Tright here should be one thing within the water in South Korea, as a result of Okay-pop is hitting it out of the park in 2024. Whether or not it’s a viral hit that launched a brand-new lady group to superstardom or a critically acclaimed album from one of many trade’s most artistic minds, we’ve been spoiled for selection each which approach we flip.
To anybody paying shut consideration, although, it’d be no shock that the women are on their approach for one more 12 months within the driver’s seat. From the moment traditional IU ballad ‘Love Wins All’, to a elegant J-rock-inspired hit from up-and-coming band QWER, to NMIXX lastly discovering their candy spot on ‘Sprint’, their dominance over the style has been plain.
Issues would possibly nonetheless change within the months to return – RIIZE and SEVENTEEN present that boybands can sustain with the women – however proper now, the likes of aespa, Chung Ha and tripleS proceed to rule our hearts and souls. Be a part of NME as we have fun the 15 greatest Okay-pop songs 2024 has needed to supply to date.
Puah Ziwei, Affiliate Commissioning Editor (Music)
aespa
‘Supernova’
aespa have constantly confirmed themselves as a musician powerhouse since their debut. It’s stated that the brighter the star, the quicker it burns out. However with as a lot plain star energy as this quartet possess, it’s by way of the demise of a star that they shine even brighter.
The aptly named ‘Supernova’ is strictly what it’s: a vivid explosion of gritty syncopated beats, alien-sounding synths and an annoyingly addictive topline that cleverly harmonises with a bass that by no means lets up – all of which collides to an excellent spectacle that’s bought the entire world buzzing “ah-oh-ay!” since its launch.
Mika Chen
ARTMS
‘The Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy’
ARTMS appear intent on maintaining the legacy of their unique lady group LOONA alive. Out of the tracks on their debut album ‘Dall’, it’s most obvious on ‘The Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy’, working each as a tribute and as an upgraded model to LOONA’s ‘Butterfly’ – all the way down to the identical producer, G-Excessive.
‘Hitchhiker’s’ performs with the right here and now, with area and silence, dashing up and slowing down because it pleases. ARTMS’ velvety voices forge forward, unveiling galaxies of bliss at every build-up, and overflowing in an ingenious use of dubstep and drum ’n’ bass. It’s as bewitching because it will get, and the truth that the track was virtually the album’s title observe attests to its magnificence.
Tássia Assis
BIBI
‘Bam Yang Gang’
On this waltzy, mellow indie quantity, BIBI delivers a easy but compelling story of misplaced love. Likening her wishes to the normal Korean chestnut jelly the track will get its title from, she expresses her eager for a easy, genuine love.
Laced with an acute poignance, her saccharine vocals meander airly alongside the observe as she laments a previous lover’s unwillingness to satisfy her wants. And when she croons mournfully (“All I needed was one factor / Simply that one factor, candy bamyanggang”), one doesn’t must have tried chestnut jelly to recognise that bittersweet style of regretful craving.
Gladys Yeo
Chung Ha
‘I’m Prepared’
‘I’m Prepared’ is a real comeback for Chung Ha in each sense. Whereas the glittering star beforehand admitted that she virtually left the music trade, she defiantly declares on this pulsating membership banger that she is right here to remain, right here to slay and continues to be on the high of her recreation.
Extra assured and guaranteed than she’s ever been, this non secular follow-up to her fan-favourite single ‘Keep Tonight’ is a testomony to the mountains forward that she’s going to undoubtedly conquer – and we’ll be right here each step of the best way.
Daniel Anderson
ILLIT
‘Fortunate Woman Syndrome’
On their debut launch alone, rookie group ILLIT have already put out a few of the most infectious tracks this 12 months. Bursting with allure, the bubbling ‘Fortunate Woman Syndrome’ looks like a refreshing morning stroll by way of an enthralling dream world the place the whole lot goes as deliberate.
The track is easy and simple, however its completely polished manufacturing and the members’ playful, sprightly supply are all of the feel-good magic it wants. ‘Fortunate Woman Syndrome’ won’t fairly mirror how actual life goes for many of us, however only for its two-and-a-half minute run, it certain makes it straightforward to faux.
Gladys Yeo
IU
‘Love Wins All’
If real love ceases to exist then this track should’ve been intentionally faraway from this earth out of spite. IU has created many classics because the begin of her profession a few years in the past, however ‘Love Wins All’ will reside on as one of many grandest love songs she’s ever penned.
Emotional piano, dramatic strings, her ethereal vocals – all of them come collectively like kismet on this spellbinding but tender ballad the place she wonders if love can conquer all. Maybe it does, or possibly it doesn’t. Regardless, IU will go towards all odds to seek out out: “Two of us, aspect by aspect, gone astray on goal.”
Sofiana Ramli
KISS OF LIFE
‘Nothing’
If 2023 was a check run of how far KISS OF LIFE might go by reimagining old-school sounds for a brand new era, 2024 has been a testomony of how they’ve perfected it. Whereas the Britney Spears-esque single ‘Midas Contact’ is pop gold, the quartet give ’90s R&B lady teams greater than a run for his or her cash on the beautiful B-side, ‘Nothing’.
