Thailand-born artist TEN has begun a solo phase after exiting SM Entertainment in April. He told Billboard: “It’s like I’m starting again from zero.”
TEN recently completed his first U.S. solo headlining tour, building on his new English-language EP OUTWEST, which he co-wrote. The tour visited 14 venues across the country and concluded on Tuesday, November 10. TEN said he plans to return in 2027 as part of a more expansive world tour.
TEN said he left SM Entertainment because he had many ideas and visions he wanted to try, and he did not want to regret not acting on them later. He said his NCT members were supportive and that they remain a team. He also said that ILLIMNT, the creative agency he founded, which supports his projects across Korea, Thailand, the U.S. and beyond, has pushed him to trust his own instincts.
In the interview, TEN also discussed his 10th anniversary concert in Bangkok, a three-day residency that featured different guests and a different set list each day. He described challenges of running his own company, including responsibility for the album concept, the message and the music video, which he said were previously prepared for him at SM.
Source: Billboard
