Born on Valentine’s day, NCT’s Jaehyun seems almost fated to be specialized in making love songs. His debut studio album, J, released on August 26, 2024, selling over 300,000 copies in its first week, while also reaching number one spots on charts all over Asia. Provoking emotion with passionate R&B, the singer song-writer dives deep into the complexities of love and its highs and lows.
Jeong Yuno, professionally known as Jaehyun, is a South Korean singer-songwriter. He first entered the music scene in April 2016 at just nineteen years old, debuting in one of the most successful groups in South Korea, NCT. Although Jaehyun’s musical duality allows him to jump between different genres flawlessly, he has a special talent for R&B, which is influenced by his time spent in America between the ages of five and ten, which he demonstrates through his debut solo album J.
In addition to being a talented member of NCT, Jaehyun has also made a name for himself as a solo artist. He has released various solo works over the years, his first and most popular being a duet with singer d.ear called “Try Again.” Following the duet, he released “Forever Only” in August 2022 and “Horizon” in August 2023. Keeping up the tradition and completing the trifecta, he released a long-awaited album in August 2024.
The album is an ode to a lingering romance, traveling through a smooth, aura soundscape. Starting off with its first track “Smoke,” the album combines hip-hop and R&B with rich vocals and strong guitar riffs layered over a rhythmic bass. The chorus features a minimal and addictive drop, instantly hooking listeners. The artist describes the song as a romantic moment in the car with someone you love and compared it to smoke rising from a boombox combining with music alluding to various feelings mixing together.
The song is then followed by “Roses,” a dark and moody track showcasing how even the things you love can hurt you. It’s a slow, painful, and soulful track highlighting post-relationship regret. He talks about how he feels withdrawn from his past love while reminiscing about their time together.
“Completely” introduces a lyrical ballad diving deep into the intense emotions of being fully devoted to someone. It explores the feeling of wanting to know everything about the other person and loving them “completely.” Despite the song’s instrumentals only consisting of piano, the song is very impactful as the artist uses his smooth, deep voice and charisma to bring out the emotional depth from the track.
Tracks like “Flamin’ Hot Lemon” and “Can’t Get You” are where the true R&B comes out. The songs introduce a bouncy, laid-back vibe to the singer-songwriter’s first studio album, capturing the essence of young love. Along with R&B, “Can’t Get You” adds a hint of jazz to the album. The song not only stands out in the album, but as an impactful moment in Jaehyun’s entire career, as it was composed by R&B legend, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, who Jaehyun listened to growing up.
J by Jaehyun is a smooth mix of chill hip-hop and R&B, perfect for listening to while studying or doing homework. This album has allowed him to express himself in new ways and experiment with different styles, showcasing a new side that fans had not seen before. Both fans and critics have loved this new persona and style, solidifying his status as not just a member of the group NCT, but as an individual artist.
