncovers new aspects of XIUMIN through multiple genres. The disco-filled introduction of the first track, “Can’t Help Myself,” builds up expectations of something fresh. Listeners will hear XIUMIN try his hand at rock in “Make You LaLa,” a song that holds “a special place” in his heart.
The second half of Interview X goes for more laid-back sounds: XIUMIN delves into city pop with “Switch Off” and R&B in “Lost Paradise.” The last track, “Love is U,” uses a soft, piano-driven instrumental for a passionate, tender sendoff. It includes lyrics written by EXO’s Chen. XIUMIN’s long-anticipated comeback with Interview X unearths a golden lineup of songs.
Edited by Rachael Lovette