XIA Makes Confident Solo Return with “Pit A Pat”
It’s been roughly four years since we’ve gotten an official release in the form of an album, but it’s about time—fans were sick of waiting! Between consistent roles in musicals and mandatory military service, XIA (Junsu) has been so busy that hope for new music was beginning to fade, until he surprised fans with the news. The singer’s second mini-album, Pit A Pat, contains four tracks and although there was hope for more, this is currently more than enough to satisfy the masses.
The album starts off strong with “Pit A Pat,” an upbeat dance pop song that is slightly reminiscent of K-pop styles we’ve heard in the past, especially with the catchy lyrics like “I’m your Peter Pan, my heart goes pit a pat.” While they may only be noticeable at the beginning, traditional instruments are incorporated throughout the song to create a sense of mystery as the strings mix with the dance elements in a way that makes them stand out while still managing to blend well. The different effects and sound accents that are laid out on the track make great use of space and create a wonderful mix, mainly since there are little to no obvious effects on the vocals beside the harmonies.
The tempo of the album does a full 360° as “요즘 (Nowadays)” begins, bringing in the holy trinity for a mellow ballad that is gentle on the ears—piano, guitar, and drums. The piano starts off solo to set the mood before the guitar and drums enter to add a bit of spatial depth to the track so that it’s not completely monotonous. XIA’s vocals are both gentle and powerful as he projects genuine emotion while still maintaining a sense of stability and that is hard to do at all, let alone do well. XIA was born to sing, simple as that.
“너를 쓴다 (Writing You)” is a dramatic ballad that he delivers perfectly without missing a single beat. Every aspect of this song is powerful in its own way—the string symphony that accompanies the piano, the electric guitar that comes in to create contrast against the strings, the drums, and slight echo that accentuates the vocals—they all serve a purpose to the track, coming together to form a beautiful combination of sounds. On this track specifically, the way he conveys the lyrics and his vocal clarity stand out because you can clearly hear the emotion in his voice radiating so vibrantly. The production on the ballads is some of the best work, period.
“눈이 오는 날에는 (On A Snowy Day)” closes out the album, continuing the emotional rollercoaster with a melodic jazz ballad. This track is the most simple of the four as far as composition goes, and because the only instrument is the piano, it’s obvious that the focus is meant to be on his voice. His vocals on this track are outstanding—the harmonies will send chills down your spine, and the way he effortlessly switches from his normal vocal tone to his higher register is so smooth, proving that he doesn’t need much of anything besides his voice to leave a lasting impression.
Please check out XIA’s long-awaited comeback music video below!