Exo's Suho: We hope to bring some new music to the UAE

The K-pop star has set another milestone with a fountain show in Dubai featuring more of his work as a solo artist

Suho, K-pop artist and member of the group Exo, performing in Dubai Festival City. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National

Fans watching K-pop artist Suho performing in Dubai Festival City.

Suho's song 'Hurdle' from his latest album had its premiere at the Dubai Festival City Mall's 'Imagine' show.

The star’s fans show their appreciation.

Suho travelled with a five-piece band to Dubai to perform tracks from his latest album, 'Grey Suit'.

Exo fans light up the show.

Fans wait for the K-pop artist to take to the Dubai Festival City stage.

Fans with posters and signs for Suho.

Fans sing excitedly along.

Suho performs three songs from his album 'Grey Suit' at Dubai Festival City.

Pixie, a popular dance group in the UAE, carry a painting of Suho.

Suho promises to return to Dubai for a performance with his bandmates Exo.

Suho is surprised with a birthday cake at his concert in Dubai Festival City.

It was four years ago when Suho made history with his Exo bandmates as their hit Power became the first K-pop song to be played at the Dubai Fountain.

Now, as a solo artist, he has returned to the emirate as his latest single, Hurdle, makes its debut at Dubai Festival City Mall's fountain show. The song, from his latest mini album, Grey Suit, will be played ongoing during the Imagine laser and light display.

“To have my song play at the fountain show as a solo artist makes me very happy," Suho tells The National. "The fact that not only people in Dubai, but tourists from worldwide, can come and hear my song makes me very excited."

Hurdle was also the singer’s favourite song to record, making the moment even more special for him. “It is a very exciting song and very different from the songs on the album. While I was recording it I sang it in different ways as well. I just had a lot of fun recording it.”

Grey Suit, which was released on April 4, has a rock-pop vibe and reflects on Suho's time away from fans because of mandatory military service for all South Korean male citizens. Suho, whose real name is Kim Jun-myeon, enlisted in May 2020 and says he prepared the album within six months while serving.

“I met with producers as well while I was at the military,” he says.

His love for rock is evident throughout Grey Suit and he says his infatuation with the genre began when he was in high school. “When I used to feel sad and lonely, I used to listen to a rock artist named Nell for comfort.

“Five years ago when Coldplay came to Korea — even with the language barrier, seeing they could communicate so well with fans — that is when I really fell for rock." He says he plans to incorporate more rock in future music.

This is his second mini album after Self Portrait, which was released in March 2020. He says his first album was more about Exo's Suho, while the second album has more of a focus on the last two years of his life, while serving conscription.

He isn't the only Exo member to fulfil mandatory military service. Back in May 2019, Xiumin became the first member to enlist, followed shortly by Do in July 2019 who surprised fans by doing so earlier than expected. Since then, other bandmates have worked on various solo projects and in sub-units, while members take turns completing the 18-month service.

Fans are eagerly awaiting Exo's follow-up to their last album and Suho says the band are equally ready to welcome back fans as the group recently celebrated a decade since their debut, which was on April 8, 2012. He says they plan to “repay the love we received from the 10 years that we have been active”.

He also has a special message for fans in the Middle East.

"My Exo members also want to come see the Arab fans as well," he says. "So we hope that we can bring some new music to the UAE and other Arab fans [can] enjoy.”

Suho was recently invited as part of Stanford University's Walter H Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Centre's Korea Programme to speak at its 20th anniversary on May 19.

“While I was preparing for the speech I was very nervous because it was my first time doing a fully English speech and I was very worried,” he says. “But the students who came to hear my speech were Exo fans so it was more comfortable and fun to give the speech as if it was a talk show.”

Looking back at lessons he gained from that he experience, he says: “I realised that the communication with K-pop fans is really important and that the responsibility that comes with being a K-pop idol is also very important.”