Recent Repeats 2: Soloist Edition
“Pluhmm” - HA:TFELT
Former leader of Wonder Girls, Yenny, or better known by her solo name HA:TFELT, has been on an interesting musical journey since the disbandment of the iconic girl group. Yenny has gone a different route musically from her former group members, and “Pluhmm” highlights this the most. “Pluhmm” has a very unique, bluesy sound with strong jazz influences, definitely more fit for the R&B scene than the traditional K-Pop scene. Regardless, the song is incredibly catchy and refreshing in sound, and Yenny’s vocals only add to the overall melody.
“달리 (Dally)” - Hyolyn
Queen Hyolyn has returned to the music scene with a vengeance after the disbandment of SISTAR, starting her own entertainment company and doing what she does best: being unapologetically sexy. Hyolyn has previously expressed her desire to explore a more hip-hop look and feel in her music, and “달리 (Dally)” is a prime example of that wish in action. With the addition of AOMG producer Gray, this track is quintessential hip-hop and groundbreaking in its own right.
“She's Gone” - Jung Ilhoon
BTOB’s rapper Ilhoon debuted solo earlier this year with the beauty “She’s Gone,” an alternative and pop infused track that has roots in early 2000s alternative rock the likes of Matchbox Twenty, mixed with modern pop. The song is incredibly emotionally driven and dare I say relatable, in a way that definitely has a high level of international appeal. It’s a shame that this song didn’t get as much attention as it should have.
“퍼즐 (Puzzle)” - TVXQ!
The TVXQ! duo each had a solo track featured on their latest album, New Chapter #1. Yunho’s solo track “퍼즐 (Puzzle)” captured my attention almost immediately because the song has such contrasting genre sounds within it that I found it intriguing. While the song begins as a traditional vocal pop song, the beat quickly drops into a traditional House beat that is surprising, to say the least. Coupled with Yunho’s distinct vocal flavor, this track ends up on repeat without you even realizing it.
“Sunset” - Kim Donghan
My love for Kim Donghan and the rest of the JBJ boys is no secret, but despite all that I’ve still fallen in love with the melody of “Sunset.” The track blends a lot of different sounds together, from traditional pop to catchy R&B and hip-hop influences. In addition, Donghan has some eye-catching and complex choreography to go along with his warm vocals. The entire combination of song, dance, and visuals in this song is absolutely stunning and delivered flawlessly by Donghan.