NCT's Jaehyun Is Blazing His Own Trail With First Solo Album J (Interview)

It's been over eight years since Jaehyun made his debut as a K-pop idol with NCT, but you couldn't tell as he Zooms in from a fluorescently lit office room in Seoul. As soon as the call connects, he's giddy with excitement and ready to talk about his freshly released debut solo album.

He might have been born on Valentine's Day, but August seems to be a preordained month for Jaehyun — at least musically speaking. In August 2022, he gave fans the first proper taste as a soloist with self-penned single “Forever Only.” In August 2023, he followed suit with "Horizon," adding composition into the mix. Now, in August 2024, J - The 1st Album, his first solo project, is finally closing off the summer trifecta.

Jaehyun started crafting his solo refuge away from the green lights of Neo City brick by brick throughout the years, relishing in simplicity and pared-down visuals rather than in the rocambolesque maximalism the group has fans accustomed to. Balancing hats as a Prada ambassador, a permanent member of NCT 127, one-third of sub-unit DoJaeJung, and now a solo act, time is of the essence for Jaehyun. Taking his time with this project, however, was perhaps the smartest chess move by the star. You only debut as a soloist once.

Across its painfully short but well-paced eight-song tracklist, Jaehyun conjures up a groovy vision in J with R&B as its main conductor. Oscillating between raspy tenor vocals and honeyed falsettos, he goes from the steamy title track "Smoke," which is also featured in a full-English version, to tantalizing breakup anthems ("Roses"), unapologetically silly musings ("Flamin' Hot Lemon)," misty piano ballads ("Completely"), and jazz-synths and trumpet riffs in closer "Can't Get You," which was composed and co-written by R&B legend Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

One day after the release of J, Teen Vogue caught up with Jaehyun to chat about the process of working on the album, juggling multiple personas, and his hopes for the future. Catch the full interview below.

Jaehyun: I'm just enjoying the moment. I was kind of nervous on the day that I was releasing the album yesterday, but today I'm enjoying watching all the love and the support of my fans, and also watching the film, the promotion, and the contents of the album coming out.

Jaehyun: Well, as I mentioned in the short documentary, music [has been] with me since I was young. [In] my school life, I loved singing in festivals. [That's when] I started not making music but jamming with my school friends who play instruments and make music. I used to just mumble or do random melodies while my friends were doing instruments, or I would play that kind of way with my friends. And I started to prepare this album last year, [in] December. That's when this album [journey] started.

Jaehyun: Yeah. [Smiles.] Hopefully, I can bring out some of the songs that I did before, which I might be embarrassed about when they come out, or they might be really pure. I don't know if it would come out or not. But [for] these eight tracks, we had lots of meetings with the A&Rs in my label. For each and every track, I really wanted to have a reason why it's in the first album. I had a different concept and image of each track for this album, and I really wanted to make it feel classic so you could listen to it later on. That was the thought.

Jaehyun: Sad about? Yeah, of course, there are, but I guess there's a reason for these eight tracks. Yeah… But maybe later on, I could release some [of those.]

Jaehyun: It was like a second. [Snaps fingers.] You usually use the title track's name for the album, so “Smoke” would be the one, but I really wanted my fans, or the people who listen to the album, to listen to the other tracks too. “Smoke” is really good. I love “Smoke,” but also the other tracks have their own messages, so that's why I didn't want to do Smoke. And J just popped up in the second, and because it's my first album, I didn't want to think too deep. I just wanted to keep it easy.

Jaehyun: Yeah. [Smiles.]

Jaehyun: I think it's all me. What I'm into at that moment, I guess that [ends up represented in the songs.] For “Forever Only,” I worked on the lyrics, and for “Horizon,” I worked on both composing and writing. On this album, I have some tracks that I worked on, that I composed or wrote, but also some tracks that I got from the writers — lovely tracks, too — so J is more of expressing what I feel would fit me right now [artistically.]

Jaehyun: Wow. Each track is really different. For example, for “Dandelion,” while participating in the lyrics, I looked back at the photos that I had on my phone. I used to take photos of dandelions that were randomly on a road. “Roses” was written, like, two years ago, I guess. “Smoke” was a recent vibe that I thought was really interesting, and “Can't Get You” was [inspired by] the oldies that I used to listen to. So it's all different.

