JUNHEE’s First Day & Night: Making Music His Way
With his sights set on “world domination” and a fresh chapter as a solo artist, JUNHEE is ready to take the world by storm.
Best known as the leader and main vocalist of K-pop group A.C.E., he is now embracing a new musical direction during the group’s hiatus. In June, he established his own company, H&P Entertainment, adding “founder” and “CEO” to his list of titles. Now, just months later, he’s making his official solo debut.
Released on September 12, his first mini-album The First Day & Night, takes listeners through the flow of a single day, each track revealing a different side of his artistry: from the bright spark of morning to the intimacy of late night.
Known for his high-energy performances and contagious personality, JUNHEE joined EnVi on Zoom a week before the album’s release with a beaming smile that lit up the screen. He speaks with his hands, gestures flowing naturally as he explains his solo transition. Even as the interpreter recited his Korean answer into English, he brought the words to life with expressive nods, warm smiles, and gestures, curling his hands to his chest to convey fondness. Between laughs and stories, he shared his vision, journey, and artistry to give fans a first look into the world of JUNHEE: soloist, storyteller, and soon-to-be unstoppable force.
Carving His Own Path
With the hiatus of A.C.E. announced in March, JUNHEE launched H&P Entertainment in June. “The reason I first decided to establish my own company was because I wanted to create music exactly the way I envisioned it, without any restrictions,” JUNHEE explained.
He noted that artists signed to a company are often shaped by its direction and face limitations; they can’t freely pursue everything they want. As his own CEO, the rules are different: “I wanted the chance to produce my own album entirely on my own terms, and that’s what led me to start the company.” He said his solo mini-album and direction differ greatly from his work with A.C.E., where music, style, and direction had to be shaped by finding common ground among the five members.
“Now, everything comes entirely from my own thoughts and the path I want to take, whether that’s the music, the genre, or even approaches like how I want to go viral. What stands out the most is that I can finally create things exactly as I imagine them.”
JUNHEE explained that his personal taste leans toward pop R&B, which contrasts from A.C.E.’s focus on rock and performance-driven music. As a solo artist, he wants to prioritize music meant for listening and plans to explore a variety of genres, including EDM and acoustic. He said, “I want to try everything I want to because now I finally have the time and the opportunity to do so.”
For those discovering him for the first time, he hopes people pay attention to his full musical spectrum. While he has favorite genres such as pop and R&B, he wants listeners to be surprised by his versatility. Leaving them to wonder, “What is this? Why is JUNHEE so good at EDM, too? How can he pull this off?”
“That’s the kind of reaction I’m hoping to show,” JUNHEE said. “With every album, I plan to present a new color, so I hope everyone will look forward to seeing that side of me.”
Still, this chapter of his career has been a steep learning curve for the multi-hyphenate. With just three months as CEO under his belt, JUNHEE described the process as constant growth. “There’s so much to do and so much I don’t know yet, so every day feels new and keeps me on edge. But because I carry such big responsibilities, I’m always pushing myself to keep working hard.”
As the head of H&P Entertainment, JUNHEE oversees every detail — from hiring staff and building a team to producing albums — to minimize the chance of mistakes. With a laugh, he admitted he also had to learn about taxes and other business matters along the way.
“There are parts that are really not easy, too difficult to even sum up as simply ‘challenging,’ but I’m learning step by step and gradually becoming more familiar with everything,” JUNHEE admitted.
When I mentioned that JUNHEE isn’t just an idol, but also a songwriter, composer, producer, actor (check out his IMDb!), and now founder and CEO, he laughed: “I have so many jobs!”
Balancing all of these roles while staying true to his artistry is no small feat. He shared, “The first thing I think about is how to divide my time, because there are only so many hours in a day, and I have so much to do… And these days, I even work while eating. I divide my time between being a CEO, an artist, a producer, and an actor. I felt that without splitting my time this way, I wouldn’t be able to maintain all these positions, so I’ve been focusing hard. I know that if I lose focus, I won’t be able to keep everything going, so I put a lot of effort into staying concentrated.”
The First Day & Night
JUNHEE’s debut solo mini album, The First Day & Night, is built around a clever concept: the flow of a single day. Each of the seven tracks are designed, and titled, to match a moment in time from sunrise to late night, letting listeners experience his music as a living, breathing soundtrack to daily life. For JUNHEE, this structure wasn’t just a creative exercise, it was deeply personal. JUNHEE said he wants fans, who he lovingly calls Clover, to feel the same excitement and nervous energy he experienced on his first day stepping into the solo spotlight.
“From morning until night, it will be so meaningful to me, and I want fans to enjoy that day together with me,” JUNHEE said about the album release date.
Most of the album is sung in English, a creative choice that reflects both JUNHEE’s personal taste and his ambition to become a global star able to connect with fans everywhere. He revealed that he’s long dreamed of making a solo pop album in English. “I listen to a lot of pop myself, and these days I actually enjoy singing in English more,” JUNHEE said. “(And since the demos were in English,) it feels natural and easier to express when I sing them in English. I wanted to bring that feeling into this project as well.”
The pre-release single, “Supernova,” was handpicked to showcase his performance skills and versatility. With its disco-pop flair and catchy melodies, JUNHEE wanted a song that would appeal across generations. He even got hands-on with the choreography as he brainstormed concepts and visuals with the choreographer from day one.
