Flow (EP)
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Flow
| type = EP
| artist = Onew
| cover = Onew - Flow.png
| alt =
| caption = Digital cover
| released = September 3, 2024
| recorded =
| studio =
- InGrid (Seoul)
- JJ Music (Seoul)
| genre = K-pop
| length = 15:45
| language = Korean
| label =
- Griffin
- Dreamus
| producer =
- Onew
- Ditch David
| prev_title = Circle
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Connection
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Flow
| type = EP
| single1 = All Day
| single1date = July 15, 2024
| single2 = Beat Drum
| single2date = September 3, 2024
}}
}}
Flow is the third Korean-language extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Onew. It was released on September 3, 2024, through Griffin Entertainment. The EP contains six songs, including singles "All Day" and "Beat Drum".
Background
Onew's contract with his agency, SM Entertainment, expired in March 2024. He signed a new contract with Griffin Entertainment for his solo promotions.{{cite web|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-04-03/entertainment/kpop/SHINees-Onew-signs-with-newlycreated-Griffin-Entertainment/2017209|title=Shinee's Onew signs with newly-created Griffin Entertainment|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|last=Kim|first=Ju-yeon|date=April 3, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|archive-date=June 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623192808/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-04-03/entertainment/kpop/SHINees-Onew-signs-with-newlycreated-Griffin-Entertainment/2017209|url-status=live}} During an appearance on the music talk show The Seasons, he said that he made the change because he felt he was getting too comfortable at SM and wanted to pursue new challenges.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/shinees-onew-reveals-reason-forleaving-sm-entertainment-i-was-getting-too-comfortable-3784762|title=Shinee's Onew reveals reason for leaving SM Entertainment: "I was getting too comfortable"|website=NME|last=Chin|first=Carmen|date=August 19, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|archive-date=August 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827223043/https://www.nme.com/news/music/shinees-onew-reveals-reason-forleaving-sm-entertainment-i-was-getting-too-comfortable-3784762|url-status=live}} Onew began working on the EP in April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.wkorea.com/2024/08/23/%ed%9d%98%eb%9f%ac%ea%b0%80%eb%8a%94-%ea%b2%83%eb%93%a4-%ec%82%ac%ec%9d%b4-%eb%8b%a8%eb%8b%a8%ed%95%9c-%ec%98%a8%ec%9c%a0%ec%9d%98-%eb%aa%a9%ec%86%8c%eb%a6%ac/|script-title=ko:"이제 좀 뭔가가 제대로 보이는 것 같아요." 온유의 이야기|trans-title="I think I’m starting to see things a little better now." Onew's story|website=W|last1=Jeon|first1=Yeo-ul|last2=Kim|first2=Min-ji|date=August 23, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|language=ko|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901222608/https://www.wkorea.com/2024/08/23/%ED%9D%98%EB%9F%AC%EA%B0%80%EB%8A%94-%EA%B2%83%EB%93%A4-%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B4-%EB%8B%A8%EB%8B%A8%ED%95%9C-%EC%98%A8%EC%9C%A0%EC%9D%98-%EB%AA%A9%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC/|url-status=live}} He produced it himself and wrote lyrics for all of the songs,{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005140281|script-title=ko:샤이니 온유, 'Flow' 전곡 작사 참여..타이틀곡은 '매력'|trans-title=Shinee's Onew participated in writing lyrics for all songs in 'Flow'.. Title song is 'Beat Drum'|work={{ill|Osen (newspaper)|ko|OSEN|lt=OSEN}}|via=Naver|last=Seon|first=Mi-kyung|date=August 21, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|language=ko|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901141104/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005140281|url-status=live}} stating in an interview, "There's no part that I haven't touched." He embarked on a fan meeting tour in May, at which he performed a new unreleased song titled "All Day".{{cite web|url=https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112339127|script-title=ko:샤이니 온유, 첫 단독 팬미팅 'Guess!' 성료.."늘 감사함 느끼고 있다"|trans-title=Shinee's Onew completes his first solo fan meeting 'Guess!'... "I always feel grateful"|website={{ill|Osen (newspaper)|ko|OSEN|lt=OSEN}}|last=Seon|first=Mi-kyung|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|language=ko}} On July 11, he announced through his social media accounts that he would release "All Day" as a digital single on July 15, followed by his third EP, Flow, in September.{{cite web|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240711050633|title=Onew of Shinee to release solo EP in September|work=The Korea Herald|last=Hong|first=Yoo|date=July 11, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|archive-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814001302/https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240711050633|url-status=live}} The EP came a year and a half after his previous album, Circle, and was his first release under his new agency. Onew described it as his "brightest" album, saying that he wanted to become more approachable to the public.
