Ever since Wonho started his solo profession, his music has turn out to be the soundtrack to his private tales, following themes of affection, power, and self-discovery. Consider songs like “Losing You,” the place he faucets into love’s complexities; “Open Mind,” the place he displays on id and development; or “Don’t Regret,” the place he embraces the previous as a supply of power to maneuver on—and all whereas sharing the tales along with his beloved followers, Wenee. In an identical vein, Wonho’s new single “Higher Than Me” speaks to them. Whereas partially a breakup track, “it’s a message to my followers who believed in me and waited for me,” he says. As he elaborates, “The road ‘Nobody does it higher than me’ isn’t just about self-confidence—it’s a declaration that nobody can love and defend Wenee the way in which I do.”
“Higher Than Me” is an English monitor that stems from Wonho’s heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering assist of his followers. “The road ‘I’ll offer you endlessly, so take on a regular basis you want’ is one thing I actually needed to specific to them,” he shares, whereas emphasizing, “It doesn’t matter what occurs, my emotions for you haven’t modified.” This emotional depth is on the core of the track, which blends nostalgic fashion with fashionable power, drawing inspiration from early 2000s Western boy bands corresponding to NSync and Backstreet Boys. For Wonho, these teams have been all about honesty and drama of their music, their performances exuding a robust sense of presence. Drawing from these influences, in addition to artists like Usher and Ne-Yo, he needed so as to add that timeless essence to his “Higher Than Me.” “The emotional melodies paired with rhythmic beats mix the nostalgic power of early boy bands with at this time’s pop sensibilities,” he explains.
The monitor is Wonho’s first new music, following his 2024 English single, “What Would You Do,” a sneak peek into his upcoming album. He reveals that the album explores a spread of genres and kinds, centered across the idea of “pop star,” by means of which he needed to indicate the vary of his music and the power he brings to the stage. “From emotional ballads to high-energy efficiency tracks, this undertaking reveals many sides of me,” he says.
The 32-year-old on the time of writing debuted in Monsta X again in 2015 and shifted to a solo profession in 2020 (a yr after he parted methods with Monsta X). That very same yr, his debut album, Love Synonym Pt.1: Proper for Me, topped the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart and claimed prime spots on iTunes charts in a number of international locations, in addition to the Billboard World Digital Track Gross sales Charts. Since then, Wonho has cemented himself as a standout voice within the K-pop business. Reflecting on his experiences as an idol, he acknowledges the assorted classes he has discovered by means of this demanding journey, which invariably requires stamina and abilities. Nonetheless, he highlights that crucial factor for him has been “believing in myself.” “That course of helped me turn out to be stronger on the within, and now I really feel like I can specific my ideas and feelings extra truthfully by means of my music. This album naturally displays that development.”
“Higher Than Me” units the tone for it. The track’s music video options Wonho flexing slick strikes in a high-energy dance routine with others on a basketball court docket, completely capturing the summer season vibe. Nevertheless, the backstage story Wonho shares reveals a way more difficult course of. “The climate on the shoot day was intense! The daylight was so sturdy that even the sunshine bouncing off the bottom was blinding. We needed to movie outdoor all day with no shade in any respect. On prime of that, there was a wind advisory — the gusts have been so sturdy that a number of the tents on set almost took flight. There have been lots of scenes the place I might barely preserve my eyes open, however regardless of the powerful situations, I’m glad the ultimate video turned out nice.”
“I’m actually wanting ahead to the second I get to sing this track with my followers on stage,” Wonho expresses. The track has been a undertaking he’s labored on his personal that he believes will really feel absolutely realized when he performs it reside for his followers. “By means of ‘Higher Than Me,’ I hope my followers can really feel extra assured and love themselves much more. I believe they’ll take pleasure in seeing me carry out this track — and simply serious about that already makes me comfortable.”