K-R&B sweetheart JUNNY has just released a buffet of sonic pleasantries with null. The introductory Korean verse of “No Morning”, the album’s first song, comes in like a live recording on a dusty mobile. JUNNY’s voice is ever-soft, and the moment feels like one you’re living in. When it transitions to studio sound, the fullness in your heart his voice gives you is not to be understated. Every word of his mellifluousness that we know too well is sincere: “I’ve been feeling so lost in the fear / Treading as if I could get away somehow.”

JUNNY touches the hearts of all his listeners. Listen at home; every word of his feels like gospel. Go to his show, and you’ll be dancing like you’re the sole recipient of his songs. The Korean-Canadian singer-songwriter has toured numerous times in the past few years, including Europe, and each time is a massive exchange of love. 

The simplistic look of his “Energy” music video rightfully gives the stage to JUNNY’s singing. But the cherry reds and dancing silhouettes are a perfect representation of the singer’s vibe: romantic, fresh, and endlessly smooth. We feel inclined to obey when JUNNY repeats: “Give me all your energy, I’mma give you all of me / Might as well just be in love”. The easygoing nature of the song and its short length make it the perfect earwormable track that we just can’t stop putting on repeat. 

Maximum-Daft Punk-esque talkbox opens groovy anthem “Passion, Pain & Pleasure”. By the time the hard synths come in, you’re completely locked on JUNNY’s words. The track demands your full attention. We get a whiff of Bruno Mars in “SOUR”, which has everything: the catchy sprechgesang and rapping of a talented singer, and flirtiness to no end. Our favourite is the outro: “Caught her slippin ‘ up, she smilin’ / I’m tryna flip the script, ‘cause she likes it sour”. Indie strumming greets you in the following track, “Sweet Release”, which, as the name suggests, balances out the previous naughtiness with a bit more love. 

In “Limbo”, featuring musician Colde, switches up traditional composition to make sure listeners aren’t falling asleep to the soothing vocals. The repeated limbos encapsulate the meaning of the song in a simple yet creative way. “Dangerous”’ verse-spanning synths and whines fall like water, before we’re ripped from the gentleness to a more urgent chorus: “‘Cause lately you’ve been dangerous, dangerous / It’s killing me”. As always, JUNNY’s passaggio dance between an intense chest voice and his more emotional and vulnerable head voice is seamless, and an absolute treat for listeners (especially if you’re on headphones). With that in mind, the null interlude feels like an emotional caress. 

“Residue”’s tone change ascends it from a nine out of ten to a ten. The same is true for “Weight of Time”. The near-eight-minute run is a medley of different vibes: a passage through time, and it seems that’s exactly what the singer was going for. Album closer “Next To Me” patches up any bittersweetness left from the preceding track’s sour ending with a gorgeous duet. Seori’s flair jigsaws right in with JUNNY’s singing. We do wish we could’ve heard a bit more from the female singer on the track than her one verse, but JUNNY’s heartfelt harmonies with himself make up for it. 

All the writing, constructing, and recording of this album was a labour of love for JUNNY. All subgenres are indulged in to the full; not one moment feels like filler. We can say with certainty that null is one of the best K-R&B albums of the year. But coming from JUNNY, we’re not surprised.

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Written by Maddie Armstrong

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}