Release and promotion
On August 13, 2024, Onew revealed the promotional plan for his new EP, confirming that it would be released on September 3.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/112/0003714135|script-title=ko:온유, 9월 3일 컴백 확정..미니앨범 3집 'Flow' 발매(공식)|trans-title=Onew confirms comeback on September 3.. third mini album 'Flow' to be released (official)|work=Herald Pop|via=Naver|last=Park|first=Seo-hyun|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|language=ko|archive-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815202703/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/112/0003714135|url-status=live}} Ahead of its release, he uploaded concept images themed around the days of the week to his social media accounts,{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003258068|script-title=ko:샤이니 온유, 미니 3집 'Flow' 콘셉트 포토 첫 공개..'월화수목금토일' 뜻은?|trans-title=Shinee's Onew reveals first concept photo for third mini album 'Flow'.. What does 'Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun' mean?|work=Star News|via=Naver|last=Han|first=Hae-seon|date=August 14, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|language=ko|archive-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815115154/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003258068|url-status=live}} followed by highlight clips containing snippets of the songs.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005143823|script-title=ko:온유, 미니 3집 'Flow' 하이라이트 클립 오픈..전곡 프로듀싱|trans-title=Onew reveals highlight clip for third mini album 'Flow'... produced all songs|work={{ill|Osen (newspaper)|ko|OSEN|lt=OSEN}}|via=Naver|last=Ji|first=Min-kyung|date=August 26, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|language=ko|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901222609/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005143823|url-status=live}} He appeared on The Seasons on August 19, where he performed "All Day" and part of the EP track "Hola!".{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/408/0000232623|script-title=ko:샤이니 온유, "쓰레기통 머리에 쓴 채 노래 부르기도" 연습생 시절 회상 (더 시즌즈)|trans-title=Shinee's Onew recalls his trainee days: "I even sang while wearing a trash can on my head." (The Seasons)|work=iMBC|via=Naver|last=Kim|first=Hye-young|date=August 17, 2024|access-date=September 1, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=August 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817100626/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/408/0000232623|url-status=live}} Onew held a pop-up store in Seoul from September 5 to September 15, at which visitors were able to listen to all six tracks and view the music video set for "Beat Drum". Onew decided he wouldn't be appearing on music shows to promote this EP, preferring to use that time to plan for his live performances.{{cite web|url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240902050735|title=[Herald Interview] Onew of Shinee steps outside comfort zone|website=The Korea Herald|last=Hong|first=Yoo|date=September 3, 2024|archive-date=September 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903191005/https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240902050735|url-status=live}} He held a series of concerts, titled Hola!, in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, where he performed songs from the EP.{{cite web|url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240823050534|title=[Today's K-pop] Shinee's Onew to hold solo concert in Korea, Japan|website=The Korea Herald|last=Hwang|first=You-mee|date=August 23, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|archive-date=August 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825010854/https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240823050534|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldpop.com/view.php?ud=202409251331026411149_1|script-title=ko:온유, 타이베이서 팬콘서트 추가 개최..글로벌 광폭 행보|trans-title=Onew, additional fan concert held in Taipei.. global wide-ranging steps|work=heraldpop|date=September 25, 2024|language=ko|archive-date=September 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926073719/http://www.heraldpop.com/view.php?ud=202409251331026411149_1|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end lists ! scope="col"| Critic/Publication ! scope="col"| List ! scope="col"| Work ! scope="col"| Rank ! scope="col" class=unsortable| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="1" | Billboard
| The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024: Staff Picks | Flow | 7 | {{cite magazine|title=The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024: Staff Picks|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-kpop-albums-2024/|magazine=Billboard|date=December 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209045336/https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-kpop-albums-2024/|archive-date=December 9, 2024|url-status=live}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Dazed
| The 50 Best K-Pop Tracks of 2024 | "Maestro" | {{NA}} |
| scope="row" | Clash
| The Most Slept-On K-Pop Tunes Of 2024 | "All Day" | {{NA}} |
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Flow track listing
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title1 = Beat Drum
| note1 = {{Korean|hangul=매력|labels=no}}; {{lit|Charm}}
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Park Rang (XXYX)|Onew}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Charlie Martin|Joe Housley|Hight|Rene Miller}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|The Nocturns|Ditch David}}
| length1 = 2:21
| title2 = Hola!
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Kim Eana|Onew}}
| music2 = {{hlist|Josh McClelland|Arthur Hill|Kin}}
| extra2 = Kin
| length2 = 2:52
| title3 = Maestro
| note3 = {{Korean|hangul=마에스트로|labels=no}}
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Seo Jeong-a|Onew}}
| music3 = {{hlist|Duck Blackwell|Andrew Jackson|Bill Maybury|Valencia}}
| extra3 = Blackwell
| length3 = 2:57
| title4 = Shape of My Heart
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Jeon Ji-eun|Onew}}
| music4 = {{hlist|David|Boran|Haedo|Dawson}}
| extra4 = David
| length4 = 2:46
| title5 = All Day
| note5 = {{Korean|hangul=월화수목금토일|labels=no}}; {{lit|Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun}}
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Jeon|Zenon|Onew}}
| music5 = {{hlist|Ben Samama|Michelle Buzz|David}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Samama|David}}
| length5 = 2:27
| title6 = Focus
| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Jo Yoon-kyung|Onew}}
| music6 = {{hlist|Samama|David}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Samama|David}}
| length6 = 2:20
| total_length = 15:45
}}
Personnel
- Onew – vocals, background vocals, producing
- Ju Chan-yang (Pollen) – vocal directing (tracks 1–2, 4–6), background vocals (tracks 1–4, 6)
- Yeo Min-su – recording (tracks 1–3)
- Gu Jong-pil – mixing (tracks 1–2, 4)
- Hong Jang-mi – engineering for mix (tracks 1–2, 4)
- Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
- Ditch David – background vocals (track 3), producing
- Dawson – recording (track 3)
- Kim Han-gu – mixing (tracks 3, 5–6)
- Haedo – background vocals (track 4)
- Boran – background vocals (track 4)
- Jung Eun-kyung – recording (tracks 4, 6)
- Babylon – background vocals (track 5)
- Yang Yung-eun – recording (track 5)
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for Flow ! scope="col" | Chart (2023) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-09 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-09/p/4/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=October 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009083258/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-09/p/4/ |archive-date=October 9, 2024 |language=ja}}
| 33 |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=09&hitYear=2024&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – September 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=October 10, 2024}}
| 12 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Onew}}