Victon’s Lim Sejun kicks off his solo career under a new agency. He’s one of a handful of artists to sign to Hello Gloom and from20’s Way Better, turning the once-fledgling company into a boutique agency. His first single Summer takes advantage of these new connections, co-written/produced by both Hello Gloom and from20. In K-pop’s current landscape of thirteen-outsourced-producers-on-one-song, it’s nice to hear something that feels a bit more natural.

Summer arrives just ahead of the season, offering a surging, sentimental blend of pop and rock. The song harnesses Way Better’s knack for a good melody, cresting in an anthemic burst of powerful vocals followed by an equally catchy instrumental riff. Sejun’s voice actually sounds a lot like FTIsland’s Lee Hong-gi here. This structural approach isn’t new. You could throw a stone in the direction of any indie pop band and hear similar fare. But for K-pop, Summer is refreshing counterprogramming that will likely stand the test of time. I’m excited to see where this team takes Sejun’s music next.

Grade: B