From globally targeted crossover hits to modern-classical compositions, which of those 11 standout releases will get your vote?
Stray Youngsters
JYP Leisure
Each week, the Korean music scene delivers excellent songs throughout varied genres and kinds, and the previous week was no exception, with a heavy-hitting choice of hits with global-pop potential, emotionally stirring compositions, and refreshingly trustworthy storytelling.
Marking main crossover moments in their careers, Stray Youngsters and PENTAGON‘s KINO teamed up, respectively, with fellow chart-toppers like Charlie Puth and Lay Bankz to deliver two unforgettable and sudden musical fusions that may transcend boundaries and new audiences. In the meantime, solo stars like BAEKHO, Kim Jae Hwan and D.O of EXO are embarking on thrilling sonic transformations to showcase new aspects of their musical identities on this fast-paced business. Alongside rising lady teams like ARTMS and tripleS, which set their sights on connecting worldwide audiences, there’s additionally the solo sensation Lim Younger Woong, who brings a contemporary tackle classical and gospel music for the world to get pleasure from.
Because the Ok-pop business strikes at a fast tempo, it’s essential to pause and respect the innovation and variety it affords throughout its totally different acts. Take a second to discover these 11 new songs that embody the spirit of the scene and deserve a everlasting spot in your playlist. Then forged your vote in our ballot for the highest of Ok-pop for the previous week.
In fact, we completely love RM‘s future hit “Come again to me” — each the six-and-a-half-minute unique and the radio edit. The truth that Billboard readers declared it final week’s greatest new launch and an undeniably cool new pop track of the week tells us that music followers actually know (and love) the monitor. So hear by means of these 11 different Ok-pop releases on your radar now and vote under.
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Stray Youngsters, “Lose My Breath” feat. Charlie Puth
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Stray Youngsters’ first unique English single “Lose My Breath” positions the four-time Billboard 200 chart-toppers for his or her greatest crossover second but. A departure from the in-your-face influence of latest singles like “LALALALA” and “S-Class,” the breezy monitor sees the Youngsters teaming up with Charlie Puth to show the super-pop powers of two artists so closely concerned of their music. SKZ’s principal producing members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han wrote and composed the monitor alongside Puth, who’s the track’s co-producer alongside Scorching 100 Producers mainstay Johnny Goldstein.
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ARTMS, “Air”
Consisting of former LOONA members JinSoul, Haseul, Kim Lip, Heejin and Choerry, the newly shaped ARTMS mission has allowed the beloved Ok-pop stars to proceed releasing music as soloists and by way of this new quintet. After LOONA’s unique inventive director Jaden Jeong produced new songs “Start,” “Flower Rhythm” and “Sweet Crush,” the newest shape-shifting pop reduce “Air” is the fourth and ultimate track to be launched forward of ARTMS’ debut album collectively Dall, out on Might 31.
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Yook Sungjae, “Be Any individual”
In his first musical transfer since departing his longtime label dwelling of Dice Leisure, Yook Sungjae reminds of his poignant energy with vocal supply and storytelling in “Be Any individual.” The brand new single unveils a vulnerability within the actor-singer, with Sungjae’s introspective lyrics chatting with a common journey: “”All of my life I’ve been waging this struggle, attempting to be someone… / I gained’t return to who I used to be earlier than since you make me be someone.” With this primary single, Sungjae’s new begin leaves the massive promise in sharing tales followers beforehand weren’t beforehand privy.
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Doh Kyung Soo (D.O), “Mars”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Billboard Korea Embracing a transformative new chapter in his profession by going by his full identify professionally and releasing his first new music since establishing a one-man document label SooSoo Leisure, Doh Kyung Soo — also called D.O of EXO — invitations followers into his world of easy melodies and introspective lyricism. The simple-listening new monitor “Mars” has the markings of a few of D.O’s greatest solo work like “I Do” from 2023, however has a newfound lightness heard all through his new Blossom EP.
