Shinee’s back: K-pop band members on their return after three years with album ‘Don’t Call Me’ – ‘We’re having fun’ doing ‘things we’ve never tried before’

Shinee’s latest album is a bridge connecting their past and present, with songs that recall earlier releases and others showing the group trying something new

The title track, Don’t Call Me, is an attempt at something new, while Marry You is the last of a trilogy along with their debut single Replay and Love Sick

Reading Time:4 minutes

Fresh from a three-year hiatus, Shinee are back with their seventh album. Photo: SM Entertainment

Published: 10:15pm, 22 Feb 2021Updated: 10:05am, 23 Feb 2021

“Shinee’s back,” the band sang in their 2012 single Sherlock and 2013’s Dream Girl and in 2021, they are indeed back – from a break after members served in the military service in South Korea, an obligation that has often proved career-ending for K-pop boy bands.

As if fulfilling their own prophecy, Shinee, who stylise their name as “SHINee”, ended a nearly three-year hiatus from releasing new music on Monday with the launch of a new album, “Don’t Call Me”.

As they spoke to the Post ahead of the release, the tight, endearing bond Shinee are known for as a group was palpable as they whispered into each other’s ears and played around when they were not responding to questions.

It’s obvious that their dedication to the group and their fans, collectively known as Shawol – or Shinee World – keeps them coming back for more, well over a decade since their musical journey began in 2008.

Shinee ended a three-year hiatus on Monday with the launch of a new album. Photo: SM Entertainment

“When we came together to work on the album, I don’t think the years that have passed [since we last were together as Shinee] was an issue since we’re all so close as friends,” said Taemin. He added: “But once we started recording and practising, that’s when issues arose and the older members had a hard time with that and figuring out more recent technology.”