It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve been able to write about a fantastic vocal. It’s not that they don’t exist anymore. It’s just that K-pop songs very rarely spotlight singing these days. Kim Sung Kyu is one of my favorite K-pop vocalists ever. Not only is he incredibly skilled, but no one else sounds like him. Hearing his unique tone over idol dance tracks will always be a thrill, but his solo work has plenty to offer as well. Ahead of his newest album scheduled for release early next month, he’s treated us to pre-release Over It.

Sung Kyu’s solo work has flirted with a heavier rock sound for many years and I’ve been waiting for him to fully dive in. WOODZ’s mammoth chart success should serve as an inspiration, and Sung Kyu picks up that baton with Over It. The track sees him as the frontman of his own band, bringing his own flair to the configuration. His vocals remain inimitable and so satisfying. He flits effortlessly between a powerful chest voice and peaks of falsetto, all the while infusing each moment with personality and emotion.

As a song, Over It isn’t perfect. It’s a whole lot of build-up without much pay-off and could use a secondary chorus that funnels that tension into an explosive refrain. But as an album taster, this sound has me very curious to hear the rest of his work. And in a year where I’ve personally been “over it” with K-pop so far, this feels like the first hesitant step toward 2026 finally getting started.

Grade: B