Xiumin’s Brand New: A Track-by-Track Review
When Xiumin released Brand New in September 2022, the project arrived with a clear sense of occasion. As EXO’s eldest member, he had spent years contributing to one of K-pop’s most influential groups, yet his first solo mini-album gave him space to define his own colour. The result is bright, polished and deliberately approachable.
Rather than chasing a dramatic reinvention, Xiumin builds the record around retro-pop, dance, R&B and gentle acoustic textures. His voice stays at the centre throughout, carrying a lighter tone than some listeners may expect from EXO’s group catalogue. That contrast makes the mini-album feel personal without separating it from his history.
For Australian EXO-Ls, Brand New also remains an easy release to revisit. Its compact running time suits a commute across Sydney, a tram ride through Melbourne or a playlist playing during a late-night drive in Brisbane. The songs are immediate enough for casual listening, while the production details reward repeated spins.
The mini-album’s greatest strength is its consistency. Every track presents a different side of Xiumin, but none feels disconnected from the cheerful retro concept. There are no unnecessary detours, and the five-song sequence moves with the confidence of an artist who understands exactly how he wants to be heard.
The appeal of Xiumin’s solo chapter
Brand New opens a solo chapter with a warm, upbeat identity. The album draws on funk, synth-pop and early-2000s dance influences, giving it a nostalgic quality without sounding dated. Its colours are vivid, but the arrangements leave enough room for Xiumin’s vocal character to remain recognisable.
His singing is especially effective in the quieter passages. Xiumin has a clean, controlled delivery that can sometimes be overshadowed by EXO’s dense vocal arrangements. Here, his phrasing becomes the main event. He does not need excessive runs or theatrical belting to hold attention; small changes in tone do much of the work.
The record also shows careful awareness of performance. Each song has a strong rhythmic foundation, making it suitable for choreography and music-show stages. That quality mattered for fans following the promotions through YouTube clips, SBS content and social media edits, where a memorable hook can travel well beyond the original release.
Brand New opens with bright confidence
The title track, “Brand New”, is a buoyant retro-pop number built on brass accents, a lively bassline and a crisp dance groove. Its central appeal is its sense of movement. The production feels like it is constantly smiling, but the song avoids becoming weightless because the rhythm section gives it a firm foundation.
Xiumin’s vocal approach is playful and relaxed. He sounds comfortable with the song’s flirtatious energy, using a slightly lighter delivery in the verses before opening up in the chorus. The hook is direct, easy to remember and designed for a stage where gestures and choreography can amplify its charm.
The track’s nostalgic styling may remind listeners of late-1990s and early-2000s pop, though it is filtered through modern K-pop production. That balance is important: “Brand New” celebrates the past without sounding like a pastiche. It is the album’s most obvious single, yet it still establishes the project’s personality rather than simply functioning as a promotional vehicle.
Feedback finds its groove
“Feedback” shifts the mood towards sleek R&B and urban pop. The song is smoother and more restrained than the title track, relying on a steady beat, layered vocals and a confident sense of space. It gives Xiumin room to sound cooler and more self-assured.
The chorus is less explosive than “Brand New”, but that restraint works in its favour. Instead of pushing towards a huge climax, “Feedback” settles into a groove that becomes more attractive with each listen. Its appeal lies in the details: the vocal layering, the rhythmic changes and the way the instrumental leaves small pockets of silence around the melody.
This is a strong example of Xiumin using subtlety as a strength. He does not over-sing the track, and the controlled performance keeps the focus on its polished atmosphere. For listeners who prefer the smoother side of K-pop, “Feedback” may become the mini-album’s standout.
How We Do brings a sharper edge
“How We Do” adds a more contemporary hip-hop influence, with an appearance from NCT’s Mark. The collaboration gives the song extra momentum, as Mark’s rap introduces a sharper texture beside Xiumin’s cleaner melodic lines. Their contrast prevents the track from feeling too uniform.
The production is punchy and playful, with a beat that supports both the rap sections and the sung chorus. Xiumin sounds particularly animated here, leaning into the song’s cheeky confidence. It is less nostalgic than the title track and more focused on current idol-pop energy.
