NCT’s Mark Opens Up About the Story Behind His Mother’s Piano Piece on ‘The Firstfruit’

It is a special day for NCTzens as Mark will make his solo debut today with a full-length album!

The NCT member will release the studio album “The Firstfruit,” today (April 7) at 6 PM KST, with the album and music video for the title track “1999” being released simultaneously. 

The 13-track album takes listeners on a journey through four cities that have played a significant role in Mark’s life: Toronto, New York, Vancouver, and Seoul. Through his music, he shares his personal story and gives fans a deeper look into his life and experiences.

The song “1999” is a pop track with a lively arrangement featuring orchestra, guitar, and brass. The lyrics celebrate his birth year and his ambitions as an artist.

The 12th track “Mom’s Interlude” is extra special as it includes a piano performance by his mother. The song is a “heartwarming conversation between the two, his mother and son, Lee Min Hyung.

During an interview with the press, Mark was asked about the piano performance, expressing,

“If I had to pick the person who has had the biggest influence on me, it would probably be my mother. She’s been a piano major for a long time, and even now, whenever I have questions about piano, chords, or sheet music, I always go to her for advice. So, it naturally occurred to me that it would be nice to have a song with her playing on this album, which is full of autobiographical stories. Being able to include a track with my mother on my first solo album is a much more meaningful and precious experience than I had imagined.”

Mark, April 7, 2025

Mark has gone all out with his solo debut and even pushed the release date to April to perfect the album. It features collaborations with various talented artists including Haechan from NCT, Crush, Lee Young Ji, and Code Kunst. It features songs like “Toronto’s Window”, “Watching TV”, “Raincouver”, “Flight to NYC”, and more.

To celebrate the release of “The Firstfruit,” Mark will hold a showcase today at 8 PM KST at Seongsu Culture and Arts Center FB Theater. During the event, he will perform “1999” live for the first time and share stories about his album. The showcase will be live streamed on the NCT channels on YouTube and TikTok, allowing fans globally to join in.

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