TRI.BE have the distinction of being backed by legendary producer Shinsadong Tiger, who has written more than his fair share of classic K-pop tracks. But thus far, they’ve struggled to deliver classics themselves, largely playing on trends without fully embracing a signature sound that gives them their own musical perspective.
New single Diamond arrives almost exactly one year from their previous comeback, the catchy We Are Young. This time, the group brings the energy down for a more subdued take on the percussive sound of their 2021 debut. A thumping beat underlines what might otherwise be a sentimental fan song. The vocal performance has a nice, unaffected heft. It’s pleasant to hear the ladies sing in this register, and they’re given equally pleasant melodies to work with. The structure is a bit repetitive, especially when the song moves into its chorus.
I don’t think Diamond will move the needle on TRI.BE’s trajectory, but it’s a hard song to dislike. There’s a pleasant sense of uplift across its entire running time, free from the kind of jarring transitions that often upend the flow of K-pop tracks. It’s a bit too modest to elicit sparks, but works as an enjoyable palette cleanser between more bombastic offerings.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Oh Tri.be.
You went from an annoying trend-chasing debut (tropical kpop is awful) to refreshing when you stuck with it (I love “Kiss”) and then tried on the Weeekly sound last year. And now we’re back to the tropical sound but it’s really bland, so what are we doing here?
Like I respect the commitment to the bit but how on earth did you release such a boring song with both Tiger and LE behind the wheel?
Please release something fun soon.
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Lol, clearly they need your help
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You might want to get your ears checked.
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I like the Latin-ish influence of the song! The hooks are pleasant too, though it could do with a bit more energy. Wish it had a bridge and a bombastic final chorus, it would have been the cherry on the cake, but *sighs* looks like that too is a rare privilege.
A straight 8 for me as well.
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A generic dance pop song that I would definitely move my body with. A typical summertime-energy style that fills with Latin element is a plus for me in Kpop. Also, I do like their vocal layering as it just comes and goes naturally.
In a short moment, this song somehow reminds me of KARD’s Hola Hola.
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Not quite an 8 for me, but a fairly decent song.
I can’t recall any group outside of KARD that wear their latin influence so clearly on their sleeve, lol.
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I actually disagree, this could be their first win, this is the type of stuff Kfans like. GG shintiger bringing back his catchy 2nd gen feels here
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Soeun is being utilized so well with her deep tones also, that b chorus with the dope 808 bass is gorgeous on decent speakers, overall kpop has been lately and it’s refreshing to hear. Deeper tones are so under-rated
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This song is the contemporary shiplap greige open plan farmhouse style of kpop. Put everything in that everyone thinks everyone else is expecting.
The vocal sounds so tinny to me. And there is the lower parts excursion that the big stars are doing these days – Taylor, Miley, Bey, etc. All mezzosopranos. (Miley might be a contralto but her smokers growl conceals easy id). So lets take some light lyric sopranos and have them do it to. Problem is that these girls do not have any resonance down there. Look, if you are going to attempt something like this, get a Yuqi or Lee Hi-type in your line up.
Other than that, it is fine. Mid-7’s for me.
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Are you new to tri.be? Soeun and Hyunbin are known for their deep voices…
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You must also be new here. Me, the one who regularly comments on low notes that aren’t low.
My comment isn’t about hitting the notes, it is about resonance while hitting the notes. The notes being F#3 G3 A3 on “haeng bo-kae jyeo”. The notes sound crafted. As in they took the raw vocal, autotuned it down to be in tune, then added a multiplier effect on the same vocal line, a minute nudge up and down left right to make it sound thicker to approximate resonance.
Compare to, say, Celine Dion “Les Yeux au Ciel” which also has a low excursion during the chorus. (Lower actually – E3 F3). How that tone rings like a depth charge, how it gives the song gravity. Or how about Julie Andrews, the most soprano-y soprano ever, hitting a low F#3 with ease, almost with a lightness that defies gravity. That note Julie Andrews hits is believe it or not the same exact low note on this song. How different it sounds.
What Hyunjin and others in Tri-be do with their voice is to add an effect on the notes G3 to D4 as heard best in their “Rub A Dum”, adding a cloudy heavy effect to make those notes sound lower than they are. It comes from freezing the part of the nasal cavity left and right on the “wings“ of the nose with a little tension and holding it there like you are holding in a big hunk of booger. (The high note nasal sound is from tension closer to the sinus cavity by the tear ducts, like holding in a tickly sneeze.) There are others in the girl crush 4th gen who also were tasked with “sounding low, not actually low” so they aren’t alone.
Their middle C sounds like super dark note like the deepest contralto ever, but it isn’t a low C like a Alison Moyet or kd lang can hit, but only a basic middle C. The problem comes when they are tasked to go even lower, the way to do that is to open up – more air – more clarity – no tension. But because they are encumbered by that heavy effect that kicks in at even middle C, there is a lower limit below which they need engineering support.
Incidentally, since I have now sung along to this song so many times, the songwriters missed an opportunity to lower the second repeat of the same line in the chorus to F3 F#3 G3. Pull a SHINee “Atlantis” effect in the chorus with just a small touch of something clever.
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Well it isn’t transposed or autotuned, you can go hear their showcase on this track, her mic is even too hot and you can hear her clear as day down there, there is no chorus or reverb on her voice either (In this showcase).
I get it they’re not Uji or even Hyorin or Yuqi in their lowers but saying they sound autotuned is an insult. Especially when most including bey and adele get autotuned in the studio.
It doesn’t need to be all this serious ha, they’re a group not soloists, they are all just a part of the puzzle, But as a producer assuming something about people you can’t hear raw when they are at least in the limelight with attention shows more than you are typing here. 🙂
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Hey, I do get what you mean having listened a few times obviously now ha. This is more like a producer decision, voices down in that range tend to be in the muddy area and even boxy area.
This is an edm track at the end of the day so having that area clean is usual, if this was a different genre or even ballad etc the eq decisions would be different and wouldn’t sound strange or thin 🙂 But yeah get your thoughts
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In a way, the low line timbre reminds me of BP Lisa’s line in “As if its your last” post-chorus.
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I like this song. I don’t know what to expect from TRI.BE so this is good.
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my favorite tri.be track after that theme song they did
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and the news just sad that Shinshadong Tiger is found dead…
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I feel like they did follow the subdued style that is trending now, but the song has a certain magic to it because of the hopeful lyrics. I also like the vocal layering.
I became addicted to We are young and I didn’t expect something like this from TRI.BE but I’m very satisfied.
*So sad for the news about S. Tiger
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shinsadong tiger left us with a perfect song
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