Mark Lee Releases New Single “Happiest”

Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | November 06, 2026

Singer-songwriter and producer Mark Lee releases his new single “Happiest.” Co-written by Mark, “Happiest” is the second single from his anticipated forthcoming album, Windmill, due out December 4.

On “Happiest,” Mark questions the way we measure joy. Wrapped in an Alternative Pop R&B sound, the song looks past the achievements and possessions that so often signal a good life and turns toward a quieter kind of contentment, one that can’t be seen but is deeply felt. The track features production by Bart Schoudel, whose credits include Selena Gomez, and mixing by Josh Gudwin, known for his extensive work with Justin Bieber. Conceived alongside Mark and directed by Colin Tilley, who has made videos for Justin Bieber, Cardi B, Halsey and more, the accompanying music video brings that search to life with a holiday feel, gathering friends around a table to talk about what they want most from life. When it’s Mark’s turn, he answers simply: true happiness. As the video unfolds, that answer comes into focus as togetherness, the joy of community and of time spent with the people he loves. Fittingly, Mark had his brother, Jon Lee, star alongside him in the video, a heartfelt touch that brings its message home.

“Happiest” follows lead single “My Friend” and continues the story of Windmill, Mark’s first full-length project as an independent artist. Mark co-wrote every song on the album with his collaborators, developing the songs together from the very beginning, and was directly involved throughout the creative process, including the music, visuals, and storytelling. The result carries his authorship and creative ownership at every step, along with the mission behind this new chapter: celebrating art and connection and creating spaces where people feel uplifted and part of something larger.

The release comes after a milestone year for Mark, who began releasing music independently after a decade spent building a catalog of over 100 songs across multiple groups, albums, and world tours. His handwritten note announcing this new chapter became a cultural moment, generating over 1.5 million tweets within 24 hours and becoming one of the most commented posts in Instagram’s history. The album also builds on the momentum of his debut solo album, The Firstfruit (2025), which sold over 544,000 copies in its first week, the best debut week for any solo artist in Hanteo history from SM Entertainment and was named Billboard’s No. 1 K-pop album of 2025.

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About Mark Lee

Mark Lee is a singer, songwriter, and producer. Over the past decade, he built a reputation as one of the hardest working artists in music, amassing songwriting and performance credits on more than 100 songs, including a Billboard 200 No. 1 debut with group SuperM and five Billboard 200 charting releases with NCT 127. His debut solo album, The Firstfruit (2025), sold over 544,000 copies in its first week, the best debut week for any solo artist in Hanteo history from SM Entertainment, and was named Billboard’s No. 1 K-pop album of 2025. Mark now releases music independently. His new album, Windmill, which he co-wrote with his collaborators and shaped from the music to the visuals and storytelling, is due out December 4, led by the singles “My Friend” and “Happiest.”