Every artist dreams of a moment when their music finally sounds exactly the way they envisioned. And any artist who does what they truly want shines brightly on stage, with or without stage lights.
NIEL made his long-awaited solo comeback on April 22nd with his 4th mini album SHE, marking an important milestone in a career that first began when he debuted as the main vocalist of TEEN TOP in 2010. Since launching his solo career in 2015, NIEL has steadily built a reputation for his distinctive voice and emotional performances. And earlier this year, NIEL established his own agency EL&D Entertainment, a move that allowed him complete creative freedom over his music for the first time. With SHE, he embraced that opportunity fully, crafting an album that reflects the side of himself he has always wanted to reveal: sexy, mature, and daring.
To commemorate this pivotal moment in his career, NIEL organized a special pre-recording event on April 22nd, just a few hours before the album’s official release. It was announced that fans were invited to the pre-recording of two tracks from SHE, ‘What’s the Excuse for Love’ and the title track ‘SHE’. The pre-recording was much more than a simple fan showcase. It offered a first glimpse into the world of the album while symbolizing a deeper promise: that NIEL’s new era would be one where fans walk alongside him every step of the way.
On the rainy afternoon of the pre-recording, NIEL arrived at the cozy venue in Seoul for rehearsals. As he carefully checked the sound system and discussed his line of movement with the lighting crew as well as the camera team, NIEL maintained a professional composure. But underneath the collected exterior, NIEL was going through a rush of feelings as he prepared for the big show ahead: “I was about to unveil an album infused with my own preferences, and I was anxious whether my fans would like what I had prepared.” As the time to go on stage approached, however, excitement replaced anxiety: “Right before getting on stage, I think the strongest feeling I had was excitement to finally show it to everyone.”
Fans were always at the top of NIEL’s mind for the pre-recording, and even the inspiration for the event came from NIEL thinking of what he could do for his fans. About what inspired him to organize a pre-recording event, NIEL recalls, “I didn’t have any plans to go on music shows for this album, so I was not going to have the opportunity to meet my fans with the new songs.” He thought about how he could create that opportunity himself, “in a way that fans would love and enjoy,” and thus the pre-recording event was born.
Planning the event was not an easy task, especially since it had never been done before, and there were no set rules on how to do it. NIEL was involved in every step of the planning, even the camera work: “We wanted to make sure the result would have the similar look and feel of a music show, including vertical shots and cross-cut edit shots, so we prepared for a variety of different camera angles.”
Rehearsals drew to a close, and the doors opened for fans to fill the audience seats. The show was about to start.
‘What’s the Excuse for Love’
The pre-recording kicked off with the fifth track from SHE, titled ‘What’s the Excuse for Love’. The stage was set up like a rock concert was about to take place, complete with a drum set, guitar, keyboard, and amplifiers. Dressed in a leather jacket and ripped baggy jeans, NIEL seemed to embody a rock star instead of a K-pop idol as he cried out the lyrics into the microphone, clutching the mic stand and folding his body almost in half.
NIEL had deliberately chosen ‘What’s the Excuse for Love’ to open the show, knowing how much fans had been anticipating it. “It was the song fans were most curious about and excited for,” he explained. “Since it has a lively and exciting melody, I wanted to show it first, almost like a pre-release performance before unveiling the title track.” There was also a practical side to the decision. “Because ‘SHE’ has choreography, I thought if we kept repeating it for filming, I’d get too messy and sweaty. I really wanted to give my all to the performance of ‘SHE’ without worrying about what came after.”
When planning the stage for ‘What’s the Excuse for Love’, NIEL had a clear vision: a stripped-down, festival-like atmosphere that captured both the energy and the underlying sadness of the song. “Since it’s a bright melody based on a live session feel, I just thought, let’s let everything go and sing it out,” he said. Visually, he wanted the stage to be both lively and a little haunting. The instruments were set up as if a band were ready to play, but the band never appeared. “This song actually has really sorrowful lyrics, about being left empty after a breakup,” he shared. “So I wanted the stage to reflect that too — just me standing there, surrounded by instruments but completely alone.”
Even without a live band, the performance felt electric, filling the room with raw, unfiltered emotion. Watching NIEL sing with abandon, it was easy to imagine the song lighting up a real summer festival stage. “It’s such a fun and good song,” NIEL said, laughing. “I really hope I get to sing it a lot at festivals this summer.”
‘SHE’ Fanchant
After wrapping up the explosive recording of ‘What’s the Excuse for Love’, NIEL took a short break before moving on to the title track, ‘SHE’. Before the next performance began, there was one special moment he had been looking forward to: practicing the fan chant with the audience.