While every track on The First Day & Night highlights different moments throughout the day, it also highlights JUNHEE’s range. One moment he’s reflective and tender, the next he’s bright and playful. From introspective ballads (“Too Bad (15:00),” “Night (02:00),” and “Sugar (18:00)”) to more upbeat high-energy pop anthems (“You should come over (21:00),” “Umbrella (10:00),” and “Tattoo (12:30)”), each track became its own emotional world. He carefully tailored his vocal techniques and emotional nuances to suit each style, layering on new textures to make every song feel distinct.
Every song also carries personal significance to JUNHEE, while remaining universally relatable. “In the end they’re all about emotions and experiences that people go through in everyday life, feelings we’ve all had at some point.” Of the entire tracklist, the song closest to his heart is “Night,” which he wrote himself.
“It’s filled with emotions and personal reflections, so I put a lot of extra care into working on it,” JUNHEE shared about the song. “I think if you listen to ‘Night’ while keeping that in mind, you’ll be able to feel my thoughts and emotions even more strongly.”
Fans also get a special treat with the track “Tattoo,” a heartfelt collaboration with his A.C.E. brothers that doubles as the group’s fan song. For JUNHEE, the project was all about heart; a meaningful piece for both him and A.C.E. fans, affectionately called CHOICE. He added, “The fact that we were able to put our hearts into it made me feel truly grateful.”
JUNHEE shared, “For me, I’m always so happy to meet the members and feel so much love for them, no matter when or where… It made me so happy that we could reunite and create something for our fans.”
When it comes to performing live, “Too Bad” is what JUNHEE is most excited to bring to life. With the track’s country-rock vibe and catchy “na-na-na-na” intro, he imagines a whole crowd singing along. With a live band behind him, JUNHEE plans to emphasize vocals over choreography to give fans an intimate and immersive experience. “I think people who already know the song will be able to enjoy it even more when it’s performed live, so I’m really looking forward to that,” JUNHEE said.
With The First Day & Night, JUNHEE isn’t just stepping out as a soloist — he’s introducing a multi-dimensional artistic identity. Playful, personal, and unapologetically ambitious, just like him. It’s the first real glimpse into the world he’s ready to dominate.
A More Personal JUNHEE
Before the release of The First Day & Night and its lead single “Supernova,” JUNHEE was already stirring up buzz with his K-Pop Demon Hunters covers that included sleek music videos for Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” and a duet with AleXa on “Free.” The project came together at lightning speed: “I told my label staff what I wanted to do, and they moved quickly too, so it became possible,” JUNHEE said with a grin. No overthinking, no waiting. Just pure instinct and burning need to share something with fans. “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about anything else. Just, ‘I need to show this to my fans quickly.’ That was the only thought in my head.”
The gamble paid off. Practically overnight, the covers exploded online. Comment sections lit up with praise — “Who is this guy? His vocals are insane!” — giving JUNHEE a taste of what life as a soloist could feel like. “Honestly, I had been worried, asking myself ‘Will people recognize me as a solo artist? Can I really make it on my own?’” he admitted. “[The response] made me feel certain that I could really create something and succeed as a solo artist. I still can’t believe how much love I received.”
That momentum carried straight into his debut era, and it shifted how he connects with his fans. These days, JUNHEE comes across more relaxed, more playful, more like him. “I feel like I’ve definitely become a bit freer, and I’m also trying to approach fans in a more personal and friendly way. I’m grateful that fans have embraced this side of me and enjoyed it,” he said referring to his TikTok lives and fan interactions on X.
For him, the mini-album isn’t just about music, it’s about honesty. “This solo debut is also my way of showing fans a more honest version of myself through music. I can indirectly share what kind of music I’ve been pursuing, what I’ve wanted to express, and what I plan to do going forward. At the same time, I think this album will give fans a chance to discover sides of me they didn’t know before, helping us grow even closer.”
What’s Next?
If The First Day & Night is the prologue, JUNHEE is already plotting his next chapters. A solo tour is at the top of his list and he’s determined to make it bigger, bolder, and even more personal than anything his fans, C.C., have seen before. “Since it will be my first as a solo artist, I’m preparing even more diligently,” he shared, promising surprises that go beyond the stage. He hopes to release art films, vlogs, and other unexpected content drops that peel back the curtain and let fans see more of him.
But JUNHEE isn’t just building a career for himself, he’s building an empire. As CEO of H&P Entertainment, his ambitions stretch far past his own music. He envisions H&P as a global hub for creativity, forming partnerships from Seoul to Sydney to San Francisco. “My goal is to build a label where artists who work with me, or those who join us in the future, can constantly express themselves, pursue what they truly want and create without limits,” JUNHEE explained.
Before signing off our call, JUNHEE left a message straight from the heart for C.C. and EnVi readers: “First of all, I’m so glad to be greeting everyone with my solo album, and through this interview with EnVi Media, I feel like I was able to share a lot of honest stories. Going forward, I’ll continue to show you the genuine side of JUNHEE as a solo artist, so please look forward to it. This is just the beginning. Fasten your seatbelts, I’m going to take off running, so make sure to follow along. I love you all.”
If you’re ready to soundtrack your mornings, nights, and everything in between, JUNHEE’s debut mini-album The First Day & Night is streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. To stay up to date with his next moves, you can follow him on Instagram, X, and TikTok.
Interested in learning about more Korean artists? Read our interview with Potatoi, where he speaks about his debut single, creative process, and his future ambitions.
