SOURCE: SM ENTERTAINMENT

Mini-Album Review: SUHO – Self-Portrait

EXO’s Suho just dropped his first mini album as a soloist, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. We all know that Suho is a gifted singer, he is a stunning visual and on top of that he is a fantastic actor.

I was anticipating this release after seeing the art and concept behind it. If you haven’t seen it make sure to check it out. The watercolor portraits were made by Park Song Lee, her work is breathtaking. Take a look at her instagram because she is an incredible artist. 

The clips for some of the songs in this release had me super excited, not just with the cinematography but also with the music. I knew this release would have incredible vocals and acoustic instruments, two elements that I love and my ears highly appreciate (I love a sad tune). Let’s start diving into the music of this release.  

‘Self-Portrait’ kicks off with ‘O2’ and this song starts this album strong. Just the beginning of the track feels as if you were being dragged over the sea and suddenly you land on a desert island and you can hear Suho with an orchestra playing. The acoustics and build up of this track are fantastic and leave a strong first impression of this release.

‘Let’s Love’ comes next and this one should be an OST of a romantic drama. It has the right vibe for it, it is soft and yet it doesn’t really feel like a sad song. I would describe it as a playful ballad that warms your heart. This song is also the title track of this release, check out the music video below.

Third in this release is ‘Made In You’, this pop ballad shows off Suho’s voice and I loved how the back vocals layered. It is a super romantic song and I just loved the full rhythm and flow of the full track. 

‘Starry Night’ follows it with a softer and way sadder vibe. The arrangement of acoustic instruments in this track is beautiful and the outro with just Suho’s vocals and the piano gave me the chills, an absolute masterpiece.

‘Self-Portrait’ starts off and lightens things up slightly. It is way more lively than ‘Starry Night’ even though it still has the ballad tempo. It is a super chill song that fits perfectly for a quiet evening at home and a glass of wine. 

The mini-album comes to an end with ‘For You Now’ ft. Younha, and by the title and the feature I already knew that this song would be a dagger to the heart. It is super emotional with heavenly vocals and the entire thing was a wholesome music journey.

‘Self-Portrait’ is an incredible release that not just ballad fans will appreciate but also anyone that is into listening to music that evokes emotions. Join the club and listen to the full release below. It will not disappoint. 

Kathleen Herrera
K-Beauty enthusiast, Drama Lover, Melophile and Foodie, writing about her faves on a daily basis.