There is no rest for the wicked, and perhaps that’s why Mark Tuan’s latest single, “NIGHTLIGHT,” featuring MILLI, has us staying up late and getting lost in our feelings. A little flirty, a little sensual, and wrapped in sultry beats, the track captures the thoughts that linger after a romantic encounter. Was there something more? Could it lead to something else? The questions race through your mind, keeping you suspended in that delicious space between curiosity and anticipation.

That’s the beauty of Tuan’s songwriting. He doesn’t need to spell everything out. Instead, he invites you into his world, leaving just enough mystery to keep you coming back for more.

Released earlier this month, “NIGHTLIGHT” showcases a more intimate, playful side of the beloved GOT7 member, whose alternative sound has helped distinguish him as a solo artist. The Los Angeles native has spent more than 12 years in the music industry, debuting with GOT7 in 2014 before embarking on his solo journey with The Other Side in 2022. Since then, he has morcontinued exploring his musical identity with releases including Fallin (2023), Silhouette (2025), and Alone, released July 31, 2026.

With “NIGHTLIGHT,” Tuan embraces the giddy joy of falling for someone, approaching the art with newfound ease, trusting his instincts, experimenting with his sound, and letting his personality lead.

In an interview with 1883 Magazine, Tuan reflects on the everyday experiences that inspire his lyrics, the creative freedom he’s found as a solo artist, and the importance of enjoying the process rather than chasing expectations. Having grown up in the spotlight alongside his fans, he’s learned that his career is about creating music that feels authentic to him and resonates with the people who listen.

While “NIGHTLIGHT” might soundtrack a late-night flirtation, it also shines a light on an artist becoming increasingly comfortable in his own skin. He’s still exploring and experimenting and, perhaps most importantly, giving himself permission to have a little fun and inviting his listeners to join him in the revelry.

What a flirt.

So, let Mark Tuan turn you on to his music, like a “NIGHTLIGHT.”

There’s so much underlying intimacy in “NIGHTLIGHT.” What was it like to write a love song while drawing from your own experiences and emotions?

Everyone knows that feeling of being really into someone: the curious, can’t-stop-thinking-about-it energy. I didn’t want it to be a heavy, dramatic love song. I wanted it to feel like a late night, a little playful, a little unsure where it’s going. So I tried to be honest about what that feeling is and not overthink it.

When you think back to when you first started scribbling down the lyrics for “NIGHTLIGHT” compared with hearing the finished song now, what part of yourself do you hear in it that maybe you didn’t realize you were putting into the song at the time?

The playful side, I think. In the session I was just having fun and trying things, so I didn’t realize how much of that was going into it. Hearing it finished, it sounds like another version of me, the one my close friends see. People mostly hear the more introspective side of me, so I think I let this part out more than I knew.

You’ve spent so much of your career creating as part of GOT7, and now you’ve had years to explore who Mark Tuan is as a solo artist. What have you discovered about yourself creatively through that process?

That I’m a lot more curious than I expected. In a group there are so many great people and everyone has their part, and I loved that. On my own, there’s nobody else to hand a decision to, so I had to figure out what I actually like. And what I like is experimenting. I like walking into a session and letting a song go somewhere natural. I’ve also learned I do my best work when I trust my gut a little more.

Do you find certain truths or emotions easier to communicate through a love song than in conversation? And when inspiration hits, do you write it down immediately, or do you hold onto the feeling until the right melody or moment comes along?

In a conversation I can get in my head about how it’s going to land. In a song I get to take my time with the words, and the music behind it makes it easier to say things playfully. As for inspiration, I’d say it comes from my daily lifestyle. I see my writing as a form of self-expression, so I pull a lot from my everyday life experiences or the kinds of stories the people close to me go through.

You’ve written so many songs over the years. Do you ever think back to the very first song you wrote, or is there one that holds a special place in your heart? What made that song meaningful to you?

I do think about it sometimes. It probably wasn’t very good, honestly, but it was the first time I finished something and realized I could say what I was feeling through a song.

You’ve grown up in front of an audience, but the person your fans first met years ago isn’t necessarily the person you are today. What is something about Mark now that you wish the people who have followed you from the beginning could see more clearly?

