Donghan Commands Your “Focus” in Latest Release
In his second release since debuting last June, Kim Donghan has returned to the K-Pop scene with third mini-album D-HOURS AM 7:03. The album features five new tracks which, true to his developing style, explore a myriad of different musical genres in one album.
The Title: “Focus”
The best way to describe “Focus”? It’s a fun track. The driving beat and funky undertones mixed with the more modern EDM sound already make for a bouncy track, but the added distortion in the chorus is what really makes for a less traditional and more high-spirited track. It’s definitely musically unexpected—totally different from what the artist had released previously with “Sunset” and “Goodnight Kiss.” That being said, “Focus” likely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea; it took multiple listens to grow on me. “Goodnight Kiss” left room for something to be desired after such a stellar debut with “Sunset,” so it’s hard to say if “Focus” manages to live up to that expectation as well.
If there is one thing that we can count on Donghan for, it’s gorgeous videography and complex choreography. What really added to the track’s fun atmosphere was how much fun Donghan seemed to have during the choreography shots of the music video. It’s easy to see his own personal enjoyment in performance, which makes the overall experience more enjoyable. The video also has a focus on accent colors like dark blue and red, a contrast that brings out Donghan’s naturally alluring aura. I’ve come to expect this level of quality from Donghan’s releases, so it’s good to know that “Focus” lives up to that standard, at least visually.
The Album
As stated in the intro, D-HOURS AM 7:03 is fairly predictable when it comes to albums released by Donghan. Kicking off with the more chill track “BEBE,” the tone of the album is set at a more leisurely pace that picks up as the album shifts into the high-energy “Focus.” “Make Me So Crazy” is more or less a mix of the first two tracks, with a more traditional pop influence.
The real shift in musical direction comes with “매일매일,” an emotional ballad that halts all expectations for a one-dimensional musical sound on the album. The album concludes with “Idea,” a more acoustic-driven song that lifts the mood back up to a light and airy finish to the album. All in all, D-HOURS AM 7:03 is solidly produced, but even with that said, it hasn't seemed to help grow Donghan’s popularity. He likely needs something more explosive in order to break into the mainstream—something along the lines of his debut D-DAY. Still, the newest mini-album is worth a listen, whether or not you’re a fan.