Who needs a comeback when you never really left? NIEL, a solo artist who first soared to fame with TEEN TOP back in 2010, is stepping into a brand new era – and doing it entirely on his own terms.

Since his unforgettable days belting out hits like No More Perfume On You, Crazy, and Miss Right with the second-gen icons TEEN TOP, NIEL has earned a reputation as one of K-pop’s most soulful voices. His solo journey began in 2015 with the album oNIELy, followed by Love Affair… in 2017. Fast forward to 2022, when he dropped A to Z, establishing himself not just as a boy group alum, but as a soloist with depth, charm, and a killer falsetto.

And just when we thought NIEL couldn’t get any cooler, he casually became a CEO. That’s right, in March 2025, NIEL announced the launch of his own one-man agency, EL&D Entertainment. Because when you’ve already conquered stages and hearts, why not add “founder” to the résumé?

Now, with his fourth mini album SHE, out April 22nd, NIEL is taking his artistry to brand new territory. Stepping away from the Korean R&B of his earlier works, SHE dives headfirst into the lush waters of neo-soul and groove pop. Executive-produced by none other than hitmaker DOKO, the album explores the highs and lows of love with a rawness that cuts deep and lingers like a late-night confession you almost texted but didn’t. Almost.

The title track, also called SHE, hits particularly hard. In NIEL’s own words:

I was the one who said goodbye, yet the moment I realized that I was the one truly hurting, waves of regret and longing crashed over me, growing clearer with time. You were the one whose love changed—so why am I the one left in ruins? Trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to hold on yet unable to walk away without hesitation, I must make one last choice for you.

It’s poetic, heart-wrenching, and, quite frankly, a little too relatable.

After holding his first solo concert in early 2024 and now leading his own label, NIEL is showing what it means to be an independent artist in K-pop. He’s still the voice that made us melt back in 2010, but with SHE, he’s showing us a whole new side – wiser, groovier, and more honest than ever.

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}