Chenle

I. Introduction

Zhong Chenle (Chinese: 钟辰乐), known professionally as Chenle (Hangul: 천러) is a Chinese-born singer and actor currently working in South Korea as a member of the sub-unit NCT Dream. NCT Dream sings primarily in Korean as well as Chinese versions of title-tracks. Within NCT Dream, Chenle is in charge of main vocals along with his group mates Haechan and Renjun. He is also a main or lead vocalist in the rotating unit NCT U.

II. Career

III. Early Life and Pre-Debut

Chenle was born in Shanghai, China on 22 November 2001, which makes him the second youngest member (as of 2021) under the NCT umbrella. Chenle started his professional career as a singer and actor at a young age and has released three albums. In 2008, he was admitted to studying at Beijing Contemporary Music School. At age 9, Chenle released his first full-length album, Tomorrow, and in 2011 he was invited to perform the song Memory from the critically acclaimed musical Cats at the Golden Hall of Vienna accompanied by the entire Vienna Philarmonic and, at the time, became the youngest singer to have ever performed there. During the same year, he released his second full-length album, My Wings, with a total of 12 songs. His albums feature songs in his native language and popular English language songs such as "I Can't Wait to be King" from the Lion King and covers such as Declan Galbraith's "Tell Me Why." Chenle also competed in singing competitions such as China's Got Talent.

His first acting role was in 2013 when he was featured in the Chinese drama The Queen of SOP 2.

IIII. Debut

In March 2016, SM Entertainment heard about Chenle's singing ability and called his own parents in order to invite him to join the company. He, along with group mate Renjun, are two of the only four members who were not introduced as a part of SM Rookies. After a training period of two months, Chenle debuted on August 19th as a member of the newly formed NCT sub-unit, NCT Dream, with the release of their debut single "Chewing Gum." His groupmates consist of Mark, Renjun, Jaemin, Jeno, Haechan and Jisung.

Dream was originally designed as a teenage boy group, with members graduating from the group once they reached adulthood (20 in Korean, 19 international age), although the graduation system was later eliminated.

Dream has a brighter, sunnier pop sound than the other sub-units, although it has an equal emphasis on powerful and intricate dance choreography.

III. Current Activities

Chenle continues to record and perform with NCT Dream, including 6 EPs, 3 studio albums, 2 repackage albums and 1 live album.

He also participated with NCT during the NCT 2018 project on March 14, 2018, featuring all NCT members, and debuting three new ones. This project also included the first NCT full album, NCT 2018 Empathy. He appears as a singer on the NCT Dream song "Go." He is also a dancer in "Black on Black."

On June 6, 2019 On June 06, 2019, Chenle released the single Don't Need Your Love, alongside Jeno, Renjun, Jaemin, and Jisung and the collaboration of English singer HRVY.

In October 2020, Chenle became the main DJ host of the radio show Yuedong Seoul, where he mainly answers fans' questions and holds interviews with guests. The show airs every day from 9PM to 10PM KST and can be streamed through the TBS eFM 101.3 MHz Youtube Livestream.

He also participated in the NCT 2020 project in October 2020, featuring all NCT members, and debuting two new ones. This project also included a 2-part NCT full album, NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2. He appears as a singer on NCT Dream's song "Deja Vu," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 5 songs: "Dancing in the Rain," "Raise The Roof," "All About You," "I.O.U." and a song that only featured NCT vocalists, "From Home." He also features in the combination single "Resonance." The entire project also appeared on NCT World 2.0, a competition-focused show.

"From Home" was one of the promotional singles from Resonance and featured members singing in multiple languages.

In February 2021, Chenle was invited to feature on the song IMLAY's Too Good, from his 4th EP named "UTOPIA".

On March 28th, Chenle and Kun, main vocalist and leader of the sub-unit WayV, gifted the fans with their harmonic voices in a cover of HONNE's free love.

Chenle participated in the NCT 2021 project in December 2021, featuring all active NCT members at the time. This project also included a NCT full album, NCT 2021 Universe. He appears as a singer on NCT Dream's song "Dreaming," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 3 songs: the rap-driven "Birthday Party," "Vroom" and the vocally driven "Sweet Dream." He also features in the all-unit song "Beautiful." As part of NCT 2021 promotions, he also appeared in a special short digital series EuMARKJUNGsim, co-hosted by NCT group mates Mark and Jungwoo, and NCT 2021 YearDream, around the group's lore.

Chenle also featured on the 2021 Winter SMTown SMCU Express album on the song "Snow Dream" with other members of the SM maknae line, Yeri of Red Velvet, Ningning of aespa and his group mates Haechan and Jisung of NCT Dream. He also appears on "Hope from Kwangya" with other SM artists.

Chenle suffered an ankle injury during preparations for NCT Dream's second album and did not dance during the album promotions, although he still participated in the choreography while seated or briefly standing.

In 2023, Chenle appeared with the other members of NCT Dream on the fourth NCT album, Golden Age, as well as in the all-unit NCT Nation concerts in Korea and Japan. He featured on the NCT U songs "Kangaroo" and "Interlude: Oasis."

IV. Discography

Videography

V. Photos

NCT 2020 Resonance

NCT 2023 Golden Age

VI. Trivia

- His NCT emoji is 🐬 (a dolphin, after his laugh).

- He has an older brother with a 13-year old gap.

- He can play the piano.

- He is known as "Dolphin" for his high pitched singing voice and laugh.

- His favorite sports are basketball and football.

- In August 2020, Chenle got a reply on Twitter from his role model Stephen Curry. Less than five months later, he received an autographed basketball jersey from Stephen Curry himself.

- Chenle is a native Mandarin speaker who is also extremely fluent in Korean and English.

- Chenle has a Bichon named Daegal (which translates to big head). Like WayV's pets, Daegal pops up in NCT content with NCT Dream, WayV and NCT 127 members. She even received a video treatment to NCT Dream's "Chewing Gum."

- He doesn't live in the dormitory anymore and he lives with his mom in Seoul.

- He is afraid of spiders.

- His favorite catchphrase is "Oh my Gawd".

- He really likes ramen, boiled egg, rice and chocolate.

- Chenle is extremely ticklish.

- Chenle is one of only two NCT members who were not in SM Rookies. The other is Renjun.

- He is friends with Felix of Stray Kids.

- Chenle likes "Boss" and "Simon Says" the most.

- Chenle's fans are called Little Suns.

- Chenle is a huge NCTzen and knows lyrics and dances to many songs from the other sub-units, especially NCT 127.

- Chenle is well known for trying to give - and often giving - spoilers.

- Chenle is part of the NCT maknae line and is the second youngest member of NCT.

- Chenle is close with members of WayV, especially Kun.

- Chenle hosts a YouTube show with group mate Jisung - Chenle & Jisung's This and That.

- SM released a video using the audio from NCT's MAMA performance that captures the journey of the members through their career.

- NCT members participated in a NCT 24 Hour Relay Cam that gives a snapshot of their daily lives.