Ten is the debut extended play (EP) by Thai singer Ten. It was released on February 13, 2024, by SM Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment. The six track EP, recorded entirely in English, explores several different genres, including pop-punk, Latin pop, dance-pop, contemporary R&B, and hip-hop. The project was supported by the lead single "Nightwalker", and promoted with a concert tour of East and Southeast Asia. The EP was commercially successful, reaching the top 5 of charts in South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Background and release
Ten debuted as a member of South Korean boy band NCT in April 2016 with the release of NCT U's debut single "The 7th Sense".[2] In January 2019, his role in NCT expanded when he joined WayV, NCT's China-based sub-unit,[3] followed by SuperM, a K-pop supergroup, that August.[4] Ten had previously released several solo singles, including "Dream in a Dream", "Paint Me Naked" and "Birthday" through the SM Station project, though he had yet to make his official solo debut.[5]
In November 2023, details of Ten's future plans were included in SM Entertainment's third-quarter 2023 financial reporting documents, revealing that he was scheduled to make his official solo debut with an EP in the first quarter of 2024.[6] In early January 2024, Ten's first fan-con tour was announced, with shows in Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Jakarta beginning in February.[7] On the same day, SM confirmed that Ten's EP was scheduled to be released in February but provided no further details.[8]
The details of the project were officially announced on January 26, with SM confirming the six-track self-titled EP, sung entirely in English, would be released on February 13.[5] The announcement was accompanied by a poster bearing the words "When the midnight comes / Pulling the strings / Beautiful monster royalty energy / I am yours", which were believed to be lyrics to an upcoming song.[9]
Further details followed, with the name of the title track, "Nightwalker", being announced on January 30th,[10] followed by the full track listing and descriptions of each song on February 1.[11] A music video for a shortened version of the song "Lie With You" was released on February 5, showing Ten dreaming about moments with a former lover.[12] Two more songs were teased on February 8 in a performance video titled "10", depicting the singer dancing to "Water" and "Dangerous".[13]
Ten was officially released on February 13, along with the lead single "Nightwalker" and its accompanying music video.[14]
Composition
Ten has been described as "genre-bending".[15] Speaking of the EP during a press event on the day of the EP's release, Ten said ""All six tracks explore different genres. I prepared a variety of elements because I wanted to demonstrate to many people the diverse charms and talents that I possess."[15]
The EP's lead single, "Nightwalker" is a dance track with a "pulsating" bass rhythm and "ethereal mood", with lyrics about being "irresistibly drawn to a captivating presence".[15] "Water" is a Latin-pop track with early 2000s influence,[16] while "Dangerous" is a pop-punk song[17] with retro-sounding funk influences[18] "On Ten" leans into heavy hip-hop with heavy bass and synths,[17] while "Shadow" is R&B influenced.[18] The EP's final song, "Lie With You", is a mid-tempo pop track about reminiscing about moments with a former lover.[19]
Promotion
To promote the EP, Ten held a showcase on the day of release at Yes24 Live Hall where he performed songs from the EP and answered questions from press.[20] Additionally, for the last hour before the EP's release, Ten held a countdown livestream on YouTube, TikTok and Weverse where he discussed the EP and shared behind-the-scenes stories of its production.[21]
Ten supported the EP with his first fan-con tour, visiting several cities throughout Asia.[7] Tickets to the tour's Seoul show quickly sold out, causing a second show to be added.[22] The tour began on February 16 in Seoul, with Ten performing all six songs from the EP, as well as his previous singles "Birthday", "Paint Me Naked", "Dream in a Dream", as well as a jazz arrangement of WayV's "Love Talk".[23]
In South Korea, Ten peaked at number three on the Circle Album Chart for the week ending February 17, selling 124,404 copies. A second version of the album charted at number eight, shifting 15,000 copies.[29] On the monthly chart, the EP peaked at number twelve for February 2024 with 139,588 copies sold, along with a second version at number 26 selling 23,746 copies.[30] As of July 2024, the EP has sold 178,891 copies in South Korea.[31]
^Lee, Min-ji (January 4, 2024). "SM "NCT 텐, 2월 첫 솔로앨범 발매 준비 중" [공식입장]" [SM "NCT Ten is preparing to release his first solo album in February"]. Newsen. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
^Park, Seo-yeon (February 1, 2024). "NCT 텐, 팔색조 보컬 매력 보여준다...솔로 데뷔 앨범 '기대'" [NCT Ten, Showing Off His Eight-Colored Vocal Charms... Solo Debut Album 'Anticipated']. MyDaily (in Korean). Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ abSeon, Mi-kyung (January 31, 2024). "NCT텐,첫 솔로로 보여줄 매혹적인 자신감" [NCT Ten, fascinating confidence to be shown with first solo]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^Park, Gye-ol (January 10, 2024). "NCT 텐, 첫 팬 콘서트 매진...1회 공연 추가" [NCT Ten, First Fan Concert Sold Out... 1 More Performances]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^Kyung, Ji-min (February 18, 2024). "NCT 텐, 팬 콘서트 亞 투어 서울 공연 성공적 마무리..'퍼펙트 텐' 입증" [NCT Ten, Fan Concert Asia Tour Seoul Performance Successfully Concluded.. Proving 'Perfect Ten']. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (February 23, 2024). "투어스 '뮤직뱅크' 1위 등극 "행복 드릴게요" 감격 소감[★밤TView]" [TWS' 'Music Bank' 1st place "I'll make you happy" moving impression]. Star News Korea (in Korean). Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^Lee, Seung-gil (March 1, 2024). "이이경 "이효리, 내게 먼저 전화번호 물어봤다" [오늘밤TV]" [Lee Yi-kyung "Lee Hyo-ri asked for my phone number first"]. MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^ ab"Ten". Circle Chart. February 11–17, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
"オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' (as of 08/04/2024)]. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
