XngHan, Formerly of Riize, Excited for Solo Debut as 'XngHan&Xoul'

Returning to the Stage Nine Months After Leaving the Group

Singer Seunghan is releasing the first single "Waste No Time" of Seunghan and Soul (XngHan&Xoul). SM Entertainment

"Excitement is what I feel the most. Because I made my fans wait, I worked hard to prepare so I could make up for that time."

XngHan, formerly of the group Riize, is returning to the stage as a solo artist. On July 31, through his agency SM Entertainment, he said, "Ahead of my solo debut, I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of image I should present." He continued, "With the mindset of exploring various possibilities together with my crew, I launched the artist brand 'XngHan&Xoul'." He added, "I am filled with anticipation."

His first single, "Waste No Time," consists of two tracks that capture XngHan's determination as he prepared for the moment to return to the stage. The title track, "Waste No Time," is an electronic dance song characterized by bright synth leads, bass, and an intuitive melody. XngHan explained, "It's a refreshing and energetic song, like a summer day," and added, "It expresses my resolve to move forward without hesitation."

The other track, "Heavenly Blue," is a refreshing chill house-based EDM pop song in which XngHan personally participated in both the lyrics and choreography. He said, "I wrote this song with my fans in mind," and added, "The line I like the most is, 'You're not a light, but you're the one who brightens me.'"

The choreography, based on the concept of freedom, was created together with two dancers. XngHan said, "We prepared while inspiring each other as people who love to dance," and added, "I hope that energy is conveyed well on stage."

The music video, released alongside the digital tracks, was filmed entirely on location in Mongolia. He said, "The scene where I was running with the Xoulis is especially memorable," and added, "I felt so free that I couldn't help but laugh as I ran."

This promotion will be carried out as a crew-based collaboration not only in music but also in styling and artwork. XngHan said, "I love dancing, but someday I want to perform as a vocalist with a band," and added, "In the long run, my goal is to make an album that I write and compose myself."

XngHan debuted as a member of Riize in September 2023, but halted activities in November of the same year due to a personal controversy. In October last year, SM announced his return to the group, but after backlash from fans, he ultimately left the team. He said, "It was a difficult time, but it made me reflect on what I truly want to do," and added, "I'm just grateful to be able to stand on stage again."

At 7 p.m. on July 31, XngHan will hold his debut showcase at the Shinhan Card SOL Pay Square Live Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where he will perform his new songs for the first time. He is also scheduled to appear on major music shows, including KBS2's "Music Bank" on August 1, MBC's "Show! Music Core" on August 2, and SBS's "Inkigayo" on August 3.