I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but Hyolyn has one of those K-pop voices that stops me in my tracks. It’s instantly recognizable and carries so much nostalgia and sentiment. Because of this, I tend to hold her music to an almost impossible standard. I mean, the songs must live up to that perfect voice, right?

Hyolyn premiered new single Wait a few weeks ago at KCON LA, so I’ve known what to expect since then. The track borrows from the popular Afrobeats genre. I enjoy this sound as a whole but think it’s a lousy match for K-pop, and the tepid Wait exemplifies this frustration. Hyolyn is clearly set on tempering her vocals to craft a subdued, sultry sound and her work has become less engaging because of this shift. Yes, she’s a “queen.” Yes, she can “slay” anything she does. But there comes a point when the vibes take precedence over the song and you’re left with something so threadbare that it requires her charisma to work.

Yes, Wait‘s vibes are immaculate. You can imagine it playing poolside as humidity rises. Its melodies and arrangement are so slight that no listener will be offended, but this results in a sliver of a song that threatens to quickly become background music. I’m not buying the “wait, wait, wait” hook. Its monotone phrasing sounds like a million other songs I’ve heard and fails to take advantage of Hyolyn’s greatest assets of a performer.

Grade: C