Kep1er has bucked the survival series odds and remained as a (less than full) group even after their initial contract ended. This seems to be the new norm, as a smaller version of ZEROBASEONE will also be promoting later this spring. Since reformatting as six, Kep1er’s music has run the gamut in sound and quality. … Continue reading
It’s BTS week, which means new releases apart from that album have been pretty infrequent. However, another world-conquering K-pop group has a treat of their own. Stray Kids’ Hyunjin released solo track Lover on his birthday alongside a lo-fi music video. For an act with as much cachet as they have, most of Stray Kids’ … Continue reading
Modern K-pop has dramatically switched its lyrical focus from external storytelling, centered on the “you” or “they”, to boastful screeds that fully revolve around the “I”. “I’m so badass.” “I’m cooler than anyone else.” “I’m UNIQUE.” This bleeds into the music itself, which is often more combative and hits like a structural punch instead of … Continue reading
Are you in the mood for a K-pop song that sounds like a hostage situation? Well, I’ve got just the track for you! ALLDAY PROJECT are the latest act to team up with video game franchise PUBG for a soundtrack release. I Don’t Bargain is unflinching in its aggression and represents the worst instincts of … Continue reading
The K-pop industry seems intent on messing with me this year. NouerA were one of my favorite rookies of 2025, with two mini albums full of fantastic music that drew influence from older generations of K-pop. Led by producer e.one, they forged a sound that felt unique and impressive. With new single Pop It Like, … Continue reading
2026 has seen many debuts of groups from mid-to-small agencies, but few of these acts have had much to say. Debuts offer the chance for new sounds and ideas, or maybe even a look back at a style we haven’t heard in awhile. It shouldn’t be yet another excuse to peddle the same sounds clogging … Continue reading
With ALLDAY PROJECT’s huge success last year, I expect we’ll see more co-ed groups debuting in K-pop. Of course, it takes a very long preparation period to train and debut a group, and versions of ChoCo Family (also known as “ChoCo1 X ChoCo2”) have been promoting all the way back to 2023. However, their four-member … Continue reading
Oh, I love some bad green screen effects! I don’t usually comment on K-pop’s music videos, but the new one for X:IN’s Dazzle Flash is unintentionally hilarious, as the group soars over various landscapes on a futuristic hoverboard of sorts. Honestly, I’d rather see this level of cringe than the latest look-alike video from a … Continue reading
While every other act is taking a break for the Lunar New Year, ATEEZ have released the video for follow-up single NASA. I know some listeners loved their title track Adrenaline, but I still find it a punishing listen so I’m eager for something better to wipe the taste out of my mouth. NASA takes … Continue reading
After a few years of (musically) diminished returns, ATEEZ climbed back on my radar in 2025 by attempting new sounds that injected a sense of freshness to their formula. Both of last year’s Korean title tracks and their Japanese single made it onto my year-end countdowns, re-igniting my curiosity for where they might take their … Continue reading
Since their 2023 debut, WHIB have alternated between lighter and darker sounds. For me, they were at their best in 2024 when they felt a rush of joy, but that rush proved fleeting as they quickly moved into the more aggressive Bang Out. New single Rock The Nation has a delightfully earnest title that made … Continue reading
I feel like I’ve been writing about a lot of bands recently. Band music is certainly popular at this moment in Korea, with many active groups both junior and senior. FNC Entertainment has always been a hub for these acts, and AxMxP made their debut under the agency last year with a full album. Now, … Continue reading
Musical trends come and go in K-pop and usually mirror sounds popularized elsewhere on the globe. Most of these trends start out well enough before the industry eventually drives them into the ground, but a certain trend of the moment has my hackles up already. An increasing amount of boy groups are latching onto a … Continue reading
Though their music has been very uneven so far, I find ALLDAY PROJECT a pretty exciting addition to the current K-pop landscape. Certain members court controversy, which only adds to their appeal for some fans. For my part, I’m just happy to see another co-ed group becoming successful in K-pop. I wish we had more … Continue reading
Recently, idol groups spawned by survival series have subverted corporate expectations and developed signature sounds that give them a unique identity in the K-pop market. AHOF, Close Your Eyes and NouerA all come to mind as great examples. However, CJ ENM and their label WakeOne Entertainment are as corporate as it gets and watching season … Continue reading
Monsta X’s Joohoney has just released his second mini album, though he’s also put out a handful of mixtapes over the years. This follows digital pre-release Push, which failed to capture attention despite a notable team-up with IVE’s Rei. Now, he’s back with an even more notable feature — legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in the … Continue reading
ALLDAY PROJECT have been one of the year’s biggest success stories, and they’ve been pretty successful on my own playlist as well. After a rough start, Famous grew on me immensely and last month’s pre-release One More Time was an instant hit. In general, I find co-ed groups pretty exciting and it’s been nice to … Continue reading
We’ve officially reached the point where numerous Boys II Planet contestants start to release their first post-show music. Just this week, we’ve had the pre-debut of ALPHA DRIVE ONE, a long-awaited comeback for participants VERIVERY and the solo debut of Chuei Li Yu, who came in tenth place during the series’ finale. My only questions … Continue reading
To my great continual regret, I “recapped” the entirety of this year’s Boys II Planet, though these write-ups became shorter and less enthused as the series went on. If you want to read the perspective of someone losing interest in real time, I guess I’d recommend you check them out. Otherwise, you’re probably safe to … Continue reading
Sometimes it takes a few songs for a group’s sound to totally click with me. I enjoyed ILLIT’s 2024 megahit Magnetic as much as anyone, but it wasn’t until this year’s fanciful Do The Dance that I totally understood what the group could be. Lately, their music has veered closer to third-gen groups like Lovelyz … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 