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After writing K-pop songs for BTS, Exo and Super Junior, NIve releases his first solo album, ‘Broken Kaleidoscope’

  • NIve’s first album is a step into the unknown for the 28-year-old Korean-American. His songs cover big themes like life, death and happiness
  • He says revealing his intimate thoughts leaves him feeling naked, but vows to keep creating music ‘until I die’

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NIve made his name in the K-pop world by writing songs for BTS and Exo. This week he released his first album “Broken Kaleidoscope”.

“Very, very worried. Nervous.” That’s how NIve feels about Broken Kaleidoscope, his new solo album, which was released this week.

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“I’m very excited, because I don’t know what’s going to happen. But very worried, because it’s my first album, and because I’m writing my full thoughts.”

The Seoul-based singer-songwriter’s first solo album comes after several years ofhim releasing not only his own songs but writing hits for many of South Korea’s most popular artists, including K-pop bands BTS, Exo, NCT U and Super Junior and solo artist Heize; he also penned the 2019 hit ballad Beautiful Goodbye for Exo member Chen.

“It wasn’t very easy for me to write my heart out and release it in front of people,” the 28-year-old Korean-American admits about the new album, which is both reflective and a forthright look at who and what he is.

NIve has collaborated with some of K-pop’s most popular artists, including BTS, Exo, Heize, NCT U and Super Junior.
NIve has collaborated with some of K-pop’s most popular artists, including BTS, Exo, Heize, NCT U and Super Junior.

Released on Tuesday, Broken Kaleidoscope explores themes to do with the fragmented beauty of existence that he’s covered in earlier songs – but in a more in-depth, journal-like way. One of the reasons he’s so concerned about how the album is received is because he sings about heavy things like life, death, happiness and mental health.

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