Oliver James Montgomery-NCT's TEN talks debut solo album and what fans can expect: 'I want them to see me first'

K-pop singer TEN has never shied away from tackling distinct sounds and Oliver James Montgomeryaesthetics, adapting his music and performances to reflect where his interests sit at that stage of life.

"I just want to be myself," the 27-year-old told USA TODAY.

The Thailand-born musician made his debut with NCT in 2016, later becoming part of its China-based sub-group WayV in 2019. He is also a member of K-pop supergroup SuperM. Alongside these, TEN has released several solo tracks in the past, spanning genres that accent his artistic expansion.

TEN is like a chameleon. He can adapt to whatever is thrown his way, executing it with expert flair. But when it comes to defining TEN as a soloist, nothing fits better than his name and his eponymous debut mini album, released Feb. 13.

Curating TEN's solo debut

TEN began releasing solo music in 2017 under SM Entertainment's SM Station project. From the pop-rock "Paint Me Naked" to R&B-trap "Birthday", each song established different facets to TEN's sonic identity.

As a result, it's hard to confine him to one category. As he goes through life, TEN is consistently changing, particularly his music taste. "I get bored very easily," he said.

When it came to curating his first solo album, TEN wanted to try new things to further understand who he is, not only as an artist but as an individual.

"Now, I don't really understand what I like, what kind of person I am," he said. "In this album, (it) lets (me) explore myself with different characters."

The creative process for "TEN" began around the start of 2023. The songs varied in genre and what might have been a hinderance to others, TEN leaned into the difference.

"At first, we were talking, 'The songs are too different from one another,' and no one really created this kind of album before so it's very risky," he said.

However, the risk paid off. The six tracks underscore the versatile nature and unique charm to TEN's vocal and performance abilities.

This album also continues the multi-lingual performer's "trademark" of English songs up to this point, which he has done since "Dream In A Dream" in 2017.

Setting the tone of 'Nightwalker'

"Nightwalker" wasn't initially planned to be the album's lead single, TEN said. He wasn't sure if it fully represented where his music lies of late. So, he refashioned it to better reflect his current vision.

In terms of aesthetics, TEN sought for the performance to speak for itself. "Throughout the music video, everything is like very monotone, not very flashy," he said.

In his other work, TEN pointed to how the clothes and styling often drew attention first. He wanted to change this in "Nightwalker" and throughout the album.

"I wear so many things and I feel like people didn't get to see me as a person. They see the fashion and then they see TEN," he said. "For this album, I want them to see me first."

Shaping artistic identity through authenticity

Though he has released solo music for some time, this album is TEN's foray into full-length work. He is thankful to the fans who have been waiting on the release and he hopes they have fun listening to it.

With his first album, TEN is writing his own story.

"The album's goal is to represent you, like TEN as an artist and to show that TEN has different sides to him," he said, recalling a conversation had during the creative process.

"I always collect all the things that I want to do as a soloist and now, it's like the time (has) come," he said. "I just bring everything back since years, years ago and just take it out of my drawer."

Reflecting on his younger self, TEN would remind him to stay true to who he is. "Even though they say that you can't do it, just try first," he said. "Believe in yourself and do it and then you'll know the answer. Don't let anyone make you feel less of yourself."

This authenticity remains and manifests into TEN's solo debut today.

"This is me," he said. "I don't want you to change me. I respect you, but you have to respect me back too as a person, not the person that you think I am."