There are precious few notable songwriters left in K-pop, so when I find one I connect with I tend to latch on tightly. Such is the case with LAVIN, formerly known as “VAHN.” Not only was his work with NINE.i impeccable, but he’s gone on to craft a solid solo career as well. That career … Continue reading
Around this time last year, One Pact delivered a sneaky little hit in the form of 100. That light funk sound fit them well, but they never followed up with something similar. One year later, new title track Sane couldn’t be any more different. Sane plays with heavy textures, clobbering the listener with walls of … Continue reading
It seems that OnlyOneOf are no more, but in their place we have new group QQQ, comprised of members KB and Nine and former member Love. Usually, a splintering like this would be cause for worry, but OnlyOneOf were well-known for their self-composed music and the masterminds behind it are in this group. K-pop could … Continue reading
Boy group ASC2NT has been around for almost two years and they’re finally releasing something longer than a single album. They’ve been hit or miss for me, but last year’s Don’t Move was a slinky highlight and its b-sides proved the group’s mettle as vocalists. It’s become more and more rare to hear idols actually … Continue reading
AtHeart debuted last summer with Plot Twist, whose title of course reminds me of another iconic K-pop song of recent years. Unfortunately, their sound was less iconic, echoing many current girl group trends. It’s been a too-long hiatus between releases for such a new act, so I was eager to see if this break resulted … Continue reading
In between conquering Korean charts with their title track and album Blue Valentine, NMIXX have maintained an unlikely collaboration with Brazilian drag artist Pabllo Vittar. This pairing sounds more fun than the actual music it has spawned, but it’s always nice when K-pop agencies remember that “global outreach” doesn’t automatically mean going to America. And … Continue reading
New boy group Chaser know how to get my attention. I’m sure they weren’t actually named after my favorite ever K-pop song, but my eyes still widen whenever I see even a tangetial reference to the Infinite classic. Instead, they’re the newest group from Howling Entertainment — also home to Waker. Waker’s lackluster promotion makes … Continue reading
When it comes to WJSN, the old adage “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” seems fitting. They and their musical cohorts (Lovelyz, Oh My Girl, etc.) are part of a bygone girl group era. During their heyday, they reliably released melodic pop music with a sense of sonic drama and fantastical imagery. … 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
With K-pop so inactive this year, we haven’t seen many big debuts. I’m not sure DAILY:DIRECTION counts as “big,” either. After all, they’re only the first act to emerge from their agency ODDWAVE. However, many of the members are already known to fans. We’ve got guys from NINE.i, Mirae, Boys II Planet and B:MY BOYZ. … Continue reading
Even as its members begin to enlist, NCT’s enormous universe guarantees there will be plenty of music regardless of how many performers may be on hiatus. As the brand’s youngest group, NCT Dream is still very much active, but even they have joined in on the sub-unit approach with NCT JNJM — a duo consisting … Continue reading
Though they’ve started experimenting with their sound more and more, there’s a certain brand of song that feels like it belongs to IVE. Think I Am, Rebel Heart and even Love Dive. It’s a resounding pop style, almost Eurovision-esque in its bigness. It’s also a sound that brought K-pop Demon Hunters‘ Golden to such great … Continue reading
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 … 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
As SM Entertainment’s bid for fifth-gen girl group domination, Hearts2Hearts had a slow start but have charted progressively better with each comeback. New single RUDE! arrives with plenty of hype, not only because of the group’s potential but also because it finally breaks a late-winter hiatus for the industry. So far, my favorite Hearts2Hearts track … Continue reading
K-pop is littered with acts who – for one reason or another – didn’t get the full spotlight they deserved. I’ve spent plenty of time ranking and reviewed the industry’s biggest artists, but these underrated acts should never be forgotten. This feature will take a look at disbanded groups and rank/rate their entire singles run, … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
Of all the K-pop agencies, SM Entertainment boasts the largest legacy in the Japanese market. J-pop discographies from BoA, TVXQ, Girls Generation and SHINee match or eclipse their Korean counterparts, as the company invested in Japan early. However, the past few years have seen a more scattershot approach. New releases are infrequent — especially from … 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
Well, the day has finally come. We have our first completely AI-generated music video for a K-pop act. I suppose we should be thankful that the agency isn’t trying to hide this fact — even billing it as an exciting promo tactic. However, the cynic in me believes this technique will become commonplace in the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 