That I’m more relaxed and a lot more comfortable than the early days made me look. A lot of fans already know that, since we grew up together, but I’d love for more people to see that we’re all human. I’m still figuring things out, and I’m much more open now about what I want to make.

When you think about your evolution as an artist, was there ever a moment when you thought, “Okay, I’m finally starting to understand what I want my music to sound and feel like”? What changed for you around that point?

I don’t think it was one big moment. It was more a bunch of small ones, where I’d finish a song and think, yeah, that sounds like me. If I had to point to what changed, it’s that I stopped guessing what would be received well or have commercial success and started making what I’d actually want to listen to. “NIGHTLIGHT” is part of that. Fans had been asking if more rap could come back, and I finally just went for it without second-guessing myself. That’s when it started to feel right.

MILLI brings so much of her own personality and perspective to “NIGHTLIGHT.” What made her the right person for this song, and did anything about how she approached the track make you hear your own song differently?

I wanted someone who’d bring something of her own to it, not just fit into what was already there. When she sent her verse back, it was completely different from what I’d imagined, but in the best way. Hearing Thai and English next to each other made the song feel bigger, and it gave me new ideas for it, even visually. After that I heard the song differently. It stopped being just mine and became something neither of us would have made on our own.

MILLI has established herself as such a distinctive global artist, much like yourself. What initially made you want to work with her, and what do you admire most about her as an artist?

I don’t have many collaborations in my catalog, so I wanted it to be someone I was really excited about. What I admire most about MILLI is that she’s fearless with her lyrics and she moves between styles without it ever feeling forced. She sounds like herself no matter what she’s doing, and that’s hard to do.

Have you already heard from fans about how “NIGHTLIGHT” has resonated with them? What does it feel like when someone takes something you created from such a personal place and tells you it’s become part of their own story?

It means a lot. I write from a pretty personal place, so I never really know if a song will connect with others. When someone tells me it’s become part of a drive, a night out, or a moment in their life, it feels like we’re all in this together, and that’s very special to me.

Many artists talk about wanting their fans to feel “seen,” but you’ve had an unusually long relationship with yours. What do you think they understand about you that someone discovering your music for the first time might not immediately pick up on?

I think they know I’m pretty low-key and that sometimes I take my time. Someone new might just hear the finished song, but the people who’ve been around know how long it took to get here, and all the trial and error. I’ve experimented with various music styles and always try to bring out new creative visuals along the way.

When you’re creating now, do you ever think about the version of Mark who was just starting out and wonder what that younger version of you would think if he could hear “NIGHTLIGHT”? Would he recognize you?

I do think about that sometimes. I think he’d be surprised I’m trying all the different music styles, and probably very hyped about it. I think he’d recognize me, just a bit more relaxed. I’d tell him it’s okay to have fun with it.

If someone discovers you through “NIGHTLIGHT” and knows nothing about your history, what do you hope they understand about you after spending a few minutes with the song, not just as an artist, but as a person?

That I’m not afraid to try things. If this is the only song someone hears, I hope they hear someone who’s open, curious, a little playful, but sincere about it. Not a perfect version of me, just me, still exploring.

You’ve experienced the highs of performing for huge audiences, the pressure of being part of a globally recognized group, and the freedom and uncertainty of building something on your own. What does success mean to you now that it perhaps didn’t when you were younger?

When I was younger, success was more about the numbers: the crowds, the streams, the stage. I’m really grateful for all of that. Now it’s more about whether I’m proud of what I made and whether I had a good time making it. If I’m in a session, having fun, and a song surprises me, that feels like a big win. If it connects with someone too, that’s a bonus.

After everything you’ve experienced and accomplished so far, what’s something you’re still trying to figure out about yourself as an artist?

Honestly, a lot. I’m still figuring out how far I can push my sound and how to balance my vocals. I’m also still learning to trust myself earlier in the process. I don’t think that ever really stops. It keeps things interesting.

When you look back on this chapter of your life and career, what do you hope people remember, not just about the music you made, but about the person you were while making it?

I hope people remember that I was not afraid to explore new styles, and that I was good to the people around me and was always grateful for my fans. And that I was having fun. If someone looks back on this chapter and thinks, he was just enjoying making music and being honest, that’s more than enough.

“NIGHTLIGHT” is out now, follow via @marktuan

Interview Amanda Moses

Photography DNA