Stray Kids‘ superstar Hyunjin has not made his official solo debut yet, but he has shown his exceptional songwriting skills through several self-composed songs released on YouTube. On Hyunjin’s 24th birthday, ComingSoon.Net is exploring the star’s rich solo discography of songs.
Hwang Hyunjin of Stray Kids debuted on March 25, 2018, with the group’s first extended play, I Am Not. Since then, the K-pop rock star has earned fame by showing off his majestic dancing skills and stage charisma.
But Hyunjin is an all-rounder. Along with his ability to ace any group’s theme or concept, he is a maestro in writing heart-piercing lyrics. So, let’s dive into Hyunjin’s self-composed songs, which are perfect gifts for Stays to stream on his birthday on March 20.
‘Hey You’
Hyunjin shared one of his latest tracks, “Hey You,” on March 16, 2024, as an early birthday present to fans. The English track was written by Hyunjin and composed by Hyunjin and Joha. The upbeat love song is an instant mood lifter, and Hyunjin asks, “Can we walk/ And maybe share our lives?/ Can we talk/ And maybe love your eyes?”
The song’s composition is breezy and refreshing, contrasting the signature Stray Kids’ group releases, which are mostly EDM-based high-tempo tracks. Since its release, the song has garnered over 1 million streams on YouTube, and fans can’t help but praise Hyunjin’s improvement in songwriting since his debut.
‘Long For You’
Hyunjin’s 2024 releases also include “Long For You,” which narrates the point of view of a heartbroken lover. In “Long For You,” Hyunjin impresses listeners with his angelic vocals and heart-wrenching lyrics when he sings, “The night’s so cold that it’s almost unreal/ I wake up in another silence/ And I close my eyes/ The white flower we planted together has bloomed/ I do not dare pick it/ Now it withers away.”
Hyunjin also shared his inspiration behind writing “Long For You” in the fan community app, ‘Bubble.’ He explained: “I started working on “Long For You” because I wanted to express my feelings with different emotions and lyrics.” Since its release, the song has received over 1.2 million streams on YouTube.
‘Contradicting’
Hyunjin flaunts his edgier side in “Contradicting.” The song’s poetic lyrics make the track stand out amid a sea of Korean love songs where he sings, “The lights of our warm moments have grown dim/ They float around and now sink in my head, we try to find the reason for us.”
Along with his smooth vocals, Hyunjin also shows off his rapping skills in the song. Released in August 2023, Hyunjin’s “Contradicting” has clocked more than 3.9 million views on YouTube, making it one of his most famous solo songs.
‘Ice Cream’
Stray Kids’ Hyunjin’s “Ice Cream” was a summer gift to fans released on August 12, 2022. The song is a desperate cry to a loved one whose memory haunts the protagonist. So, even after harsh words have been exchanged, Hyunjin is ready to make a fresh start by urging his lover to do the same in the song.
“I think I know you, but I don’t/ You have a sweet aftertaste/ Harsh words mean nothing to me/ With a few childish words, your expression as cold as ice disappears/ And you become soft and pure,” Hyunjin sings in “Ice Cream.” Since its release, the groovy track has become one of Stays’ favorite solo tracks, garnering over 5.7 million streams.
‘Little Star’
One of Hyunjin’s first self-composed songs, “Little Star,” is written in memory of his pet dog, Kkomi. The song remains special for fans as it paved the way for his future releases and brought the vocalist Hyunjin, otherwise known as a rapper, to the world.
Hyunjin attached a short note with the song, writing, “While looking at Kkomi’s photos, I suddenly felt sorry for the few photos of Kkomi that I had, so I made this song. I wrote the lyrics hoping my letter would reach one of those pretty stars.” Since its release, Hyunjin’s “Little Star” has gained over 8 million streams on YouTube.
Meanwhile, Stray Kids are gearing up for their upcoming fan meet, which will start on March 29, 2024, and end on March 31, 2024, at Seoul’s KSPO Dome.
