In 2024, Okay-pop is as vibrant as ever.
The likes of ATEEZ, Le Sserafim, Seventeen and Stray Youngsters are gracing festivals world wide, whereas up-and-comers ILLIT, RIIZE and ARTMS are establishing roots of their hometown. From shimmering synths to ’80s Miami bass to bass-thumping bangers, the very best of the yr Korean pop music The tracks are a dynamic mix of previous and new. Whether or not it is intricate choreography, catchy melodies, or otherworldly visuals, Okay-pop continues to captivate audiences world wide, push boundaries and set tendencies.
Our favourite songs of the yr are those we will not cease listening to and loving, from rising boy bands like BABYMONSTER and BOYNEXTDOOR to established acts like aespa and IVE.
“Hey,” IVE
IVE is the wildcat stalking its prey on this playful anthem, a contemporary ode to the nation as soon as referred to as “Korea.”Tiger land.” Within the refrain, IVE guarantees “The second you’re hooked… in a break up second, I’ll catch you!” The track transports listeners right into a courageous, highly effective pop sound. Collective chants, lilting chants and howls evoke the thrill of the hunt, and the music video depicts conventional Korean artwork and folklore reimagined in candied greens, purples and pinks. Elizabeth DeLuna
“Magnetism”, Elit
The debut album from lady group ILLIT (pronounced “eyelet”) is a penetrating pop track in regards to the irresistible pull of plain attraction. The manufacturing is filled with energetic arpeggios and crisp cymbals, and the lyrics are candy (“My coronary heart is sort of a large magnet, the whole lot about you is attracted [it]“) and recent(“I’ll give the inexperienced mild, ladies will need to have braveness!“). References to Korean cultural obsession, Meyers-Briggs kind (“You might be J and I’m P, S and N – full opposites!”), feels distinctive, however could mature within the coming years right into a nostalgic homage to the 2020s. — EDL
“Supernova”, aespa
This track is so highly effective, even NASA releases response, “Supernova” lives as much as its title. The track turned a success in South Korea and at the moment holds the report for consecutive weeks at No. 1 on SM Leisure, surpassing Ladies’ Era’s “Gee.” Regardless of its over-the-top brilliance, “Supernova” suits aespa’s eclectic sound model completely. Sampled from Afrika Bambaataa’s 1982 traditional “Planet Rock,” the propulsive pop track explodes with an lively digital beat and addictive refrain, accompanied by a strong refrain of “oh, ayy.” Aespa has by no means been afraid to hit the bottom operating when everybody else is taking a nosedive, and that danger continues to repay as “Supernova” rockets up the charts. — crystal bell
“DASH”, NMIXX
Since its debut in 2022, NMIXX has carved a dynamic path in an trade that depends closely on fleeting tendencies. “DASH” totally embodies the band’s “MIXX-pop” method, fusing components of funk, R&B and hip-hop with wealthy harmonies and groovy grooves that vary from “zero to hannid.” Whereas the manufacturing stands out for its richness, “DASH” permits the women’ stellar voices to shine, permitting Lily to showcase her highly effective pipes and Bae to showcase her distinctive vocal elasticity. “DASH” isn’t just a catchy track, it’s a lovely track. NMIXX is right here to redefine the foundations, and that is a daring assertion. — CB
“Earth, Wind and Hearth” BOYNEXTDOOR
Extremely-silly and unbridled, “Earth, Wind & Hearth” is the star single from nascent sextet BOYNEXTDOOR. On this track, produced by mentor and Korean famous person ZICO, the younger band jumps between feelings like erratic marbles. “You might be my earth, wind and fireplace,” they sing in an agony of hysteria, jealousy and devotion, “I believe I really like you greater than I really like my life.” The spotlight of the track is the gushing pre-chorus The beautiful “Child, Shh, My Darling, I Suppose I Love You Extra,” whose tempo and pitch mimic an intense confession to a crush. The track’s choreography is equally fascinating, combining explosive jumps and glitchy riffs to seize the fitful nature of falling in love. — EDL
Standard tales that may be blended and matched
Taeyong “faucet”
Male idols usually launch a challenge earlier than the necessary navy enlistment interval, leaving followers with one thing to assist them get via the subsequent 18 months. Taeyong, NCT’s de facto chief identified for his beautiful charisma and lethal stage presence, dropped his second EP simply weeks earlier than enlisting. Its lead single, “Faucet,” encapsulates the whole lot that is charming in regards to the rapper. It is humorous with out being irreverent, and is a multi-faceted effort that makes essentially the most of his distinctive imaginative and prescient. The true punchline is that now we wish extra. — CB
“Shhh” child monster
