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Itzy Turn Dark in “It’z Icy”
Following their splashy debut, Itzy has returned for their first comeback with the EP It’z Icy. The title track “Icy” certainly equaled it’s predecessor in style and content, but a large part of...
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‘The ReVe Festival Day 2’: Red Velvet’s Trip Through Time
Experimentation is a tricky thing for musicians. Don’t do it enough, and you end up becoming stale and passe. Too much, too wild, too poorly conceived, and you have a release not many are interested...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape 9/12/2019, K-pop in Paris
Recently, I visited Paris. It was a magnificent place, but one thing I realized it is so much more than the sidewalk cafes and accordion players that you typically imagine when thinking of Paris. It...
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Laboum’s “Firework” Goes Off With Seduction and Isolation
There are some groups that have a hard time breaking through in the crowded field of K-pop, but Laboum has always seemed to be a particularly tragic example. Five years into their careers, they’ve...
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Twice Shows Maturity in “Feel Special”
Twice is indisputably one of the biggest names in K-pop today. They’ve had monster success that few other girl groups can dare to dream of. Yet, they’ve always been held back by two factors: their...
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Side B: Becoming The Brown Eyed Girls
There is no group like the Brown Eyed Girls. The quartet have stayed together for thirteen years in a scene where most groups last five. They court controversy where others try to stay safe. The K-pop...
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Winner Turn Classy In “Cross”
Winner is a group that can and has pulled off multiple sounds and concepts. However, they tend to excel when working with a sound that allows them to linger in a more mature sound, and their latest...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape 11/7/2019: Crying In The Club
There are a thousand ways to deal with emotions, particularly the bad ones. Sometimes you cry until you’re dehydrated, and sometimes you get out onto the dance floor and try your damndest to get into...
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Music & Lyrics: The Whole Truth
All people, as a condition of living in society, agree to abide by the social contract. The stipulations therein range from the serious (don’t murder people) to the mundane (don’t lick other people’s...
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“Clé: Levanter” Sees Stray Kids Grow Up
The conclusion to Stray Kids Clé series, Clé: Levanter, is an interesting release, and one that certainly shows Stray Kids maturing not only as artists, but as people. The shift in priorities and...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape 01/02/2020: Favorite Songs of 2019
The start of a new year always comes with a need to ruminate on the one that had just ended. We at Seoulbeats are no strangers to this, with annual discussions of the best albums, comebacks, MVs,...
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‘Unstable Mindset’ Is A Knockout For Younha
A 15-year veteran of the music industry with a long and storied career, Younha is one of those artists it can feel daunting to dig into. Yet as her newest release proves, her skill and talent alone...
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Gfriend Lament Lost Friendships In “Crossroads”
Fresh off their first Japanese album, Gfriend have returned to Korea with their eighth EP, Labyrinth. The title track, “Crossroads”, is a solid example of the typical Gfriend sound, but has an MV that...
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Side B: The Variety of GFriend
Earlier this month, GFriend returned with their seventh EP, 回:Labyrinth, which comes almost five years into their career. Throughout their career, they have forged a musical identity that is uniquely...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape, 2/28/2020: Insomniatic
As mentioned a few times previously, I have a raging case of insomnia. Sometimes it’s brought on by external stress, sometimes my anxiety kicks into gear, sometimes I have nightmares or just odd...
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Music & Lyrics: Songs of the Love Song
If pop music could be said to have a default setting, it would probably be the love song. Sure, there are a plethora of songs about things like sexism, personal achievements, the burdens of society...
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(G)I-dle Find Their Power in “I Trust”
It may have been a hot minute since (G)I-dle has released any new music, but their much-lauded appearance on Queendom has kept them in the spotlight, as well as impressing upon the world a maturity...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape, 4/16/2020: Vintage K-pop
So, uh, how are y’all holding up in the face of apocalypse? I sincerely hope every person reading this is doing alright, and continues to be so until this nightmare comes to an end. Still, as the...
View ArticleSide B: Oh My Girl Explore Past Their Boundaries
There are few groups who have managed to stick with a sound for five years, but Oh My Girl is one of those rarities. Debuting five years ago, they quickly established their music as dreamy, airy...
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Taeyeon’s “Happy” Provides a Needed Burst of Warmth
Originally set to be released March 9, the new single from Taeyeon, “Happy” had to be pushed back due to the tragic passing of her father. Two months later, the MV has been released, and it is very...
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