Powered by the conviction that an ex-flame simply wasn’t value their effort and time, KISS OF LIFE flip this bittersweet break-up track into a sturdy self-empowerment anthem. And once they go all out with their vocals in the course of the bridge, it’s absolute bliss.
Puah Ziwei
NMIXX
‘Sprint’
NMIXX have all the time been happy with their distinctive, although usually divisive sound, that they dub ‘MIXX POP’. However the lady group have discovered the candy spot with ‘Sprint’, a kinetic burst of power that melts old-school hip-hop with a pop-punk aptitude.
The track oscillates between groovy guitar riffs and R&B hooks, culminating in a grungy rock bridge, but it surely by no means feels disjointed or fractured for a second. ‘Sprint’ resides proof of NMIXX’s immense potential as a bunch with marvellous vocalists – they could very nicely convey change to the Okay-pop method in the event that they proceed this spectacular streak.
Carmen Chin
QWER
‘T.B.H’
There’s nothing typical about QWER, from the best way they have been shaped to the music they’re placing out. Working example: ‘T.B.H’, the explosive and addictive lead single of their first EP, a real mid-year standout amidst blink-and-you’ll-miss-it developments and drained formulation.
Shy glances throughout the room, unsaid hellos and scribbling their names time and again on a textbook – it’s the electrical energy of a highschool crush that the lady band draw from within the track. With earnest, emotive willpower, vocalist Siyeon sings “No, no, not but, I’m simply not able to say it”, and you’ll’t assist however root for her in her conquest of confession.
Mika Chen
RIIZE
‘Unimaginable’
From the beginning, RIIZE’s calling card has been to hint a vigorous diorama of youth by way of their music, making a soundtrack that breaks by way of the unusual. And with the impeccable home observe ‘Unimaginable’, boyband transport us to a summer season dream by unleashing a rush of bliss.
The track’s galloping beat is accompanied by lyrical snapshots soaked within the feeling of freedom: “My solely dream reachin’ you there past / Beatin’ its wings and risin’ greater.” When the ultimate refrain arrives, a mix of glistening synths and harmonised vocals crowns the joyride – with an open invitation to repeat it repeatedly.
Ivana E. Morales
SEVENTEEN
‘Spell’
Depart it to SEVENTEEN to all the time rightfully earn their spot on best-of lists. ‘Spell’ from the group’s efficiency crew (Dino, The8, Hoshi and Jun) is a bewitching incantation that marries a hypnotic Amapiano percussion and beats with dreamlike synths to concoct the proper, nicely, spell.
Its reverb-drenched percussion and atmospheric nature fantastically conjure a sense of blurring the strains between fantasy and actuality. The group have all the time been ones to push the envelope in Okay-pop, and so they’ve hit all the correct notes but once more – alongside a splendidly crafted music video that solely enhances the expertise of the track.
Carmen Chin
tripleS
‘Chiyu’
tripleS’ debut album, ‘ASSEMBLE24,’ is a putting effort for a bunch that boasts 24 members. They sound extremely cohesive and clear, and all of their 10 synth-filled, glinting tracks are value a pay attention. Nonetheless, it’s the melancholic sweetness of ‘Chiyu’ that may have you ever buzzing immediately.
“I’ll get by way of this winter like a dry flower petal,” they sing, evoking the softness of the melody and the depth of its poignant bassline. The phrase chiyu (치유) in Korean means “remedy” or “therapeutic” – in case you want one thing to appease your coronary heart, this could be the most effective medication.
Tássia Assis
WOOAH
‘Blush’
The tender first ‘Blush’ of romance is given audible type in WOOAH‘s fizzy, minimalistic springtime refresher. Preserving to the literal candy spot, the track spends a lot of its size slinking between ethereal, wistful verses over hypnotising beats.
A fizzy, power reverberates all through because the echoing refrain weaves out and in, with member’s voices taking part in round over and below each other in an otherworldly and dreamy approach. With the occasional divergent verse providing up some pep to emulate palpitating heartbeats, ‘Blush’ completely evokes the cheek-warming, fluttering feeling.
Tamar Herman
Yves
‘LOOP’ feat. Lil Cherry
“I’m misplaced, however I prefer it,” Yves sings over a cool home beat on ‘LOOP’, the title observe from her debut solo EP. It’s an trustworthy evaluation of the final 12 months within the LOONA member’s life and profession, however one which embraces uncertainty and makes it sound deliciously enjoyable.
Magnetic and hypnotic – and bolstered by a zippy Lil Cherry characteristic – ‘LOOP’ reintroduces Yves as a person artist with baggage of potential, able to make gold from her interior ideas and feelings. Being misplaced by no means sounded so good.
Rhian Daly
Zico
‘Spot’ feat. Jennie
Zico has the audacity to ask “Every thing okay, my man?” when he drops this supremely groovy bop. Then BLACKPINK’s Jennie, basking within the radiance of her solo period, is available in and virtually growls on the catchy hook, exhibiting off a scrumptious trill that reminds everybody of her powerhouse vocal versatility.
The video’s rooftop events and dance battles allow us to in on what an evening out in town could be like with these two effortlessly cool virtuosos. We’ll most likely by no means get to do this, however that is {the summertime} jam to blast on repeat as we escape to “hit the spot” with our personal partners-in-crime.
Daniel Anderson
