It’s finally October, which means my favorite season is finally upon us! I have always associated a certain mood with fall—a dual feeling of beauty and melancholy that’s depicted in the changing colors of the leaves as nature begins to prepare for winter. Fall is the time for cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and chilly weather, with the days growing shorter and the weather coaxing us back into hibernation. For this series, I’m going to present some of my favorite tracks to complement the changing season.

“Home” - Ailee ft. Yoon Mirae

Ailee’s stunning vocals fit all sorts of moods, but “Home” has a soft R&B beat laced with a sense of longing that complements her pleas for her lover to come home. While the song does have some sexy undertones, both visually and musically, I’ve found the forlorn melody much stronger. The beautiful vocals mix perfectly with the heavier message, leaving the listener with an intense sense of longing.

“Bad Boy” - BIGBANG

Ever since I saw BIGBANG live in 2015, I’ve associated a lot of their tracks with the fall season, but none fit better than the chill hip-hop track “Bad Boy.” Unlike a lot of the group’s explosive and energetic releases, “Bad Boy” has a more relaxed tone that goes along perfectly with a chilly autumn day.

“기도 (I'll Be Your Man)” - BTOB

On the topic of beautiful angst like “Home,” BTOB’s vocal powerhouse fits perfectly into this category. “기도 (I'll Be Your Man)” is a powerfully emotional track made more impactful by the unspeakably gorgeous vocals of Changsub, Sungjae, Eunkwang, and Hyungsik. It’s almost impossible for the chorus to not elicit goosebumps, no matter how many times you’ve heard the song.

“Mirror” - FIESTAR

Although FIESTAR never quite got the attention they deserved in their time, there is still time to appreciate them. “Mirror” is a bewitching pop track that has a unique allure due to its mix of traditional pop with a softer vibe. The song has a certain intensity that is most apparent in the lyrics, but maintains a cool and almost distant vibe musically throughout the whole song, mirroring the creeping cold weather on its way as the season progresses.

“Into You” - KARD

KARD’s second mini-album had a drastically different vibe from the first, and it begins with the haunting track “Into You.” In fact, this track may be one of the most haunting melodies in K-Pop in recent memory. Somin and Jiwoo’s vocals meld together perfectly, and even though the lyrics appear to be lighthearted, the melody adds an air of uncertainty and even sadness to the song, almost as if something is amiss despite the romantic words. The contrast is striking.