K-Music Week In Review: NCT U, Gavy NJ, GiriBoy and More!

K-Music Week In Review: NCT U, Gavy NJ, GiriBoy and More!

0 comments 📅04 April 2018, 12:50

As we end one month and begin another, the K-pop scene becomes a bit slow and more mellowed. It is like the calm before the storm. There have been a lot of teasers released for comebacks in the next few weeks, some of which we are anticipating, but for this week we have a great selection of K-indie releases.

Our Weekly K-music Review posts are here to give you a helping hand and a quick look back to the notable releases from Korean artists in a weekly format. This article looks at releases and comebacks from 29 March – 1 April 2018.

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KwonMilk – Tree (FEAT. Lee Han Si)
Released: 29 March

Showing the beautiful sights of the unexplored South Korean countryside and woodlands, KwonMilk uses his undefined vocals with a soft piano backing to give a very soft and airy feeling to this beautiful release. Lee Han Si’s vocals really complement the song, and when joined together with KwonMilk’s the song has a slight Studio Ghibli sound. Not perfect, but simple and beautiful. A true feel good song.

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Ginjo – You (FEAT. Angel)
Released: 30 March

Over the years the EDM scene in Korea has grown to a point where Korean artists are travelling the world to hold showcases and concerts, even appearing on stage at the UMF festivals. Under the SM Entertainment special label, Station, Ginjo creates the beats whilst the vocalist Angel creates a global feeling to the song by singing in English. The song has a great beat, the tempo is perfect for letting go of your worries, and is a great party anthem. It wouldn’t be a surprise to hear this in the clubs, both in Korea and the UK.

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Giriboy – Northbutsouth (PROD. Lnb – FEAT. Kid Milli)
Released: 30 March

Slowing things down and in collaboration with the fashion brand The North Face, Giriboy spits his lyrics with precision, starting off at a steady pace and slowly beginning to speed things up. Kid Milli helps to give the song some dimension. Although the song is repetitive, there is something about it that does capture the listener, whether it’s the raw sound or the lyrics, it’s different for everyone. The music video depicts the raw underground vibe, whilst promoting the fashion brand, and is featured as a campsite in the woods.

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Bintage – Holdout (FEAT. Dawn)
Released: 30 March

Even though the song is missing a music video release, Holdout was so unique and genuinely enthralling that we needed to share it with our readers. Hitting the ears with a retro ethereal feeling, the song goes into a heavy R&B dance track, and although the music itself sounds jumbled, you need to give it a second listen to fully grasp the tune. Vocally, the rap is slow and when Bintage decides to sing the vocals are distorted but still understandable. This song is definitely unique and fun, and one that needs to be heard to be believed.

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Stray Kids – Grow Up
Released: 30 March

In the sea of boy groups that come from Korea, Stray Kids have been one anticipated for growth in 2018 by a lot of K-pop fan. Even though the words talk about love and growing up as a person both physically and mentally through love lost, it certainly feels like the boys themselves have grown up and are proving their talents. Vocally the singers and rappers are spot on, nothing too different from other K-pop idols, but at the same time, they each have their own charm. The music video has a soft aesthetic, predominantly blue in colour, and is great for seeing nicely produced solo shots of the members.

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Flowsik – All I Need (COLLAB. Jessi)
Released: 31 March

Proving their deep friendship once again, Flowsik and Jessi have produced a lighthearted summery song with smooth raps that accompany a simple yet effective drum and piano backing song. Flowsik’s soft yet strong rapping vocals mixed with the soft and sweet vocals of Jessi just seem like a perfect combination. The music video is one of our favourites as it features the pair with their friends in LA and shows their deep friendship with each other. It’s playful, lighthearted, lovely and just a really great all-around release.

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Yoon Jong Shin – Goodbye Talk
Released: 31 March

Jong Shin has released a song per a month both as a solo artist or working as part of a collaboration. He is known for being strict and a perfectionist and it certainly shows in his music. The release of Goodbye Talk is no exception. What is different from many of his other releases is the fact we see him in person in the music video. Considering this is one of his solo songs, we finally get to hear the soul and passion of music through his voice. Knowing that Jong Shin is the one who wrote the lyrics, the song and even performed it both vocally and musically, it gives the song a whole new feeling. It is the perfect song to show the talents of Korea.

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Junny – Blind Game (FEAT. Holynn)
Released: 31 March

Although there isn’t a music video for this song, it needed to be shared. Blind Game has that fashion catwalk feeling and has one of the weirdest yet enthralling background tracks, which is accompanied by some smooth R&B vocals. The synthetic beat and chill, yet suave vibes, really grabs you as a song to be cruising the open road, windows opened and with your hair down. Its nod towards the older and more retro R&B classics, mixed with the modern day music scene really gives the song a feeling of its own.

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Gavy NJ – People Said Break It Up
Released: 1 April

Known for their beautiful ballad tracks, their on-point vocals, and storytelling through their lyrics, Gavy NJ has finally come back to the K-pop scene. The trio have beautiful, soulful and emotional vocals which work well together with the classical backing track. Known for creating some of the most memorable soundtrack music for Korean dramas, the girls are back on the scene to prove that they are the queens of ballads. The music video is simple, tells a story, but focuses on the lyrics of the song, which is a heartbreaking reality.

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NCT U – Yestoday
Released: 1 April

As part of their album release under NCT2018, NCT U have made another comeback with their K-pop song Yestoday. The music video mixes colours and imagery which is a key point to the NCT brand, creating them to be highly artistic and modern with their execution. Vocally this is possibly one of their strongest releases. The rap line has their own areas where the slightly slower beat allows for the rapped words to be pronounced perfectly, but also it gives the vocalist the chance to showcase their vocals in a more controlled environment. Upbeat, light and bright, the song is definitely a catchy one.

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As there have been a lot of releases this week, be sure to check back for the second instalment of  K-music week in review, which will look at releases from 2 April – 4 April 2018.

 

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