Jaehyun: Well, I really listen to a bunch of songs, from old soul music to pop and PC pop, which I've been really into recently. I listen to a bunch of songs, so I don't really think of one genre while I'm making music with my crew. Whenever I'm writing for something, I just want it to be me. Every single thing that I'm influenced by or have been influenced by, I guess that that comes out.

Jaehyun: I think it's all me. It's all me. But for example, when we did Walk for NCT 127, we actually had a vote for a [title] track, and [our opinions were] all different. Every member has a different taste. But I put myself in a role [to see] where it could fit as [an outsider.] So I watch it as a whole picture. For DoJaeJung, we also had some tracks that were Jungwoo's favorites, Doyoung's favorites, or my favorites. But while recording or performing, I put my 100% into what works. It's all related to myself, but for the solo album, it is more like I could see right away what I'm into.

Jaehyun: Mm-hmm.

Jaehyun: Wow [Covers face with hand.] I'll choose two. One is the last year, in December, when I started this album, and I brought three tracks that I had made before and had a meeting with the A&Rs with my label. That's where it all started. And the second memory that I want to take is while filming “Smoke,” having all the... What do you call it?

Jaehyun: Yeah. Yeah. [Laughs.] That was crazy.

Jaehyun: I felt like I was born again; after pouring all that on my face and my body, I was like, "Wow, I'm feeling new."

Jaehyun: [Laughs.] It was crazy.

Jaehyun: Well, first of all, I really didn't want the video to be predictable for the song. That was my first thought. But after I met the director of the “Smoke” film, she had a vision of the track where the lover is going to be myself, the person in the song is going to be myself. So it was a shift for me because it was interesting, too. I thought that it shouldn't be predictable, but that shift was interesting. I loved that theme and working on filming.

Jaehyun: Yeah, I searched a lot. I searched about that famous story of Narcissus. That character is very interesting, and it feels new. I felt that every person could have a moment where they feel like if someone's watching you, like you think about that someone's watching you, and what would the person think about? What would their thoughts be? Everyone might have a moment where they had that thought. So I thought it was interesting [that] I could really be another character that might be what you've thought of.

Jaehyun: Yes. [Nods.]

Jaehyun: It's a picture that I had on my phone for years, but I felt it was the right moment to post it. [Smiles.] It's like a spoiler for “Smoke,” but also, I really wanted my fans or the listeners to feel like that while listening to the album. So it was kind of both. It had both meanings.

Jaehyun: Yes.

Jaehyun: Wow. Favorite photocard? You know what? We take tons of selfies for photocards. And… [Laughs.] I do my best every time, but I guess it's getting better and better. So, hopefully, the photocards that recently came out are going to be the best. [Smiles.]

Jaehyun: No. I just try my best selfie and just give it all.

Jaehyun: I believe them.

Jaehyun: Wow. It's interesting how you mentioned that photo, because the concept of the jacket with that outfit was like a paparazzi film where I just walk in the streets and I'm myself. So, that concept had to be one of the outfits that I used to wear. Also, on our label, the people actually mentioned that photo on my Instagram and said, "This outfit would really fit the concept that was..." I was really [flattered.] [Smiles.] They're all good at fashion, and everyone knows them well, but they like my fashion? I was really glad and also excited to film with that one. I had three different concepts for the album jacket, but that was one I [really] liked.

Jaehyun: Wow, timeless. Timeless is actually a theme that I'm into these days. I guess the memories are timeless. So it could be the moment that you're listening to a song, where you are, or who you're with; that memory could be timeless. So, after years, if you listen to one of the tracks of my album, you can still feel the memory or relate to it. I guess that's timeless.

Jaehyun: Well, after J comes A-E-H-Y-U-N. [Laughs.] For now, I guess I have to finish [the album promo] and do well on this album. I have lots of promotional films and content coming out. I hope my fans really enjoy and get to know more, even more, about myself. Also, I'd love for the new listeners to be interested in my voice or my style. So yeah, for now, that's it: Doing well on this album and keep on going for the new journey.

Jaehyun: Yes. And what I really wanted to say is... Well, I will definitely be doing what I do with NCT, but it feels like a new start for me, too. So I really want my fans and the people to feel like it's going to be a start and there's more to come up later on.

Jaehyun: Thank you!

_{This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.}