Onew and former GFRIEND member Yuju showcase a tense, minimalist R&B duet, “Mind Games,” ahead of Onew’s new single release.
September/29/2026 18:58
SHINee’s Onew and former GFRIEND’s Yuju will show off their well-matched singing voices in an attractive duet song. Onew pre-released the title track “Mind Games” from his new single “Illusion” today (the 29th) at 6 p.m. through various music streaming sites. The song, in which Onew himself participated in writing the lyrics, depicts the dangerous relationship of lovers who hurt each other because pride comes before love. It is characterized by a minimalist R&B sound made up only of vocals and acoustic guitar, and Onew’s sweet voice and Yuju’s refreshing tone harmonize to three-dimensionally express the subtle tension that lingers between a man and a woman. In a documentary video released in advance, Onew said about Yuju’s vocals, “It is a voice that suits the word ‘refreshing’ very well, so when it matches with my voice, I thought it would be a vocal that could maximize each other’s synergy. Also, since ‘Mind Games’ is a song based on R&B, I thought it could show a new side of Yuju.” He revealed the background to how the collaboration came about. Yuju also said, “When practicing my part, I practiced thinking of it not as lyrics but as lines. I wanted to give listeners the feeling that the two of us were having a conversation.” She continued, “Senior Onew not only guided me so that I could sing well, but also tried to draw out parts of me that I had never done before one after another, so that back-and-forth was interesting. I hope it becomes a song that makes people feel, ‘They have such a dark and attractive side too.’” Onew, who is making a comeback after 7 months since releasing his 5th mini-album “TOUGH LOVE” in March, will officially release the single “Illusion,” which includes triple title tracks, at 6 p.m. on October 20, and plans to show an even broader range of musicality.
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