Mark Tuan is ready to get personal.
It’s a little over a week before the launch of his EP “Silhouette,” and the singer is at his home in L.A. discussing the project over Zoom, his dog Millo perched on his lap just out of frame. “We’ve been prepping this since the beginning of the year,” says Tuan, describing the EP as an introduction to a “more personal” side of himself. “I’m ready to see what the fans think of the new album.”
“Silhouette” is also an introduction to where Tuan hopes to take his music in the future. He describes his target genre as indie, rock-inspired, and alternative pop, reflective of the music he enjoys listening to. “I want to start putting out songs that people can listen to much easier,” he says. “Something that can go onto their playlist, and they can have it on repeat.”
Tuan has already released several singles and accompanying music videos ahead of the release, “High as You,” a sensual, smooth track that reflects his evolution as a solo artist. But for his second single release, “Hold Still,” he wanted to give his fans “something that they’re more used to,” he says, describing the bass-heavy track as aligned with the world of his first solo album, “The Other Side.” “With my first album I never really showed a full-on dance choreo piece,” he adds. “And so I wanted to bring back some of my K-pop roots.”
You May Also Like
The K-pop influence is prominent in his recent music videos, which have featured full-scale dance choreography. Social media “dance challenges” have followed both releases, with Tuan posting short dance clips featuring industry friends and other K-pop idols to promote the songs.
“ I really wanted to have this EP be the introduction to my sound, but I also wanted to give more performances for the fans,” he says, adding that he’s found creative fulfillment in collaborating with directors and choreographers on the visual components.
The EP title, “Silhouette,” speaks to a lyric on the upbeat title track, “Sunsets and Cigarettes,” a nostalgic reflection on a past love. A music video for the song will launch in tandem with the overall EP. “This is a silhouette of me. This is who I am, and who I want my fans to see me as,” he says of the concept. “Before this I was really trying to figure out where I wanted to go with my music, because I was just starting out. And I think I’m still in the early phase of my solo career.”
Tuan, who was born in L.A., was scouted by a JYP label recruiter during a lunch break at his high school. He moved to Korea as a trainee before launching his career as a member of K-pop boy band Got7 in 2014. Members including Jackson Wang and BamBam have since branched out to solo careers and projects, although the group reunited earlier this year for a comeback EP and performed a sold-out two-day concert in Thailand.
“ I think everybody has their own color,” says Tuan of the group’s individual endeavors, which often veer into the fashion space. “It’s nice to see everybody just enjoy doing what they’re doing right now. And then when we get back together, we talk about what’s going on and it feels like nothing has changed,” he says, before highlighting a logistical hurdle: Tuan now lives “halfway around the world” from Korea.
“But then when we get back together, we share our new music, share experiences that we had,” he adds. “I think it’s just cool that we’re still so close, even though we’re doing our own things.”
Tuan recently announced the relaunch of his fan community, rebranded as “Re:Mark.” It’ll be a platform for fans to connect and access exclusive personal content, with a focus on the singer’s day-to-day activities. “I’ll be sharing content when I’m out and about, overseas,” he says. “I’ll share my meals, or my pets, and stuff like that.” Millo fans, take note.
Tuan is hosting fan signings in various cities over the next month, and has plans to tour in the “near future,” likely following the release of his next studio album, which is underway.
“I do wanna get back on tour and perform for people,” he says. “That’s something I’m excited to do again.”