It is by no means simple to face in somebody’s shadow, particularly when that particular person is likely one of the world’s best pop stars. As the primary lady group to debut beneath YG Leisure since BLACKPINK instantly appeared like a missile seven years in the past, all eyes had been on BABYMONSTER once they launched “SHEESH”, a show-off for YG’s subsequent technology. Introduce loudly. Find it irresistible or hate it, you’ll be able to’t deny that “SHEESH” made an affect, thanks in no small half to the band’s seven members, who promoted the track dwell on their weekly music exhibits. The singing and stage charisma left a deep impression on the viewers. Within the course of, “SHEESH” climbed onto the charts, an indication of the track’s endurance. BABYMONSTER mentioned, “Inform a buddy,” and folks listened. — CB
“Digital Angel” ARTMS
“Digital Angel” is ethereal and heat, the melody you need to hear as you method the gates of heaven. The track is the hopeful debut from ARTMS (pronounced “Artemis”), a septet comprised of former members of beloved however now-defunct lady group LOONA. In “Digital Angel”, ARTMS is a seraph that heralds the arrival of old flame. “In my frozen coronary heart, new flowers start to bloom,” they cooed brightly, igniting new fires. “After I met you, I discovered my instinct.” — EDL
“Siren”, RIIZE
RIIZE launched their first single in September 2023 and have since tried each model identified for his or her dimension. Musically, the band transitions convincingly between home music (“Inconceivable”), funk (“Increase Increase Bass”) and pop R&B (“Increase Increase Bass”).“honestlyTheir newest single, “Siren,” is one other spectacular providing that mixes hip-hop with Josh Value’s thrilling, exhausting choreography. EDL
“Deja Vu” “Tomorrow X Collectively”
When TXT tried their hand at pop punk in 2021, it struck a chord with followers and critics alike. The sonic course fits the boy band’s penchant for expressing unstable grownup feelings via catchy melodies. Though the band has strayed away from the moody section, “Deja Vu” packs an emotional punch, delivering mature melodrama with a jagged edge. — CB
“Ladies By no means Die”, tripleS
Whereas most pop songs paint girlhood in a rose-tinted sheen, “Ladies By no means Die” brings collectively all 24 members of TripleS to convey the truth of younger maturity. “I do not like being weak/Do not need to present this a part of me/Why I take advantage of heavy make-up/Why I take advantage of sturdy filters,” they sing. For a track with 24 voices, “Ladies By no means Die” does not sound disjointed or convoluted in any respect. As an alternative, they doubled down on the dreamy vibe of previous variations to create a moody anthem with a contemporary message: “Ladies by no means die, ladies by no means cry.” — CB
“Lethal Hassle”, ENHYPEN
On “Deadly Hassle,” ENHYPEN goes all-in on lovely theatrics, delivering brooding pop infused with components of rock and R&B. This track is certainly one of six songs on a particular album devoted wholeheartedly to the premise of ENHYPEN’s webcomic “Darkish Moon”. In it, seven band members are vampire classmates grappling with immortality and a shared love curiosity. In “Lethal Hassle,” they inform her “Your reminiscences, they’re falling aside… My coronary heart, the belief they’ve lengthy held, they’re about to vanish.” That is drama, completed proper. — EDL
“How Candy”, NewJeans
Let NewJeans provide the sweetest kiss goodbye this summer time. “Yeah, do not you understand how candy it tastes? / Now I haven’t got you,” they mock poisonous lovers over ethereal electro-colliding synths and laser beams. “How Candy” evokes the identical easy sound and innate sense of cool that put NewJeans on the prime of the charts and on everybody’s thoughts; it is nostalgic and straightforward to hearken to, but not overly simplistic, mixing in with ease Humorous lyrics and complicated manufacturing, so what is the sweetest factor about it? The band’s vocals glide via the observe with confidence. — CB
“Meteor”, Kep1er
In Might, WakeOne Leisure introduced the formation of nine-member lady group Kep1er on the survival sequence Woman Planet 999, will proceed Seven, extending the phrases of their unique challenge contract with out members Yeseo and Mashiro. “Taking pictures Star” was their final launch as an entire unit, and likewise occurs to be their finest. Glittering synths, ethereal vocals, and vocoder harmonies make this track addictive. This track captures the essence of Kep1er’s journey; it is bittersweet and stuffed with hope for the longer term. — CB
“Chk Chk Increase” Stray Youngsters
Forward of the discharge of “Chk Chk Increase” in July, Stray Youngsters teased the track, saying it was one thing they’d by no means completed earlier than. Perhaps they’re referring to the track’s Latin affect, which incorporates some Spanish phrases, and Zhang Bin rolls his “R” to nice impact. It’s an fascinating twist on the group’s signature dynamic depth, reflecting their continued willingness to discover and innovate throughout genres. In some methods, it seems like an accessible model of their breakthrough single “God’s Menu” – fiery rap verses, pre-chorus hooks, and explosive melodies that gas vitality. In true Stray Youngsters model, “Chk Chk Increase” ends with a celebration that brings everybody collectively to rejoice loopy life. — CB
