A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

It’s a fun time to be a fan of NINE.i’s Vahn. With the frequency of new music he’s releasing, I get the sense that he’s in a creative renaissance with plenty of songs lying around just waiting for fans to hear them. His September mini album was very strong, with title track Feeling matching his best compositions. New track I Swear further harnesses his rock influences, resulting in a total banger.

This song is mastered at 102 dB, which is unusually high for a modern digital release (most international songs fall within 95-98, while K-pop tends to be a bit higher). In other words, this song was meant to be played LOUD. In fact, it forces you to do so. Vahn echoes this intensity, delivering an aggressive, slurred performance that perfectly matches the driving beat. Guest artist Taeb2 joins in on the fun, equalling Vahn’s energy. The result is pure pop rock magic. With fellow idol rocker WOODZ away in the military, this is filling that same niche (and then some!). He’s one of the most exciting artists working in the industry today and I’m so excited to hear where he goes next.

Grade: B+