Thai Pop Star Ten Unveils First Solo U.S. Tour and Says New Album Is Underway: ‘I Enjoy Showing Different Sides of Myself’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Ten, the Thai vocalist renowned for his work with NCT, WayV, and SuperM, has officially unveiled plans for his maiden solo concert tour across the United States. The 14-date trek is slated to begin on October 17 in Seattle and wrap up on November 10 in New York City. This announcement arrives just days ahead of his upcoming single "Outwest," which is set to drop on September 4. The tour follows his completely sold-out three-night run in Thailand, dubbed "Ten:Core0110," a residency that commemorated his tenth anniversary in the industry and attracted fans from all corners of the world. For an artist whose previous U.S. appearances were mostly tied to large-scale group shows, this intimate tour marks a significant shift toward solo recognition in the Western market.

The full itinerary includes stops in Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Boston, with the grand finale taking place in New York. "This tour is a celebration of the last 10 years, but it's also about looking forward to everything we're going to create together," Ten said in an official statement. "I've been waiting for this moment, and I can't wait to finally connect with my fans in the U.S. and share this new music with you." For devoted followers, these smaller venues offer a rare chance to see the artist up close, a stark contrast to the massive stadium productions he's usually part of. Notably, his recent Thailand residency drew over 20,000 attendees across just three nights, underscoring his drawing power in Asia—a momentum he now hopes to replicate stateside.

Born Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul, Ten first gained prominence as a member of NCT, the expansive South Korean boy group under SM Entertainment. He also performs with WayV, NCT's China-focused unit, and SuperM, the supergroup formed in 2019 through a partnership between SM and Capitol Music Group. SuperM's debut album topped the Billboard 200, a landmark achievement that demonstrated K-pop's viability in the American market. While his group commitments remain ongoing, "Outwest" represents a fresh chapter under Illimnt, a label he co-founded, which he describes as a space for creative freedom. "I'm able to experience and explore so many different things freely—not just music, but many different forms of art," he explains, adding that his team encourages experimentation rather than deferring to his authority as co-founder. Lately, he's been diving into character design and branding while learning to produce his own tracks, calling himself "an experimental subject" in the process. Industry insiders suggest that this level of creative control is rare for K-pop idols, who often operate within tightly managed frameworks.

Reflecting on his decade-long journey, Ten tells Variety that his core artistic instincts have stayed remarkably steady. "My goal of exploring different music genres and vocal styles hasn't changed at all," he says. "I still get excited every time I receive a new song or get the chance to write something new with my producer friends." What has shifted, however, is his deeper involvement in songwriting and musical direction, with ambitions to eventually work as a creative producer for other artists. His recent tracks, including "If You Don't Mean It," which debuted during his Thailand residency, and the forthcoming "Outwest," highlight his refusal to be boxed into a single genre. Singing in Thai, English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese allows him to access different emotional tones, and he views this multilingual approach as a key asset. "Rather than having just one identity, I enjoy showing different sides of myself through different sounds, languages and genres," he says. "I think those different identities are all still Ten." This versatility has become a hallmark of his solo work, setting him apart from peers who often stick to a more uniform sound.

When asked whether he sees himself as a Thai artist, a K-pop star, or something broader, Ten chooses the latter without hesitation. "I would describe myself as a global artist because I genuinely enjoy singing in different languages and being able to showcase the beauty and character of each language through my music," he states. Both "Outwest" and a second single, "IRL," are designed as stepping stones toward a full-length album currently in the works. "I've already started preparing for my new album," he reveals. "I see these two singles almost like appetizers—something for everyone to enjoy while getting ready for what's coming with the new album." His solo discography already includes the mini albums "Ten" and "Stunner," plus the Japanese-language release "Humanity." Notably, "Stunner" topped Spotify Thailand's chart in 2025 and was later named the platform's overall top track of the year, while also securing wins on Korean music programs like Music Bank, The Show, and Inkigayo Hot Stage. His accolades extend beyond streaming, with a Best Choice honor at the 2024 Asia Artist Awards and impressive numbers across his catalog: over 460 million solo streams, more than 35 million video views, and combined group output exceeding 620 million streams with 617 chart placements. As he prepares to hit the road, industry observers note that this tour could serve as a pivotal moment for expanding his presence in the Western market, where K-pop acts have seen growing mainstream traction in recent years. With the global K-pop market projected to reach $10 billion by 2030, Ten's timing appears strategically aligned with broader industry trends.