With teams celebrating anniversaries, like Tremendous Junior and INFINITE, alongside solo superstars like NAYEON, XIA, Sunmi and BOL4, which new music will get your vote?
Nayeon
JYP Leisure
Each week, the Korean music scene delivers excellent songs throughout varied genres and types, and the previous week was no exception, with a heavy-hitting collection of hits with world and crossover potential, satisfyingly nostalgic duets and a few of 2024’s most promising new artists.
A slew of main solo stars have returned to the scene recently, with NAYEON of TWICE dropping her sophomore solo effort, NA, Friday (June 14), hoping to make historical past once more after changing into the first-ever Okay-pop soloist to attain a High 10 album on the Billboard 200 with 2022’s IM NAYEON. In the meantime, Kim Jae Joong and XIA — who come from legendary teams TVXQ! and JYJ — signaled thrilling returns to the business with their new tracks, whereas Sunmi, SAAY, BOL4 and GISELLE of aespa all have new materials for followers.
On the group entrance, beloved acts like Tremendous Junior and INFINITE are celebrating essential milestones with anniversary singles. In the meantime, A.C.E, ATEEZ and WayV are all proving how common their newest releases are with new singles in a number of languages and/or getting completely different remedies by way of new remixes.
Because the Okay-pop business strikes at a speedy tempo, it’s essential to pause and admire the innovation and variety it affords throughout its completely different acts. Beforehand, Billboard readers rallied behind ONEUS’ “Now” as the highest Okay-pop decide of the week in addition to Jung Kook’s “By no means Let Go” as their favourite new music in all genres final week.
Take a second to discover these 13 gems that embody the spirit of the scene and deserve a spot in your playlist. Then, forged your vote in our ballot for the highest of Okay-pop for the previous week.
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NAYEON, “ABCD”
Picture Credit score: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage The TWICE famous person returns along with her sophomore solo effort, NA, which showcases a spread of genres tackled with Korean and English tracks, led by the super-pop single “ABCD.” Over blasting brassy beats, NAYEON sings, “A, you’re gonna B my babe/ Each time you C me, fall D-eeper deeper babe,” little question hypnotizing followers into what needs to be one other stellar chart displaying.
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INFINITE, “Flower”
Launched to have fun INFINITE’s 14th anniversary collectively, “Flower” is a melodious observe that showcases the boy band’s harmonious vocals and complex preparations, proving their continued evolution as artists. Hopefully it’s not for much longer till they put out one other album collectively.
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BOL4, “Lips” feat. GISELLE of aespa
BOL4’s signature soothing supply will get a jolt of vitality teaming up with aespa’s GISELLE and her fast, charismatic rap model, making a charming fusion of indie pop and hip-hop that’s each refreshing and addictive — excellent for {the summertime}.
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A.C.E, “Supernatural”
A.C.E’s “Supernatural” combines mystique-laden lyrics with a sound closely impressed by feel-good funk and soul, leading to an addictive, harmony-heavy jam. Reunited for the primary time in years, the 5 members ship their newest in each Korean and English variations, topped off with an irresistible whistle hook makes this a large standout and a universally interesting single of their discography.
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Kim Jae Joong, “I AM U”
Because the Okay-pop veteran gears as much as have fun his twentieth anniversary within the scene, “I AM U” is a heartfelt, mid-tempo rock-pop efficiency that emphasizes the JYJ star’s emotive vocal supply. It’s a reminder of his lasting impression on the business.
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Sunmi, “Balloon in Love”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Makeus Leisure One among Okay-pop’s most constantly artistic and spectacular soloists, Sunmi fancies herself a balloon depending on like to hold her crammed in her low-key love jam “Balloon in Love.”
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EVERGLOW, “ZOMBIE”
With a slow-moving and horror-movie like opening, EVERGLOW makes use of grinding synthesizers and moments of charming flutes to construct “ZOMBIE” right into a pulsating-yet-elusive observe that manages to nonetheless match the group’s fiery and fierce vitality.
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Tremendous Junior, “Present Time”
Crafted for Tremendous Junior’s nineteenth anniversary this yr, “Present Time” delivers one other one of many group’s signature, high-energy anthems that feels made to be carried out on stage. Its collection of infectious hooks (and polished choreography, besides) proves SuJu’s enduring enchantment within the Okay-pop business.
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SAAY, “DOMINO”
With a stand-out launch for the week, singer-songwriter SAAY delivers her newest within the experimental R&B music “DOMINO.” The English observe is an thrilling new avenue for the Common Music Korea signee, who already boasts three full-length Okay-pop information underneath her belt, and has us curious to listen to extra.
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XIA, “Our Season”
One other JYJ member additionally celebrating 20 years within the business, XIA returns with the piano-led “Our Season,” marking a superbly orchestrated mid-tempo reduce that highlights his vocal vary and emotional expression, making this one an ideal hear for any season.
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WayV, “Give Me That”
WayV’s fifth EP, Give Me That, consists of the title observe in each Korean and Chinese language, combining slick R&B rhythms and easy vocals to go with the band’s sharp choreography. One more daring, sonic enterprise from the China-based outfit, “Give Me That” solidifies WayV’s repute as one of the vital versatile items within the NCT universe.
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Paul Blanco, “Each Evening”
With one other instantaneous hit in an already impeccable assortment of songs, Paul Blanco delivers one in all his most accessible singles but within the melodic, R&B groove of “Each Evening.” Recorded in principally English for extra crossover potential, the observe boasts the coziness of a late summer season night time wrapped up in Blanco’s heat, heartfelt crooning.
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ATEEZ X EDEN-ary, “WORK Pt.3”
Picture Credit score: DAEHAN CHAE Excessive off yet one more large debut on the Billboard 200, ATEEZ proceed the success of their Golden Hour : Half.1 EP by teaming up with longtime artistic collaborator EDEN-ary (also called the soloist EDEN) for the third take of recent single “WORK,” after Don Diablo took a stab final week. ATEEZ’s traditional depth stays intact with EDEN-ary’s masterful manufacturing that’s in a position to remodel their launch right into a genre-bending observe with components of EDM and Latin, recalling the addictive nature of J Balvin’s “Mi Gente.”
