Former SHINee member Taemin made history on Apr. 11 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, becoming the first Korean male solo artist to perform a solo stage at the iconic event and debuting six brand-new, unreleased songs during his 50-minute set.
Taemin, 32, took the Mojave Stage in Indio, California, at 7:30 p.m. local time, backed by a live band and a full dance crew. The crowd was welcomed with an introductory video before he launched into his set, opening with "Sexy in the Air," followed by "WANT," a 2017 release.
A large display backdrop reading "Taeminella" lit up the stage as the artist greeted the crowd, saying, "Hello, Coachella! My name is Taemin, and I'm thrilled to see you all here," according to Forbes.
Throughout the performance, Taemin delivered newly arranged live renditions of fan favorites including "MOVE," "Guilty," "Advice," and "IDEA." He also performed "Heaven," a beloved 2020 track, before sitting at a grand piano he had brought on stage to preview one of his new songs, a moment that highlighted his vocal range.
The new tracks drew significant attention online, with fans speculating that the lyrics of one song, which included the lines, "You're blowing my cash and flexing my name, you're a fucking parasite," appeared to reference his split from his former label, Big Planet Made Entertainment. Taemin parted ways with the agency in February 2026 amid reported disputes over settlement payments, Allkpop reported.
While his band performed a freestyle interlude during a costume change, Taemin returned to close the show with three more new songs, including one described as reminiscent of his SHINee roots and a piano-driven ballad. Before wrapping up, he asked the audience, "How do you like my new songs?" hinting at an upcoming official release.
A minor technical issue occurred during the online live stream, with the feed cutting off for about eight seconds during "IDEA" and sound problems lasting roughly a minute. Fans watching remotely expressed disappointment over the glitch but praised the overall performance.
Taemin is now signed with Galaxy Corporation, the AI entertainment tech company that also represents G-Dragon. He had previously been under SM Entertainment for most of his career before briefly signing with Big Planet Made Entertainment in 2024.
Just weeks before Coachella, he released "Long Way Home," his first English-language single, on Mar. 27. The song, a pop and R&B track co-written with Ben Parris and Coreylon Lindsay-Keay, was also performed ahead of the festival at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, as per Chosun.
