A.C.E - Take Me Higher
Ahhhh A.C.E. I hope most of you have taken a moment to listen to this song, because once you have, you will be so ready to dive into this little pot of gold of the kpop industry. A.C.E, a five member group (now promoting as four, as Chan, their youngest, is currently promoting for the competition show idol group, UNB), is a year into their careers and still very much finding their sound. On June 7th, they released their first album, Adventures in Wonderland, with title track, "Take Me Higher." Their first two songs, “Cactus” and “Calling” fell directly into the hardstyle genre, a type of electronic music mixing techno and hardcore. “Take Me Higher,” as well as the two other new songs on their album, “Black & Blue” and “Dessert,” explore other styles of music. “Take Me Higher” is solid pop rock, with an airy light sound that makes easy listening. The boys jump around and goof off with each in the amazingly vibrant MV. As a group infamous for wearing hot pants in their debut MV for "Cactus," they continue to subvert masculine expectations and whip out their best crop tops for this track. And let me tell you, they look damn good. I fully expect (hope) this will be the next trend.
The lyrics of the song are half love story, half fan song. The members sing about the dazzling beauty of their lover, with some clever lines thrown in,“Everything about you and I, my choice is my life,” referencing their fandom, Choice. The breezy tune is composed and produced by a handful of people, including Hyuk Shin and Jordan Kyle, two producers who worked together on EXO’s “Growl,” and SHINee’s “Dream Girl,” as well as separately on numerous record breaking tracks (Hyuk Shin was a co-producer and co-writer of Justin Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl”). Member WOW also gets a songwriting credit for this track.
I haven't been able to get that "Let me take you hiiiiiigherrr" out of my head for the past three days and I'm 100% not complaining. I'm a huge fan of A.C.E and I hope that “Take Me Higher” will be the song that will in fact, take them higher.
- Kerry
Yubin - Lady
Yubin, former member of the Wonder Girls, officially made her solo debut with single album, City Woman. The title track, “Lady,” is a synthy, glittery romp, styled after ‘city pop,’ a retro 80s sound specific to Japan during that time. Think disco set against scenes of metropolises plus a heavy dose of synth. Yubin exercises her sweet and husky vocals in this track, aptly styled in 80's outfits, complete in swingy mini-dresses with puffy shoulders and outrageously teased hair.
As the third Wonder Girl to go solo, Yubin sticks most closely to the vintage sound that the group was known for, while making it uniquely her own. Written, produced, and arranged by Dr. Jo, a figure I could find little about online, “Lady” marks another strong solo debut from an idol eleven years into the game already. Just as I felt after Sunmi’s debut, I need more!!!
- Kerry
Katie Kim - Remember
Welcome KATIE to the scene with her debut single, “Remember.” Also known as Katie Kim, the new soloist gained attention when she won the fourth season of K-Pop Star, with the choice to select one of three entertainment agencies. KATIE chose to sign with YG, and for the past three years, she’s been working with foreign producers to develop her music. In May, it was announced that KATIE decided to follow her former YG executive producer to his new agency, AXIS. YG continues to be supportive of KATIE’s career, and is currently promoting and distributing her music.
Sung fully in English, “Remember” is a future R&B track that showcases KATIE’s unique voice, alternating between her husky crooning and a banging chorus of “oh-oh’s.” The music video is a whole other sensory experience in and of itself, with a gorgeous palette of earthy green and gold textures. Clearly a high-budget production, KATIE is backed by the biggest K-hiphop music-makers, with cameos by C Jamm, Vasco, Sik-K, Los, and Ja Mezz. This is just the first part of her debut, with her album Log set to drop later this year.
- Julie