Since the album had not been released yet, there was no official audio available ahead of the pre-recording. Instead, NIEL and his team came up with a creative solution: “Because the song wasn’t out yet, we filmed the fan chant guide using only the metronome sound,” NIEL explained. “Even without the music, N-LISS (NIEL’s fandom name) still practiced and prepared so hard. I’m so thankful for that.”
The chant itself was carefully designed by NIEL and his team. “We all brainstormed ideas together,” he shared. “Even if it was a little tricky, I wanted fans to feel like they were helping create the song with me, so we made the fan chant really colorful and full of different parts.”
The ‘SHE’ fan chant was lively but tricky, with fast transitions and syncopated rhythms. Even NIEL got it wrong a few times, but that only added to the fun as he playfully conducted the fans, helping them find the beat together. The lighthearted moment deepened the connection between NIEL and his fans, making it feel even more personal.
As the chant rang through the venue during the pre-recording, NIEL felt a surge of energy from the crowd. “At first, they were already doing really well, but as we kept going through the takes, they got even better and better,” he said. “By the later part of the recording, I was honestly exhausted, but hearing the fan chant so loudly gave me the strength to push through and finish strong. I felt so energized, so thankful, and just really proud.”
With the bond between artist and fans stronger than ever, it was finally time to unveil ‘SHE’ on stage for the very first time.
‘SHE’
NIEL took the stage for the first recording of ‘SHE’ wearing a flowy white sweater and matching slacks, standing under a single spotlight. The minimalistic set amplified the performance’s dreamlike yet explosive atmosphere. Speaking about the inspiration behind the visual concept, NIEL explained, “I wanted to capture something daring, something more mature and sexy. I feel like I am in the process of finding a color that suits my voice in a way I have always envisioned.”
The visual identity of the music video, from the styling to the makeup, carried directly into the pre-recording stage, creating a seamless world between the video and the live performance. “I hoped that by unifying all the elements of the album into one mood, people could fully immerse themselves in it,” he said.
From the opening notes, NIEL’s interpretation of ‘SHE’ unfolded with raw intensity. The choreography, demanding and emotionally charged, left him panting heavily after each recording. “Because the choreography expresses the desperate emotions of someone who has let everything go after a breakup, I naturally found myself pouring all my energy into every single take,” he said. “I wanted to deliver the raw, unfiltered feelings of a person who has lost something important, dancing until I was completely exhausted.” When asked to pick a favorite part of the choreography, NIEL said, “It’s hard to choose just one part because the whole routine fits me and the song so well. I love all of it.”
After completing several takes in the white outfit, NIEL reemerged in a striking red suit for a second round of recordings. As the takes stretched on, he danced with growing exhaustion, pushing through every spin, fall, and breathless collapse with sheer willpower. In a way, it was fitting that the final take, when NIEL had almost no energy left to give, was the one that captured the song’s overwhelming sense of devastation most vividly. “Everyone told me that the final take, where I truly squeezed out every last drop of energy, was their favorite,” he recalled.
Standing under the lights one last time, completely spent, NIEL gave a final bow and addressed the audience. Reflecting on that moment later, he said, “The moment that stayed with me the most was when I finished the last take and gave my final greeting to the fans. I was so exhausted that I hardly remember what I said, but seeing the sincerity in their eyes meant everything to me. I think that was the moment I truly expressed my gratitude to N-LISS and to everyone who supports me.”
NIEL Reflects and Looks Ahead
After completing the grueling prerecording of ‘SHE,’ NIEL had a chance to truly feel the weight of the fan reaction in real-time. The connection between him and his fans had never felt stronger, and seeing their enthusiasm was both humbling and validating. “I was really nervous because I created this album based on my own tastes, but seeing how much the fans loved it was such a relief,” he shared. “They loved the songs, the dance, and the music video—I was so happy to see how much they enjoyed it. The fact that the music I love is something they also enjoy really made me feel like we connected on a deeper level. It was great to feel that energy in person with them.”
NIEL added that the highlight of the night was watching the fans react to the ‘SHE’ music video for the first time: “I wished I had recorded my own reaction when they saw the music video for the first time! I was watching them from backstage.”
But while NIEL was excited about the positive response, he’s far from done. This album is just the beginning of what he plans to share with his fans. “This album felt like the first step, but there’s so much more I want to show,” he admitted. “I’m really happy that everyone enjoyed it, but I also hope they will continue to support me as I keep growing. There’s still so much more to come.” His excitement for the continued journey with his fans by his side also extended to the possibilities of future performances. “I’m excited to perform at summer festivals or even go on an overseas tour. I just want to meet fans in as many different places as possible and share those moments with them,” NIEL shared.
SHE is not just a bold new statement for NIEL. It is the beginning of a journey that he has chosen to share with the people who helped him get here.
