Just over three years after their debut, P1Harmony have unveiled their first full album. This always feels like a milestone for artists, and P1Harmony aren’t messing with the formula when it comes to its title track. Killin’ It (때깔) retains their attitude-fueled hip-hop sound.
There’s no doubt the group excels in this realm, so it’s just a question of how strong the song and production are. Killin’ It unfurls plenty of energy, stuffed with swagger and personality. However, I find the loud, loop-heavy instrumental quite grating and the song itself doesn’t do anything to assuage that concern. Everything feels targeted at the same sonic range, lacking the dynamic highs and lows that make a good groove interesting.
Killin’ It‘s chorus splits the difference between chant and melody. It’s spoken rather than sung, but there’s a taunting tune that makes it catchy. The problem is — like the rest of the song — this centerpiece is more annoying than energizing. At this point, it would be fun to hear some evolution in P1Harmony’s sound because they already have much stronger versions of this in their catalog.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Wellp. It doesn’t annoy me that much actually. In fact it’s not even that bad, as much as it could have been given all the annoying tropes. What bugs me is what did that bridge even try to do in this song, it feels a bit sloppily put together so it sounds like it’s ripped from somewhere else..
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I find the instrumental grating too. Also, for a group whose name has the word “harmony”, I am not hearing any harmonies.
Structurally, the song is like an EXO or NCT-style, it just makes the wrong choices at every turn. Besides changing the annoying synth choices, the instrumental would have more clanging and weirdness. … Cowbell? The vocal would have had more expansive range. The lows would have been lower, and growlier, the highs higher. Instead of unison singing on the chorus it would be up an octave and down an octave and bucu adlibs, with a few weird interesting harmonic choices thrown in. The break would have gone there, and back, and there again. More, and then more again.
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It’s such a missed opportunity for a group with harmony in the name to not have harmonies be a core part of their style.
I miss groups with a strong identity and concept, anyway.
This person made a fantastic video in which they create cohesive conceptual ideas for 3 existing kpop groups, from visuals to music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z9q7SDWi9k
After watching what they came up with for Kep1er I realized just how much I miss strong concepts.
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let’s be real it’s nct lite, but they do it better than some other groups.🤷🏻♀️
also do u have perfect pitch?
Genuine question
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I do not. Most of the time, I use an app called “VocalPitchMonitor” – all one word no spaces. Its free from the google play store. My kids are in band, so they have bucu apps and physical handheld pitch devices. But I find this app most useful for voice as it’s a scrolling diagram of going flat or going sharp, and also vibrato. You can really see your vibrato in action, which is so cool, and also useful.
That said, there are notes I do know by heart. Note that I am a low mezzo-soprano, or rather a mezzo with a well-developed lower range. Some might call it contralto from the range, but my timbre and sweet spots are all mezzo.
G#3 is right where my voice changes from mixed voice to chest voice, so I know that note very well. I have to consciously decide how to sing that note, if its an ascending line or a descending line or a held note. Sometimes it’s a weird focal vocal deficit.
Similar for high notes – The Big Note in “Let it Go”, right about there is the transition for me for mixed to head voice. Let the storm range ONNNNNNN is D#5. Idina sings it in mixed voice. It sounds better (to me) in head voice. But I know it well because that note and a step or two around that note I can do either head or mixed. I can hit falsetto starting about F#5 up to about C6, but it isn’t pretty- sure its in tune, but.
Lower notes I know by heart by the tricky parts of lower songs – Gaho “Stay Here” first verse swoops low low G#2. I know that note. Only when I am relaxed and calm and open with plenty of air can I hit it, but it’s awesome. You can’t push or growl your way down to G#2 with girl pipes. Then after the break in the Big Ending, I lift it up to a C#5 full on belt with my girl pipes. Gah, I love Gaho. I have sung the shit out of his “A Song for You” and “Beautiful”. Every single register get tested with Gaho.
Other random notes in passing: Roy Kim “The Hardest Part” opens with C3, no instrumental cue, just have to memorize it and hit it head on. Kyuhyun “The day we felt the distance” high note in the break is D#5 and it sounds great in head voice bell tone. Then a moment’s later a shift two octaves down to full chest voice D#3. It’s thrilling.
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oh wow that was a whole essay.
I also was going to ask this before, but I was worried you’d think it was rude, but are you autistic/Adhd/AuAdhd?
I’m autistic and the fact that a lot of your comments are big paragraphs made me think that you might be too. As well as the possibility that you had perfect pitch. Sorry if you find that offensive.
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No worries. If I don’t like the question, I just scroll on by.
I am not, but darling daughter is.
This is the only place I write about kpop and regular pop, so this is the only place I write long form.
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Oh ok
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I think at this point I just have to admit that P1Harmony’s signature sound is not for me. This one gives me the same impression as their last couple of title tracks (actually I think Everybody Clap from the album would have been a better choice as it’s similar but more varied). But, the album is fantastic! I feel like they got to explore sounds that I usually don’t associate with them. Late Night Calls, Countdown to Love, and especially 2Nite (which makes great use of Keeho’s vocals) are all excellent. This gives me hope that their signature sound will eventually develop into something more interesting.
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I REALLY like this. It’s loose and has a great vibe. I’ll have to check out the album.
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I definetly appreciate the consistency and crafting of a signature stlye (personally, I don’t think this comes off as an NCT style but has its own thing going). Though comparing this song to Jump, and Back-Down, I think it is the weakest out of the three.
I absolutely love every moment of this charismatic rap line, they have a distinct flow and style that feels seasoned beyond the idols’ years. Jongseob and Intak exude so much swagger and personality.
Still, I can’t help but feel the same as Nick about needing some evolution or a step forward in their music. They could really use some stronger melodies to compliment and contrast the rap-heavy verses (since they have Keeho, who is, IMO, one of the best vocalists of 4th Gen and is heavily underused.
Piwon is such a talented group in all fronts (great vocalists, great rappers, insane dancing skills) that I can’t help but feeling that the music they are given mostly falls short in showing off their capabilities.
PS, Siren is still my favorite title track by them. What a banger. We are we are.
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Btw their stylingggg omg they never let me down in that category. They all look amazing.
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This title track kinda let me down cause its just the same throughout but the album is crazy good, there are some REALLY good songs in there and some that are a little forgettable. Countdown To Love absolutely surprised me, buried treasure imo! just wish it was a little longer though and it could have been one of the best songs of this year so far.
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Okay, I thought that repetitive through line would annoy more than it actually did. It actually wasn’t that bad. And there was a ton of charisma in the delivery, which lifted it. But I’m always going to be biased against songs that are rap-focused, so it ultimately gets a “meh” from me.
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Well as someone who enjoys repetitive songs and rap heavy songs I loved it! I really appreciate how they never stray too far from their core sound, having a solid group identity is always a plus for me.
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If you’re going to do a song that relies on chanting this much, you need to have the enthusiasm and charm to make it work. The only group I know with the specific and rare talent for making repeated chants fun is MCND (I’m open to being proven wrong though).
I don’t think the instrumental is completely unsalvageable – but it’s a tough one to pull off. Combine that with a chant-heavy hook, which is also tough to pull off, and the guys had an uphill battle to make this song sound good. I will say that I love the moments with the layered vocals, but that’s about it.
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