Taemin Drops Pre-Release Single ‘2 Kids’

South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer Taemin dropped his new single “2 Kids” earlier today as a promotional release for his upcoming record Never Gonna Dance Again. The track marks the SHINee member’s first solo Korean release since the February 2019 EP Want.

“2 Kids” is an electric pop track layered with guitar, slow strains of piano and vocal synthesizers. Both in terms of sound and lyricism the track takes a step away from the seduction and confidence Taemin is usually known for and dips into vulnerable heartbreak. Co-written by Taemin, “2 Kids” is about the crushing regret felt at the ending of a relationship and the mistakes that brought about the end. Taemin sings, “Not knowing it was our last/To the end I tried to argue with you/When looking back, it was nothing/Why couldn’t I put my ego aside?/We were just 2 kids, too young and dumb/Young, dumb and clumsy hearts.” The vocal synths over the chorus is particularly haunting, with distorted harmonies of Taemin’s voice amplifying the feeling of pain and longing.

The music video is simple but emotional. Taemin wakes up on a street in Paris, looking disoriented and slightly bruised as though he was in a physical altercation. He eventually gathers himself and alternates between walking in a daze and performing sharp, angst-ridden choreography. People walk past him as though he is invisible and his turmoil and loneliness seem unending as the video transitions from day to night with no reprieve in sight for him.

Never Gonna Dance Again is Taemin’s third studio album and will be released in two parts, with the first dropping sometime in August. In addition to his solo activities in 2019, Taemin debuted with SM Entertainment’s super group SuperM alongside members of EXO, NCT 127 and WayV.