When I asked JUSTB about their latest release, SNOW ANGEL, there was a thoughtful pause, as if each member was carefully choosing words to capture the essence of their work. Their fifth mini-album brings all sorts of feelings. It is a place where warmth meets cold, love meets longing, and emotion collides with digital chaos. Released under BLUEDOT Entertainment and produced by Creative Labs 808hertz® with Executive Producer O.Kwon guiding the concept and sound, SNOW ANGEL incorporates global influences and hyperpop experimentation while staying definitely JUSTB.

“All the songs in the album SNOW ANGEL are about love,” SIWOO said, his tone calm but thoughtful. “But love isn’t one-dimensional. There’s warmth and coldness, excitement and longing. Each song expresses different facets of these feelings. From tracks 1 to 6, you can feel the different temperatures and atmospheres of love.” Indeed, the album is full of emotions and musically intense.

Key member GEONU played a central role in shaping the album’s cohesion. He coordinated closely with international producers and writers, ensuring JUSTB’s identity remained intact while embracing new sonic territory. “We communicated through email, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs. Video calls helped us share ideas and develop each song together,” he explained. His careful guidance brought structure to what could have been a chaotic mix of hyperpop, alternative hip-hop, and K-pop. He later added,” I think the most influential part is DY‘s “BHYT” work and Korean rap making in “FREEDOM” and “GOING SOUTH”.

READ MORE: JUST B Reflect on Their Fourth Mini-album, “[÷(NANUGI)]” 

When I first listened to SNOW ANGEL, I was surprised by the direction the group took. The mini-album feels like an adventurous experiment, mixing distorted synths, metallic drums, and clear melodies in a delicate balance that is digitally and emotionally rich. The title track, SNOW ANGEL, talks about just that. “SNOW ANGEL expresses the line between innocence and pain that we’ve felt,” Bain said, then continued, “Like the image of an angel drawn on snow – it looks beautiful and pure on the surface, but underneath, there’s coldness and loneliness. That reflects how we feel right now. Even as we try to protect ourselves in the world, we still want to believe in something pure. We made this concept the heart of the album because JUSTB is now ready to express those complex emotions through music without hiding them. In the end, SNOW ANGEL is about having the courage to show your true self.”

From the first track, SWEATER, the album draws you into strong, mixed emotions. Bright hyperpop synths meet rough distortions, capturing regret, leftover warmth, and the bittersweet memory of lost love. The line, “I still remember hugging your sweetheart,” makes you feel the comfort and the emptiness at the same time.

True Heart, the title song in many ways, is where the album reaches its peak energy. Sharp synths, strong bass, and rhythms carry an emotional melody line that modernises 2010s K-pop. The lyrics, “I swing my sword and bleed / This is my hopeful dream / To be left alone,” depict the inner struggle to hold on to one’s sincerity in a harsh world. DY elaborated on the album’s challenges: “Unlike our previous music, these songs only came together once the vocal effects and editing were added, so the recording process was much more difficult than usual. I had to tune the vocals while recording, which made it physically demanding and required a lot of focus.”

Songs like Freedom and BHYT (Baby Hold You Tight) show how the group can express sensitivity while staying confident. DY worked on the composition and rap for both tracks, making sure the music reflected personal feeling while still feeling like a true JUSTB song. “Some melody lines I made myself kept JUSTB’s colour natural,” he said. “Since I wasn’t just writing about my personal experiences, there was no conflict between individual and team messages.”

Pre-release single Going South adds a lighter, breezier energy to the mini-album. GEONU described its music video concept: “I wanted to express growth and freedom beyond control and oppression.” The track, mixing melodic freshness with Korean rap by DY, represents the album’s brightest and most cheerful moment while maintaining all the emotions.

JUSTB’s careful attention shows not just in their music, but also in their visuals and live performances. SANGWOO, responsible for choreography alongside geonulife and LIM JIMIN, described how they translate the album’s experimental sounds to the stage: “The electronic and experimental sound is the beauty of a song, so I want to set it to the beat with short and impactful movements on stage. I want to make the lighting and visuals a little futuristic so that the sound and atmosphere go well together. Simple, powerful, and fun.”

READ MORE: JUSTB on Their Debut, New Release, and Work with Bang Yongguk

Meanwhile, Bain, who oversees visual direction, emphasised the careful balancing act of maintaining his artistic identity while working on both group and solo projects: “I put the most importance on the direction of emotions in any work. When I direct visuals, I don’t just create a pretty image, but I also think about how the emotions of music will feel visually. In the process, I keep asking the question, ‘Is this expressing the person I am now?’ That’s how I hold my balance. Activities as JUSTB and personal work are different areas, but they come from the same roots. In the end, what drives me is the desire to express the “moment that I feel truly.” I think my artistic identity remains the same, even if the truth is not shaken, even if the form changes.”

For LIM JIMIN, Snow Angel represents artistic growth: “This album shows JUSTB’s desire for new music and our growth in musicality.” Truly, the mini-album feels like a milestone, with each member’s contributions, from DY’s melodies and rap to Bain’s visuals, GEONU’s production guidance, and SIWOO’s emotional touch, mixing together naturally.

SNOW ANGEL‘s narrative reflects the group’s daring new direction. Hyperpop’s textured sounds are reimagined through the expressive heart of K-pop, creating tension and moments of unexpected beauty. The mini-album shows that K-pop idols can mix chaos with feeling, that being sincere and trying new things can happen at the same time, and that even in digital noise, there’s room for warmth and joy.

Between melting snow and burning hearts, these six talented performers awaken something new – not just for themselves, but for anyone willing to feel fully and without holding back.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of BLUEDOT Entertainment

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