dodree are a female duo debuting under INNIT Entertainment, which probably means very little until you realize that INNIT is a JYP subsidiary. This means their music video for Just Like A Dream (꿈만 같았다) benefits from JYP’s strong distribution and gets a lot of eyes and ears on the track. And for a unique hybrid like Just Like A Dream, that’s a good thing.

dodree fuse traditional Korean music with modern pop in a way we don’t hear that often. Just Like A Dream has one foot planted in the world of trot but makes greater strides to straightforward pop than we’re used to from the genre. On its face, the song itself could be given to any idol group, but it’s trussed up with traditional instrumentation and vocal performances that incorporate the bending and flair we’re used to from trot music. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but I appreciate the attempt to do something new.

For my part, I like the song just fine. It does occupy a strange middle ground that confuses my brain a bit, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I appreciate hearing a lower register from female idol singers, as that tone is rarely explored on mainstream idol releases. The song has a sweeping sound that culminates during its standout choruses and feels like a welcome blast of sonic fantasy. I don’t know how often I’d go out of my way to listen to this since trot music isn’t really my thing, but I think dodree could come up with some really cool hybrids in the future.

Grade: B-