NCT’s Chenle Shines in His First Solo Chinese EP ‘Lucid’
NCT Dream’s Chenle has officially stepped into the spotlight with his first-ever solo Chinese EP, ‘Lucid’ (Chinese: 灿), released in collaboration with Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME). Dropping on May 5 at 12:22 PM (KST), the album is now available across major Chinese music platforms like QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music, and Vodyen Music, and has also been distributed physically in the region.
The EP features three emotional tracks in Mandarin, including the title track ‘Lucid’, which portrays a luminous moment discovered after overcoming solitude. String instruments, paired with Chenle’s powerful high notes, create a moving, resonant soundscape that fans are already praising for its emotional depth.
Another standout track is ‘Tear Bridge’ (Chinese: 泪桥), a remake of the iconic 2003 OST song from the drama ‘Someday or One Day’. Here, Chenle’s delicately controlled and nuanced interpretation adds a hardened, bittersweet tone, enriched by acoustic guitar over layers of strings and piano melodies.
The third song, ‘Cosmic Joke’ (Chinese: 宇宙的笑话), features Chinese singer Ju Bichang and explores the melancholia of abandoned dreams and inner conflict between idealism and realism. The duo previously connected through Chinese entertainment shows, adding a layer of nostalgia and authenticity to the collaboration.
The official music video for the lead single ‘Lucid’ will premiere simultaneously via the NCT and NCT Dream YouTube channels, offering a visual companion to the emotionally rich album release.