For fans in Australia, this is the kind of song that fits a dance-cover playlist or a loud speaker session before a K-pop event. The local cover-dance scene, from university clubs to community workshops in Melbourne and Sydney, tends to favour tracks with clear accents and performative hooks. “How We Do” has plenty of both.
| Track | Strongest quality | Vocal impression | Overall mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Brand New” | Retro-pop hook | Bright and playful | Celebratory |
| “Feedback” | Smooth groove | Controlled and sleek | Confident |
| “How We Do” | Rap-and-vocal contrast | Energetic | Cheeky |
| “Love Letter” | Emotional warmth | Gentle and sincere | Tender |
| “Serenity” | Soft atmosphere | Calm and expressive | Reflective |
Love Letter softens the edges
“Love Letter”, also presented with the Korean title “민들레”, changes the album’s emotional temperature. The arrangement is gentler, allowing acoustic elements and a softer melody to take the lead. After the rhythmic confidence of the first three tracks, this song feels like a quiet pause.
Xiumin’s voice is the main reason it works. He sings with an intimate, almost conversational quality, avoiding the exaggerated sentiment that can make a ballad feel overly polished. The performance suggests affection and gratitude without turning the song into a grand declaration.
Its warmth also gives the album more dimension. Without a track like “Love Letter”, Brand New could risk becoming a purely upbeat showcase. Instead, the song reminds listeners that Xiumin’s appeal includes his ability to communicate tenderness through a modest, carefully shaped performance.
Where each track lands emotionally
The five songs cover a surprisingly broad range for such a short release. Each one can occupy a different moment in an EXO-L playlist:
- “Brand New” suits a high-energy morning or a concert-style singalong.
- “Feedback” works best when the mood calls for a smooth, understated groove.
- “How We Do” brings movement to dance practice and party playlists.
- “Love Letter” fits quieter listening, especially on a rainy afternoon.
- “Serenity” is ideal for winding down after a busy day.
That variety helps the mini-album travel well across different listening habits. It can play in the background while browsing physical albums at a K-pop store, yet it also has enough personality to reward headphones and close attention.
Serenity gives the album room
“Serenity” closes Brand New with a calm, almost weightless atmosphere. Its arrangement is less focused on a strong dance beat and more interested in texture, melody and emotional release. The song feels like a natural exhale after the brighter opening tracks.
Xiumin’s vocal delivery is delicate without becoming fragile. He allows the melody to unfold gradually, using a softer register and measured phrasing. That restraint makes the track feel sincere, especially because the mini-album has already established his ability to perform with energy.
As a final track, “Serenity” leaves a gentle afterimage rather than a dramatic finish. Some listeners may prefer a bigger closing statement, but the understated ending suits the project. It frames Brand New as a personal introduction: open, friendly and quietly assured.
A compact solo statement with replay value
The sequencing is one of the mini-album’s most successful features. “Brand New” makes an immediate entrance, “Feedback” adds polish, “How We Do” raises the tempo, “Love Letter” brings emotional warmth and “Serenity” settles the mood. The progression feels intentional without sounding overly calculated.
The project is also well suited to the way Australian fans often consume K-pop releases. Streaming platforms remain central, while imported physical albums can carry higher prices because of shipping, exchange rates and limited local stock. A five-track release gives fans something concise to stream repeatedly while still offering the visual and collectible appeal associated with a solo album.
Details that make the release memorable
Several choices give Brand New a lasting identity beyond its title track:
- The retro styling connects Xiumin’s solo image to familiar pop eras.
- The production leaves space for his individual vocal colour.
- Mark’s feature adds contrast without overwhelming the album.
- The softer fourth and fifth tracks prevent tonal repetition.
- The short format encourages full-album listening rather than skipping.
For EXO-Ls, the project works as both a celebration of Xiumin’s established personality and a genuine solo introduction. It does not attempt to imitate EXO’s grand scale. Instead, it offers a warmer, more direct setting where his charm, precision and gentle humour can come forward.
Brand New remains a polished debut because it understands its own limits. It is bright without being shallow, nostalgic without becoming dated and personal without losing its pop appeal. Add the mini-album to an EXO playlist, revisit the music-video stages and give the quieter tracks a full listen; Xiumin’s solo colour becomes clearer with every spin.