Things heat up a bit in April.
BABYMONSTER – SHEESH. Launched last year, YG Entertainment’s latest girl group follow on from BLACKPINK and 2NE1 before them. Sure, there’s a contemporary 4th gen streamlining to the production, but it’s recognisably a YG banger, and none the worse for any of that.
YUQI – Freak. Another solo release, this time from (G)-IDLE’s YUQI. Comparisons could be made with WENDY’s Wish You Hell as both flirt with K-goth horror stylings, and indeed exhibit suitable pop earworm qualities.
ARTMS – Flower Rhythm & Candy Crush. Two more ARTMS “premium singles”, of which there were eventually five ahead of the DALL album. Candy Crush’s rollerskate retro and City Pop bass keep them in a firm LOONA orbit, but we would have to wait next month for the crowning masterpiece.
Loossemble – Girls’ Night. Speaking of LOONA, as we were, five more alumni were assembled by the CTDENM agency last year. It’s an energetic performance, and the video features plenty of lore from the original group, but for my money ARTMS maintained an edge over them throughout the year.
NewJeans – Bubble Gum. One of the most eagerly awaited releases of the year. Light, fluffy and irresistible; it’s exactly what we expect them to do. More on their further releases in later episodes, and indeed the ongoing controversial split with their agency ADOR later in the year.
IVE – HEYA. On somewhere around the same level as (G)-IDLE and LE SSERAFIM, IVE have established an enviable catalogue of bangers over the last few years, and HEYA is no exception. Stadium K-anthem par excellence.
Solar – But I. Second MAMAMOO solo release of the year. In her latest iteration Solar plays a nifty switch from what appears to be a ballad into a full rock out. Great album altogether and easily rivalling her co-Moomoo Moon Byul for hugely confident songwriting and performance.
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