For fans of KNK, it’s been a long and difficult journey so far. The group debuted in 2016 with “Knock” and made quite a splash at the time, but they had difficulty maintaining notoriety. The last release from the group came in mid-2017. After a one-and-a-half-year hiatus, a change in agencies, and the departure of original group member Youjin, the group is beginning 2019 with a fresh start. With new member Dongwon joining the lineup, KNK is starting anew with single album LONELY NIGHT.

“Lonely Night”

“Lonely Night” has a jazz-focused melody that is very reminiscent of their last comeback, “Rain.” I personally find that the retro-jazz era concept fits the group quite well, so I was pleased to hear that it returned. While the melody does maintain that factor, there also are quite a few distinct differences musically. In addition to the retro element, the melody has heavy influences of modern hip-hop and pop that make the song more appealing on a wide scale.

We’re in for a dark ride in the music video—as expected with a track lamenting loneliness. As such, the use of colors is very seldom, and those colors are often toned down to give a darker feel to the overall videography. Even the sunny scenes have a black-and-white tint, accentuated by the all-black outfits of the members. What stands out the most for sure is the suit dance cuts that are also prominently featured in a performance version of the video. Speaking of dancing, the choreography is sharp and creative, making this release overall in a good position to command attention from the industry.

The Album

Single album LONELY NIGHT features two B-sides: “무슨 생각해” and “Day by Day.” “무슨 생각해” kicks off after “Lonely Night” with a noticeably slower tempo, but a very familiar emotion to the title track. It’s a song that has a lighter, acoustic feel to it in comparison to the title, which gives it an additional endearing quality. When it comes to the B-sides, “무슨 생각해” is perfect for the lazy days in, while “Day by Day” has an even more melancholy feeling to it, despite the somewhat uptempo rhythm. It feels as though the group is lamenting something heavy from the past and simply masking the difficulty with the tempo in order to live day by day. The theme of the album as a whole is definitely consistent in the concept of loneliness, even if the main melodical influences shift from each track. Tinkerbells will be thrilled to have some new content from their favorite group, and those unfamiliar with KNK to begin with may find themselves caught up in an emotionally relatable concept and catchy title track.