![\"40th](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1720b556e177068369b25483c68d4a30dd-Heeseung-Evan.rsquare.w330.jpg\")
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\n The artist formerly known as Heeseung.
\n Photo: Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
Plenty of singers release music under mononyms:\u00a0Beyonc\u00e9, Adele, Prince, Madonna, and Rihanna \u2014 if she ever finishes that album<\/a>. How do we feel about Evan? On April 8, former Enhypen member Heeseung adopted a new stage name for his solo career. \u201cEVAN is a name I\u2019ve cherished since childhood, one that holds many of my most precious memories,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201cThrough this name, I hope to reach fans with music that fully expresses my most honest and natural self.\u201d He shared the first photos of his new era on a newly launched Instagram account, @h_evva_n<\/a>. In a press release, HYBE label Belift Lab said the minimalist portraits \u201cstrip away embellishment to reveal a raw, understated charisma\u201d and capture \u201can artist at the very beginning of his identity, before any external definition is applied.\u201d Evan was much more succinct in his caption, which simply reads, \u201c#Evan.\u201d<\/p>\n Belift Lab sent shock waves through the K-pop industry on March 10 by announcing that Heeseung was leaving Enhypen after six years \u2014 but would remain signed as an individual act. \u201cIt became clear that Heeseung has his own distinct musical vision,\u201d the label said. \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to relay the whole process through a short notice, but this decision comes after extensive deliberation.\u201d In a handwritten letter<\/a> shared to Weverse, Heeseung said he thought \u201cdeeply\u201d about this decision for a long time, noting that he wanted to share many individual projects he\u2019s worked on but didn\u2019t want to put his own ambitions before Enhypen. He described his time in the group as some of the brightest memories of his life and affirmed that he wants to continue supporting the remaining six-member lineup \u201cas someone who will always cheer them on.\u201d Still, some fans questioned whether he actually wanted to leave. Following the news of his departure, protest trucks (and some in-person protesters<\/a>) showed up at HYBE\u2019s building to express their discontent, while a petition<\/a> requesting that Heeseung release solo music but also remain in the group received more than 2 million signatures. So far, it looks like he and Belift are sticking to hoping that this configuration will be Evan better for him.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Vulture Daily<\/p>\n An entertainment newsletter for the pop-culture obsessed.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n