INI are occupying a very strange place in my own personal fandom. I love the members. I love watching their variety. But apart from this year’s fantastic We Are, their actual music has been pretty disposable so far. I’m not sure if this is a sustainable path, though judging by their out-of-the-gate success in Japan … Continue reading
August 2022 is turning into a repeat of August 2021, with many of the same acts making comebacks. The Boyz are one of these groups, set to release their newest mini album in about a week’s time. Before that, they’ve delivered pre-release track Timeless. It’s a pleasant, fan-servicey mid-tempo that suits the season. I think … Continue reading
Yena got her solo career off to a rousing start with the peppy pop-rock of January’s Smiley. That song proved impossible to resist, buoyed by an optimistic energy and sugary chorus. For follow-up album Smartphone, she wisely maintains the formula, carving a satisfying niche that sets her apart from other post-Produce soloists. Smartphone tweaks the … Continue reading
MNET has their multi-national K-pop formula down to a science. Bring together members from various countries and you have natural inroads for promotion in lucrative markets like Japan. Funnel your acts into agency-sponsored events like KCON and you’ve got a built-in venue with thousands of eager listeners. All K-pop is business, but it’s hard not … Continue reading
Just two weeks ago, no one knew who or what a “NewJeans” was, but thanks to a smart pre-debut blitz of music videos and the inarguable power of the HYBE empire, the group debuts with a massive number of album pre-orders and a million YouTube views. So much for slowly and steadily working your way … Continue reading
Oh, BLACKPINK. What are we going to do with you? You’re K-pop’s eternal influencers, but you only grace us with new music every once in a blue moon. With more direct competitors emerging each year, I’m amazed how loyal fans have remained given such little return on their investment. We’ve been promised a BLACKPINK comeback … Continue reading
Oh, Yuju. You are perhaps my favorite female idol vocalist of the last seven years. Your powerful voice is responsible for the most incredible parts of incredible GFriend songs. When you embarked on a solo career, I hoped you’d meld this power to material as dynamic as your potential. But alas, like so many idol … Continue reading
Using new boy group ATBO as a case study, here’s how I imagine conversations within K-pop agencies might sound: Executive: So, we’ve decided to debut a new boy group and we’d like you to be in charge of the song. Producer: That’s so exciting! Thank you! I’ve had this idea for a great new sound– … Continue reading
Roll out the red carpet and don your fanciest wardrobe, because we’ve got a K-pop legend coming through. Sunye is best-known as the leader and main vocal of Wonder Girls. She didn’t participate in my all-time favorite Wonder Girls album, Reboot. But, anyone who was part of K-pop classics like Nobody, Tell Me and Be … Continue reading
Rookie groups should promote often as their agency’s budget allows. The market is too crowded to dip out of sight for long, especially if you’re looking to establish your name. TAN have taken this idea to the next level, making a comeback just one month after their last album dropped! Walking On The Moon follows … Continue reading
When I think of mixed-gender, summertime duets in K-pop, my mind instantly goes to 2014’s A Midsummer Night’s Sweetness, which was inescapable that year. I love the idea of a chill duet soundtracking the season, and the combination of Loco and Hwasa seems perfectly designed for this purpose. Despite the exclamation mark in its title, … Continue reading
Since their debut, Purple Kiss have shifted between lighter and darker concepts. But even when they’ve embraced pop fluff, it’s been filtered through a warped prism. More than anything, new single Nerdy feels like the natural successor to last year’s Zombie – still the group’s high water mark, in my opinion. I appreciate its groove, … Continue reading
After a brief respite, NewJeans’ pre-debut resumes in earnest with another new song and video. Judging from its title alone, I imaged Hurt to be a slower, more emotional track. Me being me, I was hoping they’d flip expectations and deliver a huge dance banger. But in the end, Hurt feels like a minor interlude … Continue reading
In an exciting turn of events, debuting girl group NewJeans are blitzing the K-pop market with a surprise set of pre-release videos before their album drops in August. This uncharacteristic approach feels very fresh for the industry and, so far, the music has felt quite new as well. Songs like Attention and Hype Boy have … Continue reading
Welcome to Astro’s U&Iverse! It’s exactly like our universe, except every word that’s meant to start with “U” actually starts with “U&I”! U&Inderstand? To find out more about their U&Iverse, solve the questions in this Astro-themed crossword puzzle. Remember, every answer starts with “U&I,” but when transferring your answer to the crossword puzzle, leave out … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes debuted late last year with an interesting concept but a disappointing song. So far, their music feels like a punkier version of DAY6’s idol rock, which makes sense since they hail from JYP Entertainment. Come to think of it, their big-budget music videos also have strong “fight the system” Stray Kids energy. The … Continue reading
Early on in HyunA’s new single Nabillera, she references her 2011 mega-hit Bubble Pop. It’s a bittersweet moment, because it reminds listeners how incredible her music can be. Match a dynamite song with an artist as charismatic as HyunA and you have K-pop that defines the entire industry. Songs like Red and Roll Deep saw … Continue reading
ILY:1’s Love In Bloom never found a place on my playlist, but I appreciated its throwback to a tropical pop sound. It’s funny how you can miss musical trends once they’re over! New single Que Sera Sera (케세라세라) jettisons the tropical influences but offers a different kind of throwback. The song sees the group harnessing … Continue reading
It’s been a while since we had a song from SM’s NCT Lab project. So far, this showcase has given us a Mark Lee solo and a dance unit. Now, it’s time to focus on the group’s vocalists. Rain Day brings together Taeil, Kun and Yangyang for a mid-tempo designed for laid-back summer days. NCT’s … Continue reading
From what I’ve gathered from interviews, STAYC’s agency were opting for a sound closer to western pop when composing new single Beautiful Monster. The lines between music markets have blurred so much over the past few years that I’m not exactly sure what that means, but as long as it gives us a great chorus, … Continue reading
