On July 11, 2019 at midnight KST, Konnect Entertainment launched a newly created website with a 24-hour countdown. The following day at midnight KST, the first teaser for Kang's solo debut which included the date July 25, 2019 was revealed.[2] It was also revealed that the CEO of Devine-Channel (Kei Lim) was the main producer of the EP.[3] In the following days, four more teaser images were released on Konnect's official website and pre-orders for the EP started on July 16. Two days later, the tracklist was revealed showing a total of five songs with audio previews for each released the following day.[4] Lim revealed that the album was completed in such a short time due to Kang focusing solely on producing the album. While Lim assisted with the album's technical side, Kang mostly controlled its direction and message.[5] At the debut showcase, Kang stated the album's title was inspired from the second track "Color" since he wanted to show his diverse sides. He participated in writing four songs and received a lot of inspiration from films and fans' messages.[6]
In retrospect, Kang expressed that Color on Me was "an album with many regrets" during his documentary filmKang Daniel: My Parade (2023). Following his legal dispute with his former agency and subsequent six-month hiatus from the entertainment industry, Kang revealed that the entire album was prepared within just two weeks.[7]
Korean graphic designer Jiyoon Lee of Studio XXX was responsible for the album design of Color on Me. In an interview with Bandwagon Asia explaining her creative process, she revealed that both her and Konnect Entertainment were in agreement to emphasize Kang's presence as a solo artist and "wanted the album to look like a special edition from a fashion magazine".[8]
Kang Daniel held two debut showcases on July 25 at YES24 Live Hall, 4PM KST for the press and 8PM KST for his fans.[9][10] He held six domestic fan-signs between July 31 and August 3 in Gwangju, Daejeon, Busan, Daegu, Yeouido, and Sangam.[11] Following that, Kang kicked off the international leg of his fan meeting tour with stops in Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. He ended the tour in Ilsan with a two-day fan meeting on November 23–24 and a three-day exhibition ending on the 24th at KINTEX.[12] In between touring, Kang organized "What Are You Up To" and "I Hope" mu:fully performance video uploads in early September.[13] His first general public event performance occurred on October 25 at Busan One Asia Festival.[14]
On July 22, it was reported that stock pre-orders for Color on Me exceeded 450,000 copies over the first seven days of the pre-order period.[15]
Upon its release in South Korea, Color on Me sold 342,218 copies on its first-day, making it the highest first-day sales for a soloist in the history of Hanteo Chart.[16] As of July 31, the third day since the EP's physical release, Color on Me sold over 400,000 copies, also breaking the record for the highest first-week sales for a soloist in the history of Hanteo Chart.[17] It topped South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and entered Japan's Oricon Albums Chart at number 23.[18]
Despite not appearing on any music shows, Kang took home his first-ever solo music show win on KBS2's Music Bank with "What Are You Up To" placing first on August 9, 2019.[19] Later that year, Sony Music Entertainment announced its biggest global sellers for its second fiscal quarter of 2019 with Kang's Color on Me placing fifth.[20]
^"강다니엘, 솔로 데뷔 앨범 트랙리스트 공개..타이틀곡은 '뭐해'" [Kang Daniel, the tracklist for his solo debut album released.. the title track is 'What Are You Up To']. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2019 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘, 7월말 솔로데뷔 확정...디바인채널 프로듀싱" [Kang Daniel, solo debut confirmed at the end of July... Devine Channel production]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). June 27, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2019 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘 'color on me' 예약 판매 안내" [Kang Daniel 'color on me' Pre-Order Guide]. Konnect Entertainment (in Korean). July 16, 2019. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
^"임광욱 대표 "강다니엘, 진솔한 경상도 상남자"(인터뷰③)[스타메이커]" [Kwang-wook Lim, CEO "Kang Daniel, a real man of Gyeongsang-do" (Interview③) [Star Maker]]. Star News (in Korean). July 31, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘 측 "25일 쇼케이스로 신곡 첫 공개"…무대 장인 출격" [Kang Daniel's side said "First release of a new song at the showcase on the 25th"...a stage craftsman's appearance]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). July 16, 2019. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘 솔로 데뷔 앨범 'color on me' 팬 쇼케이스 개최 안내" [Kang Daniel's solo debut album 'color on me' fan showcase]. Konnect Entertainment (in Korean). July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
^"강다니엘, 'color on me' 발매 기념 전국 팬사인회성료" [Kang Daniel completes national fan signing event celebrating the release of 'color on me']. Xports News (in Korean). August 2, 2019. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘, 조금씩 베일 벗는 '컬러풀'한 팬미팅… 메인 포스터 공개!" [Kang Daniel, a 'colorful' fan meeting that takes off the veil little by little... Main poster revealed!]. iMBC (in Korean). October 21, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘, 섹시美 '뭐해'→청량美 'I HOPE'까지..반전매력 폭발" [Kang Daniel, sexy beauty 'What Are You Up To'→ refreshing beauty 'I HOPE'.. reverse attraction explosion]. OSEN (in Korean). September 9, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^"'BOF 2019' 강다니엘,『더 다양한 모습으로 자주 만나요』#부산홍보대사 [★해시태그]" ['BOF 2019' Kang Daniel, "See you more often in a variety of ways" #BusanPublicRelationsAmbassador [★Hashtag]]. Xports News (in Korean). October 26, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘, 솔로 데뷔 앨범 하루 만에34만 장 돌파.."역대급 스코어" [공식]" [Kang Daniel's solo debut album surpasses 340,000 copies in just one day.. "Best Score of All Time" [Official]]. OSEN (in Korean). July 30, 2019. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2019 – via Naver.
^"'뮤직뱅크' 강다니엘, 방송출연 없이1위…로켓펀치 데뷔-세븐틴 컴백[종합]" ['Music Bank' Kang Daniel, No. 1 without a broadcast appearance... Rocket Punch debut-Seventeen comeback [Comprehensive]]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). August 9, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2020 – via Naver.
^週間CDアルバムランキング 2019年08月12日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on August 12, 2019]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
