JBJ95 is Wide “Awake” in Newest Release
JBJ95 has made their first comeback since debut! The duo dropped their new mini-album AWAKE on March 26. Expectations as far as the melody were difficult to predict with this release, but it becomes clear how talented the duo is upon first viewing of the music video.
The Title: “Awake”
Unlike the debut track “Home,” which had a more longing and melancholy feeling in its tone, “Awake” is much more lighthearted and upbeat. With a fresh and modern EDM beat as the main rhythm of the song, it’s hard to not find yourself bopping along even at first listen. The highlight of the track is definitely Kenta’s strong vocal prowess, which dominates the first portion of the song. There is a short breakdown in the beginning of the second verse where Sanggyun gets his rap portion, even though it does feel a little bit out of place compared to the rest of the melody. Other than that, the melody flows together smoothly and makes for a nice and bright track. The chorus has a particularly catchy line, “you wake me up with your mind,” which is a super sweet sentiment that makes you fall even further in love with the song.
The video is very aesthetically deep and unique, much like “Home.” One of the main visual features is the use of duplicating the duo in several different places in the same shot, as well as the heavy use of geometric shapes in each shot and bright, pastel colors. The bright coloring definitely matches the overall sunny tone of the song, eliciting a cheerful reaction to the overall production. The visual elements very much replace a possible visual story, instead making the aesthetic pieces the main focus of the video. Coming from someone who tends to be more biased towards visual stories in music videos, this aesthetic approach seems to fit along with the track.
The Album
AWAKE features six new tracks for fans to enjoy, starting with the playful and upbeat “FRIEND ZONE.” “FRIEND ZONE” begins with some interesting musical elements, which I can best describe as classic arcade video game sounds, like those of Pacman or Space Invaders. Those elements are used throughout the melody, making for a unique and enjoyable track that really captured my attention. “FRIEND ZONE” also follows the lively and light-hearted tone of the title track that follows. Singing about remaining as friends with their love interests, the boys brightly suggest sparking up a romantic relationship instead.
The musical tone shifts to a more funky and jazzy rhythm with “좋아해,” a track worked on by producer Flow Blow. The funk-driven track is a fresh addition to the otherwise musically static album thus far, managing to maintain the bright tone with a different melody. “MILKY WAY” marks the beginning of the second half of the album, returning to the EDM sound that we heard in the title track. “LEAVE IT TO ME” switches up slightly with a more acoustic focused melody at the beginning of the song. The EDM vibes are more subtle, making this track feel just the right amount of different while maintaining a cohesive sound with the rest of the album. AWAKE concludes with “LOOKIN’ 4 LOVE,” a slower and more relaxing song that is a perfect conclusion to the album. It’s a very heartwarming and relaxing track, fit perfectly for a calm and bright sunny day.
JBJ95 didn’t hold back with the cheerfulness and warm tone in this album release. AWAKE overall has a lovely and comforting sound that remains light throughout, leaving you with a warm feeling in your chest after listening. The album is surprisingly cohesive and blends perfectly together, showcasing not only the musical talent but the production talent that went into this album. You won’t want to miss this vibrant album release, so be sure to give it a listen!