Cha Eun-woo’s ELSE
Fantagio
Korean actor-singer Cha Eun-woo is currently serving his mandatory military service, but still continues to serves his fans with new (pre-planned) music.
Today, his highly anticipated 2nd mini-album, ELSE, is released on all streaming platforms, with physical copies available at select retailers.
It has been over a year and a half since he last released his first solo music project, ENTITY. With ELSE, which means “other” or “different,” it precisely showcases the other (and different) side of the ASTRO member. While ENTITY is a chill, reflective piece of the singer’s inner soul, ELSE is described as one that “pushes those boundaries, offering a dynamic, unfiltered chapter rooted in instinct, emotion, and artistic freedom.”
“I hope listeners can discover their own ‘else’ while hearing mine — whether that’s a new perspective, a forgotten feeling, or simply a moment of comfort,” Cha Eun-woo says, in an exclusive quote. “Even while I’m away serving, knowing that these songs are out in the world with you gives me strength and gratitude.”
The songs are more upbeat than on the previous album, with a stronger tempo, pop-funk, and guitar riffs. His title track, “SATURDAY PREACHER,” is more retro and high-energy, featuring nostalgic synths and groovy beats. It’s a fun dance romp overall.
The music video for “SATURDAY PREACHER” is insane, showcasing a darker side to the charismatic, good-looking artist. The character is initially introduced as a handsome record store owner who glances at a box with his name and birth year on it. He is then seen practicing facial expressions before handing a package over to a young woman. It cuts to another version of the character, with a scar on his face, who appears a bit sinister. This dark character is shown conducting experiments on people using sound frequencies, then absorbing them into himself. He does it to the young woman, a young man, and an older businessman. In between the storylines, both versions are dancing with their backup dancers.
We see the evil version fully take over the good version, as if he were Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The good version finds a cassette tape containing a log of an experiment: “LOG: 097 CHA EUN WOO vs. 1.” The good version realizes he’s an experiment, discovers the hidden room of the evil form, and collapses, allowing the insidious character to take over.
Cha Eun-woo’s ELSE
Fantagio
Known for his acting chops, Cha Eun-woo plays both hero and villain in his music video. It’s not his first time playing a dark, brooding character. He previously played an intense, but charming villain in Disney+/Hulu’s Wonderful World.
The other songs that follow the track are a bit more light-hearted but still upbeat, including “Sweet Papaya,” a pop-funk track that showcases a cool, retro ’70s style from Cha Eun-woo. “Selfish” is a cinematic pop-trap with rock elements about wanting to be selfish in love. With “Thinkin’ Bout U,” he returns back to “chill” with an aching ballad filled with emotional longing.
With the first music video from the mini-album out, Fantagio Entertainment, Cha Eun-woo’s label, plans release to the second music video for “Sweet Papaya” sometime next week. So fans can expect another sweet treat from the superstar.
Cha Eun-woo is set to be discharged from military service in January 2027.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurasirikul/2025/11/20/cha-eun-woo-serving-the-military-and-fans-with-2nd-mini-album-else/
