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.

ERIK LIDBOM

Years active: 2010-present

Associated Acts: VIXX, Shinee, BoA, GFriend, Girls’ Generation

His sound: Varies depending on the artist he’s working with, but usually beat-driven with a heavy emphasis on electronic elements and detailed, tightly packed arrangements.

Why you should love him: Erik Lidbom is a Swedish composer who is quite prolific in both the k-pop and j-pop scenes. Rather than have a definitive style of his own, Lidbom’s work is chameleon-like in its diversity. What is consistent is his knack for a strong, universal pop hook. And though he dabbles in trends when it comes to instrumentation and genre, his songs (particularly for Shinee and VIXX), have a classic sort of appeal that gives them incredible longevity.

Examples of his best work: