It’s hard to tell what Hearts2Hearts are aiming for during their debut year. Are they the new-gen SNSD redux many of us hoped for? Or, are they a moodier prospect with subdued sounds befitting K-pop’s current landscape? They can be both or course, but I’m craving a strong musical identity from the start. New title track Focus takes them in a different direction, fusing a modern aloofness with a banging house beat.
If I were to point out one overriding K-pop trend of 2025, it would be “talking over a beat.” The industry has always incorporated rap, but what the girls are doing during the chorus of Focus is much more monotone and “catwalk runway ready” in execution. Hooks like this tend to age poorly for me because there’s just not much to latch onto. Thankfully, everything around this chorus bursts with energy, elevating an otherwise dull song with propulsive dancefloor drive.
This sets up a frustrating dichotomy. On one hand, I want to praise Focus‘s production. Sure, it doesn’t do anything we haven’t heard a million times in house music before, but I love the fluidity of the groove and its unexpected spikes of extra drama. On the other hand, the songwriters could have made this track legendary had they opted for a series of memorable melodies rather than the subdued fragments we have here. Overall, this is a success… but a rather minor one when compared to a track like RIIZE’s Impossible or even Hearts2Hearts’s own Style from earlier this year.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
They may just be taking over that beat but the song is a banger for me 😂 It is a bit of a shame the chorus isn’t sung, but the hook is stuck in my head – in that way it feels similar to aespa’s Whiplash
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The bass on this is so delicious and reminiscent of Rookie. They are definitely going to fill the RV sized hole in my heart. Everything on the album feels so elevated and fresh yet familiar and warm. It’s incredible and I’m wholly satisfied which is rare these days in Kpop.
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This is just exuding STAYC ‘Bebe’ energy!
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also I accurately predicted your exact rating
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Bebe’s got a much brighter sound, though.
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I like the song, and my rating is the same. Like NCT WISH’s Surf, it has an incredible production and instrumental, though, that song has stronger melodies and more ‘weight’.
About the album: it’s to be expected with the current k-pop landscape, but I would’ve wished for more killer tracks given SM’s past history. The sonic landscape of the album is definitely trying to emulate 1st and 2nd gen gg songs, given all the spoken segments throughout. Though, as this is 5th gen, the tracks lack any standout melodies or vocal highlights. Apple Pie was fine, and I could hear it in an early SNSD Korean album. Songs like Flutter and Blue Moon reminded me of early Red Velvet tracks like Talk to Me or Take it Slow (though let’s be honest, the vocal richness, distinctiveness, and tones of the Red Velvet members along with more interesting vocal moments elevate these songs)
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My comment came out a bit harsh, but I truly love the instrumental and the little quirks it has. My first listen through reminded me of how I felt when I heard RIIZE’s Impossible dance-break(?) and Boom Boom Bass’ little instrumental break. That little production on ‘you you uuuu’ was incredible. All of which makes me yearn for a standout chorus!
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Disappointing song after Style.
I’m hoping it’s a grower.
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This sounds to me like a boring Le Sserafim. Can’t shake the fact that their music is mid with 10/10 production. The song talk chorus is so lame and the lyrics, mmmm.
I preferred Pretty Please.
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It kinda reminds me of a 5th Gen-ified f(x), like a quirky dance beat with some silly quirky hooks, except f(x) would have injected tons of personality into it. But it’s cute, I like it, but unsure of its longevity.
8 (7, 9, 8, 8) for me.
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I can definitely see an alternative world where a version of this song was in the 4 Walls album.
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I was thinking Pink Tape, but 4 Walls is better suited, but either way, I’d love to see an f(x) version of it, more unhinged and less polished and the girls’ personality and pizzazz shining in it
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Good review. Same thoughts and rating here. Pretty Please has become my fave from them. It’s grown on me a lot. I think I prefer Style over this as well but time will tell.
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I absolutely love “Style”, it’s one of my favorite songs this year! I also really like H2H and their dreamy concept, which is why I’m following their releases closely.
That said, I also wish “Focus” would’ve been more melodic 🫠 the instrumental is so cool, they could’ve done so much more with it, given how talented the members are. Overall I like the song and I’m pretty sure I’ll like it more with each listen, but yeah…
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For a song whose main refrain is “I cannot focus on anything but you …”, the song is rather focused. There are a few interesting chords that pop up from time to time and I wish that the writer started added to those segues so that by the end the song travelled through 3 or 4 keys or something crazy but stayed with that persistent beat.
For example 0:52, the underlying chord, really interesting. If I took Rick Beato’s Ear Training course I could tell you what kind of diminished chord that is. I did not, and I cannot, but the fingers on the piano are all bunched up in a tight little cluster. Then right after that instead of planing off to somewhere else we … we return to the main monotone note. Here we are again, when we could have been over there in a whole new world with a new focus.
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the bits of melody that come in at 0:39 & 1:38 i think should’ve been used again at 2:38 in combination with a key change. this would make the song feel more well balanced & would’ve made for a more fresh, satisfying & exciting climax even if the sing talk part was then used as the outro afterwards.
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WOWWW. The best production I’ve heard in a while, the bass gave me goosebumps throughout the entire song. I need the instrumental of this really bad… They haven’t missed since debut. I think they’re the most interesting and most consistent group in 5th gen right now.
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Here’s the official inst 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-AZfayw6Jk
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The monotone speech is not doing it for me, i would rather listen to better house music. On the other hand, Apple Pie is great song on EP
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banger after bangers
hearts2hearts is killing it
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This reminds me a lot about ichillin’s official but official released with an extended instrumental that I could really sink my teeth into, I can’t really with Focus unfortunately.
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so far MV >>> song IMO.
the song might be a grower, but for now it’s 6/10 especially compared to the rest of their discography so far.
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this really kicks in after a few plays…I’m impressed…8.5/10
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