If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers.

DAISHI DANCE

Years active: 2006-present

Associated Acts: Bigbang, Rainbow, After School, Orange Caramel, MC Mong

His sound: Surging house beats drenched in layers of synth. Favors a soaring, melodic chorus with a prominent build. Heavy use of piano riffs in his mid-tempo work.

Why you should love him: Though perhaps more well-known for his j-pop work, Japanese DJ Daishi Dance had a brief but historic flirtation with k-pop. He brings a unique club sensibility to the genre, resulting in a few of the most massive dance productions Korean idol groups have ever given us. With Daishi Dance, it’s definitely a case of quality over quantity, but you can’t argue with a guy who helped compose classics like Haru Haru and Shampoo.

Examples of his best work: