KAI and SEHUN Prepare Their Debut as EXO-KASE

KAI and SEHUN are forming EXO-KASE, a new EXO unit whose first mini album, Waking Up The City, is scheduled for December 1. Announced by SM Entertainment on November 11, the seven-track release will include a title song of the same name and solo songs from both members.

The pairing brings two performers with years of shared stage experience into a smaller formation. Both born in 1994, KAI and SEHUN have spent their careers together in EXO. This time, the album gives their partnership a name of its own, while leaving space for each member individually.

A debut first introduced onstage

Fans received their first glimpse of the project at EXO’s recent Seoul encore concerts, “EXO PLANET #6 - EXhOrizon [dot] -”. KAI and SEHUN introduced the unit and previewed part of the title track’s choreography during the shows.

SEHUN singled out performance as the element he was most excited to share. In the press material supplied to KPOP MAGAZINE, he expressed confidence in the stage they were preparing and invited fans to give their honest feedback.

That introduction puts choreography at the center of the first impression. Before listeners have heard the full album, the duo has already chosen the concert stage as a place to explain what this partnership can do.

Two performers with room for themselves

SM describes the pairing through contrasting qualities: KAI’s bold charisma and forceful stage presence alongside SEHUN’s effortless cool. Those descriptions set up the promotional direction of the unit. The forthcoming music and performances will show how those qualities work together across a complete release.

The inclusion of solo songs adds another point of interest. Listeners will be able to hear the two members both as a pairing and on their own within the same seven-track album. It is a format that can make their individual approaches easier to follow, rather than asking the title track to represent everything about the unit.

For now, the announcement identifies the title song and confirms the solo tracks without providing a complete tracklist or detailed musical descriptions. There is still more to learn about the album’s sound before December 1.

A launch film opens the story

EXO-KASE’s launch film, “It’s Time To Wake Up”, was released at midnight KST on November 11 through EXO’s official social channels. SM describes the film as showing KAI and SEHUN crossing paths, introducing their new partnership visually.

The film introduces the duo; the song they previewed onstage is the forthcoming title track, “Waking Up The City.”

EXO after the encore

The unit arrives just after EXO completed its sixth headline tour. According to SM’s press materials, “EXO PLANET #6 - EXhOrizon” sold out all 30 shows across 14 destinations. Its final three encore concerts took place at Seoul’s KSPO DOME from November 6 to 8, drawing approximately 33,000 fans.

Since debuting in 2012, EXO has built a catalogue that includes “Growl”, “CALL ME BABY”, “Monster”, “Tempo” and “Love Shot”. Its group performances and recurring “EXO PLANET” concerts have given fans years of opportunities to watch how the members move and interact onstage.

EXO-KASE takes one pairing from that familiar setting and gives it more space. The first announcement offers three things to watch: how KAI and SEHUN share a stage as a duo, how their solo songs sit beside their joint material, and how the choreography introduced at the encore develops into the full title-track performance.

Waking Up The City is due on December 1. Physical editions are available for pre-order through online and offline retailers.