M.O.N.T Makes Their Long-Awaited Debut
After much anticipation, the mountain trainees of MIXNINE are officially on the K-Pop scene! M.O.N.T made their debut on January 4 with album Going up, featuring four original tracks and six remixes. The title “Will you be my girlfriend? (Original Mix)” is a cute and memorable tune that brings the trio to the forefront with their charm.
The Title
“Will you be my girlfriend?” is rather surprising upon first listen. The main melody has a reggae-like feel to it that fits a more summery comeback, and isn’t necessarily what one would expect as a debut track. That’s not a bad thing, considering it captures one’s attention almost immediately. The upbeat tempo is infectious, and you’ll find yourself bopping along even as the song shifts from its reggae undertones to a brighter pop melody. The song is light and bright to the core.
M.O.N.T. is super cute in the music video, the adorable concept complemented by bright colors used throughout filming, with extensive use of pastel colors in different scenes for each member. The dance-focused shots also feature neon lights on the group, adding to the overall sunny feel. There are lots of cheerful and bouncy elements going on, visually and auditorily, creating a classically cute boy concept. If you’re into the cute concepts, you’ll be a fan of this release.
The Album
As previously mentioned, Going up is comprised mostly of remixes. The album begins with the title track “Will you be my girlfriend? (Original Mix),” then moves into the first B-side “Sorry.” “Sorry” has a distinctly different feel from the title, with a slower ballad tempo and more sentimental sensation overall. It’s a nice contrast from the bright and cute concept, showing a different side to the trio with the emotions they are able to convey.
Third track “Pain in the rain” continues this somber and slow feeling, highlighting the vocals of the group. You can definitely feel the emotion and suffering in this song in a way that’s even more impactful than “Sorry.” After such emotionally heavy tracks, the last of the original tracks “너를 생각하나봐” has a lighter jazz and acoustic feel that is reminiscent of a coffee shop. Singer Taru is featured on the song, adding a vocal color that completes the smooth sound overall. If you need a lowkey soft jam, this is your new go-to. It’s hard not to feel the relaxing aura, making it our favorite pick on the album.
The fifth track is a remix of the title, known as “Will you be my girlfriend? (Future bass mix).” This remix incorporates many more EDM elements that you may be familiar with in popular K-Pop songs. While the original has a more pronounced youthful sound, the future bass mix sounds like generic K-Pop; it’s easy to tell upon first listen. The last track other than the instrumentals is “Sorry (Acoustic Version).” The acoustic version of this track adds a new level of softness to the already sullen ballad, adding a new dimension to the melancholy song. This acoustic version is quite a nice touch, seeming more organic than its original counterpart.
All in all, M.O.N.T’s debut will leave you satisfied with this new group on the scene. For a group that is considered a rookie, this trio has toured internationally and been through plenty of trials of the music industry pre-debut. Moving forward, we hope to see them grow into well-recognized musicians in the K-Pop industry!