Onew PERCENT Album 2025: SHINee Leader Releases Second Studio Album After Joining Griffin Entertainment
SHINee's Onew made his highly anticipated return on July 15, 2025, with his second full-length album "PERCENT" at 6 PM KST. The 11-track release marks his first major project since joining Griffin Entertainment in April 2024, following his departure from SM Entertainment after 16 years.
Onew became Griffin Entertainment's first artist when he signed with the newly established agency in April 2024. The agency, which draws its name "from the legendary guardian of priceless relics," positions itself as being "dedicated to safeguarding and nurturing artists".
The transition came after Onew debuted as SHINee's leader on May 25, 2008, making 2025 his 17th year in the industry. Despite changing agencies for solo work, he continues group activities with SHINee under SM Entertainment.
The album features 11 songs, including the title track "Animals" and tracks titled "Silky," "Caffeine," "Marshmallow," "Confidence," "오래 OKㅋ," "Far Away," "MAD," "PERCENT (%)," "Epilogue," and "Happy Birthday".
At the July 15 showcase at Seoul's Myeongwha Live Hall, Onew explained the album's concept: "I wanted to quantify various emotions using percentages. Even when you're happy, there can be slight anxiety, and even when things are difficult, there's the feeling that 'it will work out.'"
The album represents his attempt to capture life's complexities - from emptiness to fulfillment, instinct to conviction, and wounds to healing.
"ANIMALS" captures the moment when instincts are set free, with clean and polished bassline and acoustic guitar laying the foundation while propulsive synths create wild abandon that follows raw feeling over logic.
"These days, people often wear masks as a social phenomenon," Onew said at the showcase. "I made this song hoping people would awaken their instincts and enjoy it when they listen to it."
Onew participated in producing every track on the album and contributed to lyrical creation for the majority of tracks. However, he remains characteristically modest about his role, rating the album's completion at "60-70%" and emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project.
"I really felt that you can't do it alone," he reflected. "Many people waited for me and gave me greater strength to complete this album."
The release comes approximately five months after his fourth mini-album "CONNECTION" in January 2025, and follows a challenging period that included health issues in 2023 that temporarily sidelined him from some SHINee activities.
When asked about his greatest strength, Onew pointed to his distinctive voice: "I'm grateful when people say it's a voice that doesn't exist anywhere else. My strength is that even when I try new things, people can say 'that's so Onew.'"
This unique vocal quality, which he calls "Onew-ness," has become his trademark across both group and solo work.
The album release will be accompanied by solo concerts, with performances scheduled in South Korea on August 2-3, followed by a world tour extending to 16 cities globally.
Regarding his SHINee members' reaction to his new music, Onew laughed: "The members call me 'hyung' (elder). I think they'll give feedback like 'Hyung, you've gotten hip' or 'Your form has improved.'"
"PERCENT" is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify, with the album running 30 minutes across 11 songs. The physical album comes in multiple versions for collectors.
The release represents Onew's artistic maturation as both a solo artist and producer, showcasing 17 years of industry experience while maintaining the distinctive charm that has made him a beloved figure in K-pop.
