EVAN, formerly known as ENHYPEN’s Heeseung, has officially begun his solo career, but the early chart performance of his debut single has fallen below expectations.
The singer left ENHYPEN in March 2026, shocking fans who had long considered him one of the group’s most important members. After more than three months of preparation, he returned under the stage name EVAN while continuing his individual career with BELIFT LAB. On June 22, EVAN released his first digital single, Ride or Die , alongside the B-side track Overflow .
EVAN Introduces a Rock-Driven Identity
Rather than continuing the polished pop and electronic sound associated with ENHYPEN, EVAN adopted a darker alternative-rock style for his solo debut.
He reportedly participated in the songwriting, lyrics and overall creative direction of the project. The Ride or Die music video emphasized this transformation with blond hair, leather clothing, facial scratches, broken glass and dramatic scenes filmed around cars and heavy rain.
The song’s powerful guitars, drums and emotional vocals received praise from listeners who appreciated EVAN’s willingness to leave his comfort zone. Others, however, argued that the rock genre could be more difficult to promote to the Korean general public.
Ride or Die Quickly Falls From the Charts
Despite the attention surrounding his departure from ENHYPEN, Ride or Die delivered a weak performance on several major Korean music platforms. According to the report, the song peaked at No. 371 on Melon’s daily chart on its release day but dropped outside the Top 1,000 by June 23.
It reportedly failed to enter Genie’s chart. Bugs produced stronger initial results, with the track reaching No. 4 on the real-time chart and No. 87 on the daily ranking. However, it also disappeared from the real-time chart after two days.
The early figures have surprised some fans because Heeseung previously performed as a key member of one of K-pop’s most successful fourth-generation boy groups. Although Ride or Die has struggled digitally, its first few days do not necessarily determine EVAN’s long-term future. His challenge will be turning his new artistic identity into a stable solo audience beyond the fandom and recognition he gained through ENHYPEN.
Sources: K14
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