EXO's Chanyeol returns with his 2nd mini-album "Upside Down," exploring diverse emotions through music, including joy and pain.
August/25/2025 18:52
Chanyeol of EXO has returned, radiating a thrilling energy as if electrified. Today (25th) at 6 PM, he released his 2nd mini-album "Upside Down" through various music distribution sites. This is a new release about a year after his 1st mini-album "Black Out" last August. "Upside Down" contains various emotions that everyone feels in life. As the album name suggests, meaning 'turned upside down,' it expresses not only bright moments like happiness, love, and friendship but also dark moments like pain, wounds, and emptiness through music, delivering catharsis to listeners. The title track "Upside Down" is an electronic rock genre harmonizing distortion guitar riffs, classic rock-style drums, and electronic synths. The explosive vocals enhance the clarity of the lyrics' message. Especially, Chanyeol sings about the intersection of despair and hope in a painful situation where 'Everything is upside down I just want a life / It's not easy, everything remains as it is / Can I stand up? Changed my whole lifetime.' He expresses a desire to erase everything from this world, yet he does not want to forget completely, wanting to live again amidst wandering and fear. Ultimately, he delivers thrilling catharsis with a self-declaration reached after pain: 'I can't escape, can I? Changed my whole lifetime / Everything is upside down I just want a life.' This album coincides with the first anniversary of his solo debut and includes a total of six tracks. The collaboration with R&B artist SOLE, "Happy Accident," and "Back & Forth," depicting a dangerous relationship where love leads to hurt, catch the eye. Additionally, there's pop-rock "Ocean Drive" celebrating bright friendship, "High & Dry" portraying the modern person's search for their true self, and "123 Dance" featuring vintage, rough textures. One can encounter Chanyeol's sensibility in music across diverse genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B centered around band sounds.
Related Articles
EXO's Baekhyun is set to hold a solo concert titled 'BAEKHYUN LIVE [Reverie] in Las Vegas' on January 17, 2026. This event will feature highlights from his first world tour and aims to create unforgettable memories for fans. Prior to this, he will have an encore concert in Seoul from January 2-4, 2026. Baekhyun's recent mini-album sold over a million copies in three days and marked his entry into the Billboard 200, solidifying his global presence.
SM Entertainment announced impressive Q3 2025 results, with sales reaching 321.6 billion won (up 32.8%) and operating profit at 48.2 billion won (up 261.6%). Major artists like NCT DREAM and aespa contributed to this growth, alongside new IP developments and a focus on global expansion through the SM 3.0 strategy.
D.O. from EXO has signed an exclusive contract with BLITZWAY ENTERTAINMENT, which aims to support his music and acting endeavors. The company recently expanded its operations and is focused on creating synergy in D.O.'s various activities. Known for his powerful vocals and acting skills, D.O. has contributed significantly to K-POP and is set to showcase new roles in upcoming projects.
D.O. from EXO has become a free agent after his contract with Company Soo Soo expired. The company confirmed they will not re-sign him. D.O. is now open to solo activities, group work with EXO, and acting roles. He is currently in talks with several management companies for new contracts. Reports suggest he requested to maintain a 50% stake in the company, but Company Soo Soo refrained from confirming this. D.O. will appear in the Disney+ series "Fabricated City" and has an encore solo concert planned for December.
D.O. from EXO has chosen not to renew his contract with Company Soo Soo, which expired earlier this month. He is currently considering offers from various management companies while still fulfilling ongoing commitments, including his concert tour 'DO it!' and a new role in Disney+'s 'Fabricated City.'
At a press conference for Disney+ series "City of Lies," Ji Chang-wook discussed his role as Te-jun, focusing on emotional depth and character immersion. He described Te-jun as an ordinary man who faces wrongful imprisonment and seeks revenge after discovering a conspiracy. The series premieres with four episodes on the 5th, followed by two episodes weekly.
At the press event for Disney+'s 'Fabricated City', D.O. and Lee Kwang-soo shared insights on their roles as antagonists. Lee praised D.O.'s professionalism, while D.O. noted their contrasting character dynamics. The series, featuring a man wrongfully imprisoned, premieres on November 5 with new episodes weekly.
On the morning of the 3rd, a press conference for Disney+'s 'Fabricated City' was held at the Conrad Seoul, attended by Ji Chang-wook, EXO's D.O., and director Park Shin-woo. The drama follows Tae-jun, who is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime orchestrated by Johan, leading him to seek revenge.
In October, the Korean entertainment industry faced significant events, including the tragic death of former baseball player Cho Yong-hoon during a live stream, EXO members announcing an agreement with SM Entertainment, and the passing of author Baek Se-hee, known for her essay loved by BTS's RM. The month was marked by both sorrow and notable developments.
Suho from EXO released 'First Snow Falls' on November 2, part of the 'Seasons of Love' project. The song beautifully captures the feelings of longing and warmth associated with the start of winter, featuring soft piano and guitar melodies that resonate with listeners. KIXO, the project's producer, collaborated with Suho to create a fresh synergy.
