Self-Portrait (EP)

Self-Portrait (Korean: 자화상; RR: Jahwasang) is the debut extended play by South Korean singer Suho. It was released on March 30, 2020, by SM Entertainment.^[4] The physical edition was released in two versions, Archive #1 and Archive #2,^[5][2] while the digital version shares the cover of the latter,^[1] a collage of four impressionist paintings of Suho's face.^[6] The EP features six tracks including the lead single, "Let's Love".^[7]

Self-Portrait
Digital and Archive #2 cover^[1]^[2]
EP by Suho
Released	March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)
Recorded	2020
Studio	SM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre	Modern rock Pop^[3]
Length	23:18
Language	Korean
Label	SM Dreamus
Suho chronology
Self-Portrait (2020) Grey Suit (2022)
Singles from Self-Portrait
"Let's Love" Released: March 30, 2020

Background and release

On February 18, 2020, SM Entertainment announced that Suho was preparing for his solo debut.^[8][9] On February 27 it was reported that the singer had already completed recording the album.^[10] The release date was later announced along with the first promotional photo for the album.^[11]

The album and its title track's music video were released on March 30 at 6PM KST both digitally and physically.

Composition

Self-Portrait features six tracks of different pop and rock genres. The lead single "Let's Love" is described as a modern rock song with a warm atmosphere. The lyrics convey a message about mustering the courage to express love, even if you feel clumsy or inadequate.^[12]

"O2" is a dreamlike acoustic pop song. The lyrics are about two people with empty hearts who become each other's oxygen as they fall in love.^[13] The third song "Made in You" is a mid-tempo pop song that features a groovy drum beat and piano melody. The song is dedicated to Suho's fans, and the lyrics are about how he feels he wouldn't have made it this far or be who he is without them.^[14] "Starry Night" is described as a ballad rock song that serves as a continuation of the story present in Suho's first solo song, "Curtain" (2017). The lyrics express the pain of parting with a lover.^[15] "Self-Portrait" is a sentimental modern rock song with retro synthesizers and strings.^[13] The last song "For You Now" is an acoustic pop song with a piano-driven melody. It presents lyrics conveying sincere gratitude and comfort from one person to another. The song features singer Younha.^[16]

Suho participated in writing and conceptualizing each song on the EP, and every track represents a piece of the album's connecting storyline.^[17]

Commercial performance

The EP peaked at number 13 on the US World Albums chart. Additionally, Self-Portrait topped over 50 countries' iTunes charts.^[18] The EP was certified Platinum for selling over 55,000 copies on China's biggest music platform, QQ Music.^[19]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"O2"	DJ HotBoyzZz (Cliff Lin, Ryan Colt Levy, Bryan Cho) SH2O	DJ HotBoyzZz (Cliff Lin, Ryan Colt Levy, Bryan Cho)	DJ HotBoyzZz (Cliff Lin, Ryan Colt Levy, Bryan Cho)	3:48
2.	"Let's Love" (사랑, 하자)	Noday Aisle Park Moon-chi SH2O	Aisle Park Moon-chi Noday	Park Moon-chi	3:49
3.	"Made in You"	minGtion JUNNY SH2O	Geun-tae minGtion JUNNY	minGtion	3:30
4.	"Starry Night" (암막 커튼)	Jo Yoon-kyung SH2O	Kyo	Kyo Lim Heon-il	4:38
5.	"Self-Portrait" (자화상)	B-Rock (CLEF) J-Lin (CLEF) ALBN (CLEF) CLEF CREW SH2O	B-Rock (CLEF) J-Lin (CLEF) ALBN (CLEF) CLEF CREW	B-Rock (CLEF) J-Lin (CLEF) ALBN (CLEF)	3:50
6.	"For You Now" (너의 차례, featuring Younha)	Bang Hye-hyun (Jam Factory) JUNNY SH2O	Krysta Youngs David Nathan Alessia Iorio	David Nathan	3:43
Total length:					23:18

