According to his agency, New Entry, TEEN TOP member Niel is gearing up for his first solo concert on March 17 in Seoul. This landmark event, titled NIELISS: Niel 1st Solo Concert, will be held at the Shinhan pLay Square in Mapo District. The concert comes thirteen years after he debuted with TEEN TOP in 2010 and nine years after Niel went solo with the EP oNiely in 2015.

Niel began his showbiz journey in 2005

Niel will sing songs from his third single album Parting Emotion. He’ll also perform other solo tracks, including

“Lovekiller” (2015), “Love Affair” (2017) and “A to Z” (2022). Early ticket sales will start on February 29 and end on March 3. Regular sales will begin on March 4 via Interpark.

Niel, whose real name is Ahn Daniel, began his showbiz journey as a child actor in 2005. It was at his mother’s prodding that he auditioned for a spot in what would become TEEN TOP. “My mother knew from the beginning that I was not very interested in studying,” he said sheepishly. “A few years after becoming a child actor, she made me apply for a K-pop audition held by TEEN TOP’s management company, TOP Media. She brought me to an amusement park in Seoul where the audition was taking place without telling me what was going on. Luckily I passed it in one go and ended up becoming an idol trainee.”

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Trainee life wasn’t easy for Niel. He had no musical background when he began training, but he never gave up. His perseverance paid off when TEEN TOP debuted in 2010 with the album Come Into the World. The group quickly gained popularity thanks to their catchy tunes and synchronized choreography.

TEEN TOP’s recent appearance on Hangout with Yoo brought the group back into the limelight and led to the creation and release of the album 4SHO and title track “HWEEK” in July 2023. Some of the songs they sang on the show returned to South Korean music charts about a decade after their original release dates.

TEEN TOP (틴탑) ‘휙 (HWEEK)’ MV

Increased freedom and therapeutic moments

Reflecting on his career, Niel appreciates the increased freedom he now enjoys. “When I was young, I mostly had to follow what the company told me to do. But now, I am given more leeway and I can carry out different plans that I mapped out on my own.”

“One of them was the launch of my own concert brand—Niel’s Shahan Night—in which I communicate with my fans through music. I felt that I had not showcased a broad musical spectrum as a K-pop star, so I wanted to do so with ‘Shahan Night’ and also provide therapeutic moments for my followers,” he added.

니엘의 샤한 밤 Ep.1 첫 만남 (with 더 넛츠 정이한) FULL ver.

Every ‘Shahan Night’ concert has a different theme. The most recent one held on Dec. 10 revolved around the themes of goals and challenges. “The audience and I talked about our dreams. We shared our experiences and exchanged opinions,” he recalled. “We also sang songs that explore these topics.”

Another plan he put into place had to do with his decision to forgo music shows in favor of live concerts. “Only a limited number of fans can attend music shows and that always made me feel sad,” he said. “So, this time, I will try to organize more in-person concerts, invite as many people as possible and closely interact with them.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: These days, Niel’s all about intimate, therapeutic moments. Source: X/@CelebConfirmed.