Celebrating Taeyong’s birthday: From leader of NCT to solo career with Shalala and Tap – exploring the singer’s unique musical identity

Born on July 1, 1995, Taeyong celebrates his 29th birthday today. His career as a K-pop idol began with NCT, and his journey into the spotlight began with his audition for SM Entertainment in 2012. He has demonstrated his artistic creativity and development throughout his career, both as a lead singer and in solo music.

As a leader, he is an important support for his members and fans. But he has also been able to excel as a soloist and showcase his unique musical talent.

The K-pop star is often seen on social media due to his stage presence, dancing skills, and fashion sense. His sharp looks and flexibility make him the ideal person for designers looking to show off their unique creations. Additionally, his refreshing charm and playful antics make him extremely popular among fans.

Without further ado, let’s dive deep into Taeyong’s career and development as a leader and solo artist of NCT.

NCT Guide

In 2016, Taeyong made his debut with NCT in the group’s first sub-group, NCT U, alongside Ten, Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Mark. However, he became a permanent member of NCT 127 and was recognized as the group’s leader. From the beginning, he took responsibility and stood by his members, offering them support and help throughout.

Taeyong grew into a central figure, taking on leadership roles that went beyond music. His dedication, work ethic, and ability to inspire his members were crucial to NCT’s identity. His leadership is characterized by his meticulous attention to detail, nurturing attitude toward younger members, and ability to remain positive even during difficult times.

Due to his phenomenal work as the leader of NCT 127, the artist was recognized as the overall leader of NCT with the release of Resonance in 2020. Being respected and recognized as the leader of the biggest boy band in K-pop is a tremendous feat that Taeyong has accomplished.

Solo career

Long before his official debut as a solo artist, Taeyong devoted himself to writing and producing songs. In addition to bringing his songwriting skills to group songs, he also composed several tracks. He gained widespread attention with the SM Station release Long Flight. Through his Soundcloud account, the artist has released several songs that appropriately showcase his creative flair.

Dark Clouds was his first self-written track on the account and since then he hasn’t stopped. He also released the songs GTA1 and GTA2, Blue and more. EXO’s Baekhyun was the guest artist for the song Monroe and Rose featured Red Velvet’s Seulgi.

In 2023, Taeyong became the first member of NCT to debut as a solo artist, releasing his debut album Shalala with the title track of the same name. The artist pursued a distinct musical direction for his solo work, deviating from his group’s style and allowing his personal musical identity to shine through.

In addition, he released his second EP, TAP, where he co-wrote the entire album. With this album, the artist proved that he is capable of creating music with different genres and complexities.

While the title track TAP is a fun pop song, Moon Tour is a mix of R&B and soul. While Ape is a hip-hop song, Run Away delves into both rock and pop. The carefully curated album shows the extent of Taeyong’s musical evolution.

Currently, the artist is enrolled as an active soldier in the South Korean Army and will be discharged sometime around 2025. Fans are eagerly awaiting the member’s return and the release of new music.