Hyolyn - Dally
Summer is on its way and for the first time in a long time, we’re without our queens of the summer bop. But fret not my friends, because Hyolyn is here for us. I've been in love with Hyolyn since her Sistar days, so I was very excited for this new single.
With her official debut under her new self-started label, Bridg3, she comes out of the gate strong with her sexy single, "Dally." If you were in need of a great song and MV packed with body goals, look no further. Not only does she master effortless dance moves, but she does it all in heels. How can she not be your girl crush everyday?
- Dreena
Hwasa x Loco - Don't Give It To Me
Something about the rapper/singer collabs lately have really been speaking to me. Here’s another great collaboration between Mamamoo’s Hwasa and AOMG signed rapper, Loco. The two wrote and helped produce a song called “Don’t Give It To Me” for the tv show, Hyena On The Keyboard, which showcases the various song making processes of different artists.
“Don’t Give It To Me” flew to number one across numerous streaming sites after its release, achieving a Perfect All Kill (PAK) on April 23rd, two days after its release. Part of the reason it was so successful might have to do with the two’s chemistry as they sing about the sparks that fly between two people when they meet on a night out. The song, produced by Woogie, another AOMG member, is a relaxed jazzy track and sounds like something one might hear in a lounge. Hwasa, with her beautiful powerful vocals, and Loco, with his goofy rapper aesthetic, pair perfectly in this downbeat single.
Catch their performance on Music Bank if once just wasn’t enough!
- Kerry
Luna - Night Reminiscin' (With 양다일) and Falling Out
Two years after the release of her first solo album, Free Somebody, Luna from f(x) has released two new singles, “Night Reminiscin’“and “Falling Out.” A departure from her last album, these two songs are slower-paced ballads that show off her phenomenal vocals.
“Night Reminiscin” is a duet with Yang Da Il, a solo artist from Brand New Music. Luna and Da Il’s voices complement each other’s beautifully, and the soft piano medley in the background helps give the song a nostalgic feel, perfect for listening to on contemplative rainy days.
“Falling Out” is my favorite of the two releases. Whereas “Night Reminiscin’” has a softer sound, “Falling Out” has a more upbeat, driving melody. The second half of the song really showcases Luna’s amazing vocals. Her voice builds and gets stronger along with the backing instrumental, before ending again on a softer note.
I believe Luna is one of the best vocalists of the current K-Pop generation and these two songs definitely capture this. I hope she gains success with these two songs and is able to release more music in the future! If you’re like me and are always hungry for Luna + ballads, check out her performance of “Use 2 Bucket Gold Lacquer” from King of Masked Singer! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
- Katie
Hoody - Golden (feat. Jay Park)
I knew I was going to like this song, even before I heard it. Hoody x Jay Park always equals gold. The song is one of two that Hoody dropped this Friday, April 27th.
“Golden” is a mellow r&b track produced by Slom and featuring rapper Jay Park. It captures that feeling of laying by the riverside with the person who makes you the happiest, forgetting all your worries, and enjoying each other’s existence. I love this song because Hoody has one of my favorite voices in kpop. She croons to the listener against a steady snare and acoustic piano. Jay comes in during the second verse and slows his rhythm to a sweet, soothing flow, mixing some singing into his verse. He waxes poetic about wanting to hold his girl's hand forever, to go on picnics together forever, to simply be together forever. A bit of a change from Aquaman, don’t you think?
As many of us wind down our school years and slog through work projects, "Golden" really exemplifies our dreams of doing absolutely nothing. It's a nice reminder that the summer is coming and I personally cannot wait for those golden days.
- Kerry