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KINO, “Broke My Coronary heart” feat. Lay Bankz
As Lay Bankz spends her third week at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard High 50, KINO couldn’t have deliberate a greater time to launch his new collab with the MC. The lead single off his debut solo document If that is love, I need a refund, the short-and-sweet “Broke My Coronary heart” lets the 2 effortlessly and charismatically navigate heartbreak over bouncy, easy-listening manufacturing. All of it signifies a promising begin for the PENTAGON member who releases the monitor underneath his newly established company, NAKED.
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HYUNJUN, “Backseat”
Initially gaining fame as a member of THE BOYZ, at this time HYUNJUN has established himself as an actor and singer together with his lush new launch “Backseat” dropping in each Korean and English, a relentless all through his sudden R&B departure for solo music that’s included different globally targeted tracks like “Let Me Down” and “VO!D.” Infusing this new monitor with the identical plain attract that helped him resonate with audiences early in his Ok-pop idol profession, “Backseat” additional affirms his standing as a rising star on the worldwide stage.
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tripleS, “Women By no means Die”
tripleS is an extremely bold lady group the place they’ve grown into 24 complete members and damaged into totally different splinter teams for his or her releases since kicking off the mission in 2022. For tripleS’ full-length album, ASSEMBLE24, everybody was concerned. Lead single “Women By no means Die” not solely boasts a must-see stay efficiency stage with all 24 stars however tripleS ingeniously splits the track and music video, guaranteeing that every member will get the second to shine in her personal proper.
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BAEKHO & BigOne, “Love or Die”
Former NU’EST member BAEKHO confirmed off his emo-rock prowess by releasing Love or Die, a collaborative EP with indie rap-rock sensation BigOne. The title monitor not solely lets BAEKHO and BigOne seamlessly infuse their sections with every of their distinctive aptitude, however undergoes a metamorphosis with each EDM and unplugged renditions. Launched underneath the esteemed Ok-pop producer label Prismfilter Music Group, the refreshing dealing with of a brand new single permits listeners to expertise the monitor in several dimensions and additional highlights the collaborative synergy between the pair.
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BM, “Nectar” feat. Jay Park
Picture Credit score: Pierre Suu/GI Realizing a dream collaboration manifested years in the past, BM lets his wild facet out with “Nectar” alongside Jay Park. Over the sunshine Afrobeat-inspired manufacturing, each rappers are audibly having enjoyable on the attractive document. Relying in your requirements, it’s virtually NSFW with thinly veiled metaphors (“Take you down, down, make it unfold huge/ Give me one style of your nectar”) however because the KARD member has joked prior to now, he’s within the enterprise of “adult K-pop.”
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Kim Jae Hwan, “Amaid (Prod. Dynamicduo, Padi)”
Whereas his J.A.M (Journey Above Music) album was named considered one of Billboard‘s greatest Ok-pop releases of final yr, Kim Jae Hwan continues to point out musical excellence and flexibility together with his first EP this yr. The previous Wanna One star’s newest assortment I Adore is centered across the new single “Amaid,” produced by Korea’s hip-hop legends Dynamicduo and experimental hitmaker Padi, letting KJH wade into uncharted territory with a shape-shifting gem that enables his vocals to groove and dance with an unprecedented fluidity.
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Lim Younger Woong, “Heat”
With two attractive new songs, Korea’s sensational powerhouse Lim Younger Woong proves as soon as once more he’s a musical pressure to be reckoned with due to “Heat” and “Dwelling.” Whereas each tracks showcase his unparalleled vocal prowess, the epic, gospel-tinged “Heat” is rising because the standout hit with a brief movie music video that includes actors Ahn Eun-jin and Hyun Bong-sik for an added layer of depth and emotional influence. LYW’s involvement within the lyrics and composition of “Heat” provides an extra private contact to the monitor to permit for extra genuine storytelling to shine.