I’m officially pushing for rock guitar to be the defining trend of 2018. It’s an unlikely scenario, but the fact that a big name rookie group like Stray Kids seems to be using this instrument to craft their signature sound is quite promising. Of course, this being k-pop, they also have to throw in a … Continue reading
I often complain about trends while in the midst of them, mostly because I prefer k-pop to draw from a wide variety of influences rather than use a copy-and-paste template. But looking back at the industry’s history, trends are an interesting way to summarize a year or era. I thought it would be fun to … Continue reading
Sometimes, songs aren’t designed to be experienced in traditional ways. Super Junior’s Super Duper first reared its head during the group’s tour, where spirits were high and adrenaline was pumping. Had I been there in the audience, I’m sure I would have been enthralled by its goofy energy. But, I was not there. And taken … Continue reading
Since parting ways with Cube Entertainment and establishing their own agency, the individual members of Highlight have been quite prolific. Sometimes this has been in the form of mini albums, or — in rapper/composer Junhyung’s case — digital and single releases. His solo work has dropped without much build-up or promotion, as if he’s simply … Continue reading
Every k-pop rookie has a story, but some are more off-the-wall than others. With the debut of new trio Honey Popcorn, we’ve got quite a doozy. The group is composed of three former Japanese AV (adult video) stars, relaunching their careers as idols in Korea. It’s hard to imagine this backstory flying in k-pop’s squeaky-clean … Continue reading
Of all of the big-name k-pop groups currently working, Seventeen is especially ripe for successful sub-unit releases. And while they’ve already given us quite a few unit tracks as part of their albums, they’ve yet to establish a spin-off with its own album and full fledged promotions. Boo Seok Soon (or BSS) seems to be … Continue reading
Along with many other male groups of their era, FTIsland is approaching that dreaded military enlistment time, where each member will have to momentarily leave the entertainment industry for their mandatory service. This portion of an idol’s career tends to bring with it an added sense of sentimentality, as artists bid a temporary goodbye to … Continue reading
Every year around this time, I plunge back into the world of j-pop and catch up on some of the things I’ve missed. March tends to be pretty sparse when it comes to k-pop comebacks, so it’s nice to have something “new” to listen to. This March, I’ve been taking a deep dive into the … Continue reading
Back in 2016, when I.O.I charted the course for what a post-Produce 101 group would look like, I felt like one of the few listeners who didn’t completely succumb to their charms. Part of that was due to an uneven series of releases with a quality level that didn’t seem to match the girls’ potential. … Continue reading
I think most of us could agree that — at least so far — 2018 has seen a certain amount of renewed attention given to strong choruses. As the EDM build/drop structure has begun to (slowly) wane in popularity, we’re seeing more melody take its place. Yet, many of my recent song reviews could be … Continue reading
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. Joombas Music … Continue reading
When I think of the current k-pop climate, UP10TION are an interesting case. I wouldn’t consider them to be one of my personal bias groups, yet they’ve managed to score a place in my year-end top ten songs list for two years straight. They’re also a group who swings from one collaborator to the next … Continue reading
A few years back, I would have been absolutely shocked had anyone told me that Infinite wouldn’t re-sign with Woollim Entertainment as a full group. But as the months steadily grew last year with no news about the group’s future, I’d come to terms with the idea that all was not quite as rosy as … Continue reading
Back in 2010, Woollim Entertainment’s Infinite debuted with Come Back Again, but followed it up by promoting album track-turned-single She’s Back. This multi-pronged promo approach doesn’t happen all that often anymore in k-pop without a repackage, but I’m delighted that it has been extended to Infinite-successors Golden Child. The group has made a quick turnaround … Continue reading
Thus far, NCT’s 2018 Empathy project has followed a somewhat uniform sound, with even the usual bright styling of NCT Dream swept up in a trap-driven badass concept. Once it was announced that NCT 127 would be the next unit to release a single, all signs pointed to a continuation of this sound. But SM … Continue reading
Production team e.one has carved out quite a niche for themselves composing material for girl groups, and that includes the creation of most of April’s singles. Their signature style — a mix of the ornate and the electronic — has fared well for the girls, even if they’ve yet to nail down that one breakthrough … Continue reading
Oh, GOT7. I want to love your music. I really do. Your first two years were full of addictive hits that struck a perfect balance between pop and hip-hop. But ever since 2016’s Fly, I’ve struggled to connect with what is clearly becoming your signature style. Seriously, though, I feel like a broken record whenever … Continue reading
SM and Mystic Entertainment have collaborated frequently since 2016’s Dream, and the digital Station platform has proven to be the perfect avenue for them to do so. The agencies have teamed up once again for Dinner, performed by EXO’s leader Suho and quirky singer-songwriter Jane Jang. Hearing of this pairing, I went in fully expecting … Continue reading
With the departure of founding member Koichi, Bullet Train’s already unique configuration has become even stranger. The group had previously utilized two vocalists to support their five dancers, but now they’re down to only one. That position is a tall order for the group’s youngest, Takashi, who is now responsible for carrying every note of … Continue reading
Queen of the digital charts Heize has returned with an ambitious comeback, releasing two music videos (with a third on the way) for her newest mini album. Honestly, the prospect of reviewing the entire trio is more than daunting. I like Heize’s music just fine, but it hardly fits within my wheelhouse. They always say … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 