When a group’s leader steps into the solo spotlight, there’s always an unspoken question: Will they remain tethered to the identity of their team, or will they break free into a sound entirely their own? For JUNHEE, the leader of K-pop group A.C.E, his debut single SUPERNOVA bursts forth with the force of a cosmic…
Category: Album Reviews
Ali Sethi’s “Love Language”: A Flamboyant, Powerful Debut Album
With artistic freedom under increasing scrutiny, Pakistani-American singer/songwriter Ali Sethi breaks free with his latest project, Love Language. Across 16 tracks, Sethi creates a visceral pop world that flits beautifully across Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, and English in a true celebration of cross-cultural musicality. Opening with the haunting notes of O Balama, with its dystopian mix…
YOON SAN-HA’s Second Mini Album “CHAMELEON” Is a Quirky, Feel-Good Joyride
Eleven long months since talented singer and ASTRO member YOON SAN-HA made his successful solo debut, the 25-year-old is back with a surprising medley that takes new risks. As far as solo pursuits go in the K-pop industry, YOON’s millions of listeners on DUSK is no small accomplishment. The first mini-album, cohesively mellow, was as blue…
Beyond the Mystery of MONA LISA’s Mask: “Killin’ It Girl” (j-hope feat. GloRilla) Review
Killin’ It Girl (feat.. GloRilla) is j-Hope’s third single release of 2025. The first Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel) dropped on March 7, 2025, and the second MONA LISA was released exactly two weeks later on March 21, 2025. The current single marks the climax of the artist’s hugely successful Hope on the Stage Tour, which…
“TILT” by IRENE & SEULGI – A Luminous Return to Form Rooted in Musical Sophistication and Emotional Subtlety
Five years after the critical and commercial success of their debut mini-album Monster, Red Velvet’s subunit IRENE & SEULGI return with TILT, a six-track EP that shows their ongoing evolution as vocalists and performers. Released under SM Entertainment, TILT is a coherent, atmospheric exploration of identity and stylistic hybridity through a compelling mix of contemporary…
The Persistence of Memory: “Echo” by Jin – Album Review
The oldest of the BTS members, Jin, was the first to complete his military duties, having enlisted on 13th December 2022. On his return, he released Happy (15 November 2024), his debut solo EP, which consisted of six tracks. His second album, Echo, is made up of seven tracks – the lead single and only…
Exploring P1Harmony’s Bold Sound in “DUH!” Mini-Album
There’s always something so exciting when new music drops – the uncertainty and anticipation of what the album might hold, especially in K-pop. The genre itself is on another level when it comes to creativity and vibrancy, never feeling dull or lacklustre. One group consistently goes the extra mile to embody all of that while…
Being and Nothingness: Existential Despair in TABLO x RM’s “Stop The Rain”
TABLO and RM are the leaders of the most iconic K-Pop/K-rap groups, Epik High and BTS, respectively. K-Pop groups tend to have specific roles, such as rapper, vocalist, visual, maknae, to which members are assigned. The position of leader is perhaps one of the hardest because, besides having to moderate any internal conflict, they are…
82MAJOR Step Up: Bold Sound, Bigger Vision on 3rd Mini-Album “SILENCE SYNDROME”
82MAJOR are on the run. Well, at least they are in their latest music video to TAKEOVER, accompanied by their 3rd mini-album SILENCE SYNDROME. If it’s your day one with 82MAJOR, six prison escapees getting down on a train track while dressed in soft pink pyjamas with bunny motifs will be the first impression you…
IVE’s Next Chapter: “IVE EMPATHY” and the Art of Reinvention – EP Review
Few groups in recent years have shaped the K-pop market quite like IVE. Since their debut in December 2021, the six-member act – comprising An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo – has established itself as a dominant force among girl groups. From their first release, ELEVEN, which topped domestic charts within a…
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