On November 7, Mark Tuan made a comeback with his second mini-album, Silhouette. While some of the songs had already been released as singles, Mark added three more to create a cohesive narrative with the album, showcasing his identity as a solo artist.
The track “High As You” feels like the perfect embodiment of Mark as an artist.
Kicking off the album, the track has a much slower pace, but it perfectly showcases Mark’s vocals, including his distinct tone and wide vocal range. While it is incredibly calming, almost seeming at home in a jazz bar, bringing in a drum beat at specific points adds more grit, yet also keeps it mellow. The bridge takes listeners into a more mystical zone, with a simple melody and music. By gradually reintroducing the bass and synths, the track becomes complex and interesting.
Although the song was released in May, it feels perfectly placed in the album. The smooth and relaxing feel of the song is matched by the equally clean and sleek aesthetics of the music video. Although there are changes in sets throughout, they all seem to be simplistic. The video uses block colours in muted tones and incorporates props to match the song, such as mirror frames or branches. In particular, after the bridge, when the tempo and drum beat return, Mark is transported into the snow set against the same block backgrounds.
While the album begins with a calm sense of nostalgia, “Sunsets & Cigarettes” takes that concept in a very different direction, showcasing Mark’s artistic diversity.
Compared to the first track, it has a much bolder and joyful feel, exuding the idea of looking back at memories of enjoying time with friends. The aesthetics of the video also match, utilising shots that look like they have been taken with a vintage camera, with earthy tones and bolder filming methods, such as split screens or graphic effects.
The track “hold still” continues that shift, and even the video has a different feel.
Initially released as a single in August, it has a more R&B vibe than the rest of the tracks, with the melody still having the same aura as the rest of the album, but with an extra layer. It also seems much more performance-based, with a bolder music video with Mark in an “office setting.” The song also features additional backing dancers and props. While it isn’t exactly upbeat, the choreography shows that Mark had a very different vision for this song, one that feels like a nice break from the album.
While two of the songs don’t have music videos, there are still elements that allow you to create your own narrative.
“Pretty Little Picture” starts more boldly than some of the other tracks, with a constant drumbeat that doesn’t increase the tempo but gives it a distinct vibe. Mark’s voice conveys the same kind of comfort, but it also evokes a sense of nostalgia and happiness, perfectly matching the title. The aura of the song makes it feel perfect for a road trip and driving late at night, contrasting Mark’s unreal vocals with his rapping tone to keep listeners on their toes. The lyrics feel like Mark is telling a story of love, something that everyone can relate to, with a desire to keep memories alive in any way, especially inside a “picture.”
The final track is “AUTOPILOT” and while it also doesn’t have a video, it is the perfect way to end the album. Like “Pretty Little Picture,” there is a drumbeat throughout, and it perfectly balances with Mark’s voice. There is the same theme of “comfort” that is felt throughout the entire album. The guitar heard at the end feels like a fitting way to not only end the song, but the album, with a sense of wanting more.
If there is one word to describe Silhouette, it would be “nostalgia.” If you want an album to make you excited and pumped, it might not be for you. Yet, if you want something calm and comforting, perfect for a midnight drive or just to unwind, the songs are ideal with beautiful melodies that match the tone of Mark’s voice.
Silhouette is out now. Mark can be found on Instagram here.