HAECHAN, after nine years as a K-Pop idol under the NCT brand, made his official solo debut on September 8, 2025, with the full album TASTE. TASTE consists of 11 tracks, including an Intermission and Outro.

The opening track, Camera Lights, is a calm, jazzy track with a soulful vocal focus. With a BPM of 92, the track is a mix of popular R&B and modern jazz. Camera Lights can only be described as heavenly, with soft snares and a crucial jazzy, syncopated rhythm. The vocals are much more anticipated, carrying over and tying between measures. The contrast makes way for a unique musical blend that encapsulates the NCT aura through HAECHAN’s solo.

The second track, which is both the title track and accompanying single, CRZY, is a much more definitively R&B pop dance track. With dance moves and music inspired by Michael Jackson, HAECHAN carries a suave air around him through the controlled and rhythmic accompanying choreography. CRZY showcases a range in vocals, from low to high, and from rap to beatboxing to melodious singing. The song has a much more dramatic drumline, with the percussion blending instead of the distinct snare of Camera Lights. CRZY’s choreography carries that sophisticated air that follows through the rest of the album, setting the tone for both HAECHAN’s accompanying sensual tracks and choreography. CRZY’s high-energy pop dance style also sets the tone for other more upbeat and experimental tracks,

The third track carries that NCT-esque experimental music with it. ADRENALINE is a modern reiteration of that 2000s-core hip-hop R&B mix. It’s characterized by sharp synths, aggressive percussion, and heavy bass. The vocals are more distorted, just like the music you’d expect from an NCT member. The lyrics and musicality are reminiscent of an empty road, racing through the night. ADRENALINE’s bridge is a sharp twist down into soft melodies and slow dance until it immediately picks up to the variable synths. Dancing through ADRENALINE can be compared to floating through a party from person to person, letting the adrenaline of the night take front through your conversations and movement.

The fourth track, Love Beyond, is definitely Jazz. There’s simply no doubt about it; no other bounds that could capture its music. Though some elements have that R&B feel, such as the vocal layers to end out lines. As HAECHAN swings his notes, the vocal layers add a sense of sophistication that leaves your ears humming long after the verse has moved on. Love Beyond is a song of love through a distance, a love that knows no bounds. Distance claims to only make the heart grow fonder, and that longing gives way to a different strength of love. The retro funk and the unique drumline give way to a grooviness that could be described as synonymous with HAECHAN and the accompanying choreography.

The fifth track is Roll With Me, which happens to be much more definitively R&B than Love Beyond, detailing soft melodies and a passionate drumline. The quick movements among the percussion give way to a heavily syncopated beat. The song is much more leisurely, carrying a characteristic soul sound. The dramatic drums following the end of the chorus carry an air of emotion and passionate love. This song is the perfect soundtrack for a road trip with your best friends down the coast. The backing vocals set the tone for a harmonious, ballad-esque song; however, that assumption is quickly counteracted by longing vocals filled with subtle power despite the calming melody and rhythm the lyrics follow. The pre-chorus is all that subtle power, until it gives way to a much slower chorus. The rap-like, almost spoken, bridge ties the relaxed mood of the song in. The song ends with an instrumental break with heavenly backing vocals, finally giving way to a decrescendo. The perfect way to end the song: the picture-perfect image of chill.

The next track is the intermission, tying in elements from all the aforementioned tracks. Jazzy and groovy synth, calm percussion, heavy bass. The second half of the intermission features a pronounced bass line and fairy-like chimes, indicating the jazzy and melancholic back end of the album.

The seventh track carries over that distinct bass line. Talented is the laid-back, sensual anthem you’d expect. It has subtle choreography, echoing that of Michael Jackson and Taemin. The bassline gives off that air of funk, which is accompanied by groovy synth and keys that reflect the heavy R&B and soul influence that TASTE has. Its rhythm is very swingy, with words carrying into each other, notes smoothly transitioning from one to the next. The song’s boldness carries into the musicality and tone, all relaxed and cool, collected lyrics.

The eighth track is WYN? ft. HAON (or, What’s Your Name?) My personal favorite track is much more representative of that Neo NCT sound, similar to ADRENALINE. It’s fast-paced and immediately pulls you into its trance. The sound is distinctly hip-hop and R&B. There are heavy synths, and it could be classified as “bass-boosted,” with the energy of the beat-makers reaching your ears. The song is all passionate vocals, with a loud and punchy singing technique. HAON’s verse is classic hip-hop, a calm yet quick and fixed rhythm matching his lyrics. This song is a DJ classic with quick swipes and easy beat drops. The rhythmic movements of this song perfectly encapsulate the energy for which HAECHAN is known. Compared to the rest of HAECHAN’s album, this (and ADRENALINE) are complete outliers, with punchiness, heavy percussion, distinct basslines, and much more energy.

The shift from WYN? to the ninth track, Should Be, is drastic. Should Be is a calm piano melody, practically a ballad, with a syncopated drum line and swaying vocals. The song paints the picture of being cuddled up against the window with a good book and a warm blanket on a chilly fall night. Should Be is all soft melodies and relaxed percussion. The song details the regrets of saying goodbye to a love, a passionate despair. The song also details confusion and regret, questioning whether HAECHAN even wants to take his lover back or not. The song is an R&B slow jam. The vocals are mature and low-pitched compared to some of the other tracks on TASTE, showcasing the melancholic, heartbreaking vibe of Should Be.

The tenth track, Grey Rain, isn’t too different. With a characteristic acoustic guitar and extended vocals. The vocals tie from line to line, note to note. The song features diminished percussion, taking a back seat in comparison to the other tracks on the album. The song is characterized by the simple guitar tone and front-and-center vocals. The vocals are the main focus of the song, picturing sitting at a windowsill on a foggy day with rain dripping down the glass panes. Grey Rain is more alternative or indie, lacking the R&B sound of the rest of the album. Despite its ballad-esque musical tone, Grey Rain is the true album outlier, lacking all the characteristic punchy jazziness and R&B that the rest of the album highlights. Grey Rain is the perfect album outro, letting the album build the listener through the introduction of Camera Lights and CRZY to more high-energy and upbeat tunes like ADRENALINE and WYN? to the final, ending melancholic tunes of Should Be and Grey Rain.

The album ends with Outro (Back in the Studio). The outro details the candid noises that come with being in the studio. The clicks of shoes on feet, doors closing, pens scratching. The outro is the perfect loop back to Camera Lights, leaving listeners on edge and with teasers of promised future work.

Fun fact: the outro is exactly 1:27, which, ironically, is one of the subunits HAECHAN happens to be a part of in NCT (NCT 127).

All in all, TASTE is the perfect capsule of HAECHAN’s musical inspiration and characterization. With sensual and punchy tunes, the music encapsulates both the HAECHAN that fans haven’t already seen and the expected moodmaker that he carefully conveys through his time in NCT. TASTE takes inspiration from other R&B sensations and has won multiple awards in said genre. The choreography, though not shown here, is masterful in capturing what fans expected of HAECHAN’s first solo album release. The choreography is all subtle details and quick changes that HAECHAN is known for in NCT. Overall, I’d say TASTE is an amazing representation of soul, R&B, and Jazz while still keeping HAECHAN and NCT’s signature sound in place.

I guess you could say HAECHAN has TASTE!

Taste - The 1st Album; Album Cover