The First Record Under a Label TEN Co-Founded
TEN's 'OUTWEST' arrived on September 4. It is the first record released under ILLIMNT, the label TEN co-founded in July.
In three lines
- TEN's single 'OUTWEST' arrived at 1pm on September 4. Two tracks.
- It is the first record released under ILLIMNT, the label TEN co-founded in July.
- TEN oversaw the whole process from planning to production, and is credited as writer and composer on both songs.
What we confirmed
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | TEN |
| Single | 'OUTWEST' (2 tracks) |
| Title track | 'OUTWEST' |
| B-side | 'IRL' |
| Release | September 4, 1pm |
| Running times | 'OUTWEST' 3:18 · 'IRL' 2:42 |
| Label | ILLIMNT — launched July 6, 2026, co-founded by TEN |
The first record after founding a label
ILLIMNT launched on July 6 this year. It is a creative company spanning music, culture, visual art, fashion, original content and brand partnerships, and TEN took part as a co-founder.
The rights line on this single reads '℗ 2026 ILLIMNT'. That means it is the first record to come out under the label's name. TEN ended the exclusive contract with SM Entertainment this April, ten years after debuting, and in July first released a Thai-language special single, 'If You Don't Mean It', marking the tenth anniversary of that debut.
Overseeing the entire process from planning to production is a first for TEN as a solo artist. It means the name of the person making it goes inside the song. The singer is credited as writer and composer on both tracks, so this time that name is TEN.
A title that heads out west
The title track 'OUTWEST' is a performance track moving between hip-hop, tech house and R&B. The B-side 'IRL' goes the other way, bright and warm.
The title track holds a desire to keep moving toward unfamiliar places and new experiences; 'IRL' holds thanks to the people who stayed beside TEN for the past ten years.
'Out west' means beyond the west, and 'IRL' means in real life. One song goes outward, and one comes back to the people who were already there.
The two titles on the first record under the new label's name are leaving and returning. That fits too well to be coincidence.
Stages and a tour
TEN performed on MBC's 'Show! Music Core' on September 5 and SBS's 'Inkigayo' on the 6th. From October 17 in Seattle, the singer tours 14 US cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston and New York on a solo showcase tour — the first solo US tour since debut.
Discovery notes
Listen to 'OUTWEST' first, then 'IRL' straight after. How the outward song and the returning song differ is the first thing to check.
Then watch the music video. It is a 3:32 film posted on TEN's own channel rather than SMTOWN's.
Last, read the credits. The name in the writing and composing line is the heart of this single.
Just give it a listen, trust me.
Share
Sources
NONOL Editorial
The NONOL Magazine editorial team — we hear it first, then pass it on.
Keep reading
It sinks once at 30 seconds, and the band comes in at 50
LUCY sang 'Stay' for the drama 'A love other than yours.' It flows on violin and piano before the band joins in.
NONOL Editorial·
In at 11.5 seconds, and it doesn't back off for three and a half minutes
Brown Tigger Band released a new single, 'Seize the Day,' a year after their last. True to the title, it never takes a break.
NONOL Editorial·
Before the drop at 40 seconds, the bass comes and goes five times
ONEUS released their 12th EP, 'FIRST LIGHT : 井,' last night. It's an album with all five members together.
NONOL Editorial·