Singer Lee Hyun, who holds the distinction of being HYBE Labels' very first artist, is making his long-awaited return to the music scene after more than 13 years. The 41-year-old balladeer is set to release his six-track mini album "A(E)ND" with the title track "Let You Go" on Tuesday, marking his first new album since 2011.

Lee Hyun's significance in K-pop history cannot be overstated. Before HYBE became synonymous with global K-pop domination through acts like BTS, the company started its journey with Lee as BigHit Music's inaugural artist. As the main vocalist of the co-ed trio 8eight, he introduced BigHit's early sound through emotional ballads including "Without a Heart" and "Goodbye, My Love" in 2009. His solo career reached new heights with the 2011 chart-topping hit "You Are the Best of My Life," and he became a recognizable voice through various K-drama soundtracks.

"I honestly didn't even realize it had been that long until I saw it in an article," Lee said with a laugh during a recent interview in Seoul's Yongsan district. "Music and the stage are the biggest reasons I exist, and I feel like I neglected them. I just feel sorry for the fans. This album is my way of making up for that."

During his extended hiatus, Lee deliberately stepped away from the spotlight to focus on personal and artistic growth. About seven years ago, he began studying MIDI production to gain a deeper understanding of music creation, while also exploring the world of musical theater. "I don't dislike playing in musicals," he explained, "but my passion was always more with records and concerts." He candidly admitted to hitting "rock bottom" personally, spending years questioning what message or musical genre could feel more meaningful to him.

The breakthrough for his comeback came last year when Lee made a crucial decision to stop trying to handle everything independently. "At first, I wanted to release only songs I wrote, but I wasn't ready. So I asked for songs instead. I was flooded," he recalled. The veteran singer received approximately 140 demo tracks from BigHit's longtime producer Pdogg and HYBE's A&R team. While selecting the final tracklist took several months, one particular song immediately caught his attention.

"Let You Go" became the natural choice for the title track due to its unique qualities. "My favorite ballads always carry a 'BigHit quality.' It's not just pure ballads, but with rock-based R&B elements. This one had a catchy melody but also unexpected turns," Lee explained. This approach reflects his evolution as an artist while maintaining the emotional depth that made him successful in the late 2000s ballad scene.

Lee's artistic philosophy has also matured over the years. "If raw earnestness was considered a virtue before in the ballad realm, now I think emotional restraint is the virtue," he said. "I don't know if listeners will catch the difference right away, but if you hear the album as a whole, I think you'll feel it." This shift represents his desire not to be defined solely by his past achievements but to grow as an artist.

The album features an unexpected collaboration with Song Ha-young, the vocalist from K-pop girl group fromis_9. "The result was better than I expected. It surprised me," Lee said about the partnership, describing it as an unexpected highlight of the project.

Having witnessed BigHit's transformation into the global entertainment powerhouse HYBE firsthand, Lee offers unique insights into the company's evolution. "BigHit's way of music making was always meticulous, even when the company was small," he observed. "The process hasn't really changed. The approval lines just got bigger. The biggest difference is that now there are more songs, better songs, to choose from."

While Lee doesn't frequently interact with the company's current superstars, he shared a meaningful encounter with Jin from BTS at the gym. "He told me he had listened to the album... Hearing his encouragement meant a lot," Lee said, highlighting the supportive relationship between HYBE's veteran and current artists.

As he prepares to bring "A(E)ND" to live audiences, Lee is carefully crafting his setlist to balance his solo career with his legacy as part of 8eight. The trio, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in two years, has already begun discussions about a commemorative album, suggesting that Lee's return may herald more activity from the group that helped launch BigHit.

Regarding commercial expectations, Lee maintains a pragmatic outlook that reflects his maturity as an artist. "The charts used to be everything, but now I don't think they mean much," he said. "I just want these songs to be heard here and there, whenever, wherever. Honestly, I don't think many of my songs make people want to sing along. But with this one, I hope listeners will feel like they want to sing it themselves." This perspective demonstrates how his priorities have shifted from pure commercial success to meaningful artistic expression and genuine connection with listeners.