I’m back with K-pop’s wonderfully silly acronyms. Debuting boy group NAZE’s name apparently stands for “New Adventure’s Zestyfull Echo,” which sounds delightfully stupid in a way that’s almost impossible to believe is true. They’re managed by C9 Entertainment, who have previously fumbled the ball with groups like CIX, Cignature and Good Day. With that in … Continue reading
The whole Cortis experience didn’t leave a good taste in my mouth last year, but like so many others I’ve become a bit obsessed with new single REDRED. It’s amazing what a great dance beat can do. But more than that, REDRED feels quintessentially new rather than simply a retreat of western rap tropes. This … Continue reading
AOMG is primarily known as a hip-hop agency, but they’re getting into the idol business with girl group Keyveatz. The group hasn’t officially debuted yet, but pre-debut single Key Beats offers a taste of what we can expect. There seems to be an appetite from agencies to develop this style of swaggy hip-hip girl group. … Continue reading
Since their debut, VVS have yet to score a song rating above the sixes on this blog, which puts them in rarified air. To make matters worse, I constantly get them confused with VVUP, who have fared a little better ratings-wise. In general, any act that puts dollar signs in their song titles is unlikely … Continue reading
SNSD’s Hyoyeon continues her run as a DJ/solo artist with new single MOVEURBODY. This song has been available for about a month now, but a music video premiered today so I thought I’d give it a little write-up. After all, HYO has been responsible for some bangers in the past. Throughout her solo career, HYO … Continue reading
NCT Wish are set to release their first full album in a week’s time, and like so many idol groups they’re teasing it with a pre-release. I’ve had a love or hate relationship with Wish’s music so far, with many of their tracks (and the execution of those tracks) leaving me cold. Sticky is certainly … Continue reading
Katseye are not a K-pop group, but of all the global acts backed by K-pop agencies they’re by far the buzziest so I continue to write about their work regardless of my own criteria for this blog. Love or hate their songs, they’re guaranteed to garner a strong reaction. Alongside new single Pinky Up, Katseye … Continue reading
AMPERS&ONE have an identity crisis. Each time they return with new music, it’s like hearing a completely different group. This makes them a tricky prospect to follow and enjoy. Their catalog is so hit and miss and there’s no overriding concept tying the music together. I’ve liked them best when they go straight for the … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 