Over the years, the length between Jeong Sewoon’s comebacks has grown, making him more of a niche artist in K-pop. There was a time when his groovy pop sound consistently found its way onto my playlist, peaking with 2020’s addictive Say Yes. Since then, I’ve had a harder time connecting with his music.

Sewoon’s vocals have always appealed to me. He has a natural smile to his voice that gives his music a ton of warmth and personality. This is a saving grace in a song like Quiz. Without the unique quirks of his performance, its languid, lackadaisical style tends to fade into the background. There’s a lot going on in Quiz, from its jazzy instrumental to the quick-paced — almost stream-of-consciousness — melody. But no one element sticks out enough to provide an exciting hook. The track is a more of a vibe than a focal point. With that said, its shuffling chorus comes closest to leaving a mark and would probably benefit from more engaging verses.

Grade: C