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[20]	26
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[21]	22
Polish Albums (ZPAV)^[22]	32
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[23]	1
UK Album Downloads (OCC)^[24]	70
US World Albums (Billboard)^[25]	13

Monthly charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[26]	3

Sales

Region	Sales
China^[27]	100,034
Japan^[28]	1,394
South Korea^[29]	289,738
United States^[30]	1,000

Certifications

Certifications for Self-Portrait

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)^[31]	Platinum	250,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release formats for Self-Portrait

Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	March 30, 2020	CD digital download streaming	SM Entertainment Dreamus
Various		Digital download streaming	SM Entertainment

See also

• List of Gaon Album Chart number ones of 2020

References

1. "Self-Portrait – The 1st Mini Album by Suho". Apple Music. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
2. "YesAsia: EXO: Suho Mini Album Vol. 1 (Archive #2 Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
3. "Melon".
4. 엑소 수호, 3월30일 데뷔 첫 솔로 앨범 ‘자화상’ 발매(공식) [EXO Suho releases his first solo album "Self-portrait" on March 30 (official)] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
5. "YesAsia: EXO: Suho Mini Album Vol. 1 (Archive #1 Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
6. "EXO's Suho Paints an Intimate 'Self-Portrait' With His New Solo EP". Billboard. March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020. I saw the covers were based around four different variants.
7. 엑소 수호, 3월 30일 솔로 데뷔 카운트다운 돌입 (in Korean). Naver. 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
8. 엑소 수호, 오는 3월 솔로 음반 낸다 [EXO Suho will release a solo album in March] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
9. SM 측 “엑소 수호, 첫 솔로앨범 준비 중…일정 확정되면 공개” [공식] [SM “Exo Suho preparing his first solo album… When schedule is confirmed ”[Official]] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
10. 아이돌 ‘솔로 대전’ [아이돌 ‘솔로 대전’] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
11. 엑소 수호, 3월30일 데뷔 첫 솔로 앨범 ‘자화상’ 발매(공식) [EXO Suho releases his first solo album “Self-portrait” on March 30 (official)] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
12. Go, Seung-ah (March 18, 2020). "엑소 수호, 첫 솔로 타이틀은 '사랑, 하자'…감성 모던록" [EXO Suho's first solo title is 'Love, Let's ...' Emotional modern rock]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved March 18, 2020.
13. "'D-4' 엑소 수호, 첫 솔로 앨범 '자화상' 다채로운 밴드 사운드 예고" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
14. "엑소 수호, 첫 미니앨범 '자화상'으로 애틋한 팬 사랑 전한다 '기대감 UP'" (in Korean). Hankookilbo. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
15. "엑소 수호 첫 미니앨범 수록곡 '암막 커튼', 특별한 솔로곡 서사" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
16. "엑소 수호, 첫 솔로 앨범서 윤하와 호흡..수록곡 '너의 차례' 피처링" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
17. "'新 열정킹' 엑소 수호, 첫 솔로앨범 작사-콘셉트 기획 참여" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
18. "[공식]엑소 수호, 음악 색깔 제대로 通했다…'자화상' 아이튠즈 전 세계 50개 지역 1위". n.news.naver.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
19. "QQ Music Chart Report". m.weibo.cn (in Chinese). 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2020-07-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
20. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2020-04-13" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
21. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums 2020/4/13". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
22. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
23. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 14, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 9, 2020.
24. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
25. "Suho Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
26. 2020년 03월 Album Chart [March 2020 Album Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
27. Cumulative sales for Self-Portrait:
    • "Self-Portrait" (in Chinese). QQ Music. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
28. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年04月13日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on April 13, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
29. Cumulative sales for Self-Portrait:
    • [April 2020 Album Chart (see #14)]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
    • [May 2020 Album Chart (see #27)]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
30. "EXO's Suho Makes Debut on World Albums With 'Self-Portrait' Solo EP". Billboard. April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
31. "South Korean album certifications – Suho – Self-Portrait - The 1st Album" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA).