[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Kai to return as solo singer

Kai of EXO is putting out his second solo EP, “Peaches,” Nov. 30, label S.M. Entertainment announced Thursday.

It has been about a year since his eponymous album, which topped iTunes top albums charts in 55 regions as well all major charts at home. The music video for the song “Mmmh” had more than 100 million views on YouTube as of October.

The second EP consists of six tracks that span across genres.

Meanwhile, he will appear as one of six entertainers competing on a virtual simulation show from Netflix titled “New World.” The first episode of the 10-part series will air Nov. 20.

Stray Kids hint at Christmas music

Stray Kids piqued the interest of fans with a red poster that read “Christmas EveL” on Thursday.

The blood-red poster had a smiley face that was slightly smudged as well as a date: Nov. 29, 2021.

On Jan. 1, the band laid out plans for the year in a video: its first official fan meet event, a reality show, a second full album, a seasonal song, a collaborative work and a pop-up store.

Its second studio album, “Noeasy,” from August sold over 1.2 million copies, becoming JYP Entertainment’s first million seller. The LP and lead track “Thunderous” made it onto seven Billboard charts combined, and the song topped iTunes songs charts in 52 regions.

The octet’s “Going Dumb (with Stray Kids),” a collaboration with EDM artist Alesso and DJ Corsak for the mobile game Battlegrounds, landed atop iTunes songs charts in 31 regions in March.

Mamamoo’s Hwasa to drop solo single

Hwasa of Mamamoo will release the solo work “Guilty Pleasure” on Nov. 24, according to agency RBW Entertainment on Thursday.

It has been almost 1 1/2 years since Hwasa’s first EP, “Maria,” which ranked No. 1 on iTunes top albums charts in 22 regions upon its release. She also became the first K-pop solo female musician to top the iTunes albums chart in the US.

On Wednesday, the singer-songwriter uploaded a teaser trailer signaling her return as a soloist. In August, she confided in a livestream that the EP was originally planned for mid-September but she was struggling and losing sleep over it.

NU’EST to host offline concert

NU’EST will host a three-day standalone concert and perform in front of fans for the first time in over 2 1/2 years.

Its agency, Pledis Entertainment, announced Thursday that the band will hold a concert titled “The Black” from Nov. 26-28 in southern Seoul. The concert’s name comes from a song from its second full-length album, “Romanticize.”

The event will show all the band has to offer. It will also include songs that have not been performed publicly ever before, added the firm.

In the meantime, JR is appearing in a TV drama that started airing Sunday and Baekho participated in the original soundtrack for the much-anticipated drama “Now, We Are Breaking Up,” featuring Song Hyekyo. Ren wrapped up the Seoul leg of the musical “Hedwig” last week.

By Hwang You-mee
(glamazon@heraldcorp.com)