H&D Attaches Strings to be Our SOULMATE

Lee Hangyul and Nam Dohyun, the beloved bubbling pair since the Produce X 101 days, have finally made their debut as a duo by the name of H&D with their mini-album, SOULMATE. The MBK Entertainment trainees were among the 11 chosen members of X1, which indeed boosted the idols in establishing themselves. Due to the sudden disbandment of the group, Hangyul and Dohyun had to return to their hub to start preparing for a new chapter in life. With a few months of break, the pair returned, announcing their debut as a duo in the K-Pop scene.

Before the official debut, the duo gave a glimpse of their work by releasing a digital single, “toward, tomorrow.” The song was received with great love, making the duo’s official debut all the more anticipated. As expectations and curiosity built up within their fans, H&D made sure to bounce back greater with their debut album along with their single, “Soul.”

The Single

Carrying the first name from the album, “Soul” is an electro-pop track. “You beat close to my heart,” begins Hangyul, introducing the audience to a mournful narrative of a love story. With rhythmic beats and various overlaying electric instrumentals, the song is an interesting single to check out. Despite the unstable relationship shared between lovers, the protagonists do not want to give up on the love as the chorus sings, “We’ll get better, We want each other. We feel each other’s soul.”  

Though the track is initially hard to get stuck in one’s head, the sincerity of the artists is obvious. On the other hand, the single does showcase the growth of the members as artists from their X1 era, as they have developed as both singer and rapper to completely furnish a song as a duo. The very fact of the members’ efforts is not put to waste as the single very soon becomes likable after the second listen.

The Music Video

The music video opens up with Hangyul and Dohyun lying unconscious near a toppled car, leading viewers to believe that they are victims of an accident. The scene immediately shifts, taking viewers to a brighter picture where the members perform their poised choreography in white suits. Attached to their white suits is a cloth painted in red and blue for each member. The red and blue combination is one of the most used color combinations, as red carries the attributes of love and passion while the blue signifies loyalty and responsibility. The color symbolism is very well integrated into the plot as the members are the ones who want to stay loyal and rebuild the relationship again.

Roses are another symbol representing love in the video: one of the members carries a fresh flower while the other holds a stale one, contemplating the beautiful past and disheartening present. In other words, a flower does not stay fresh forever, instead it withers as days pass by, just like the relationship between the lovers as their cherished moments of the past wither. With the help of flashy lights focusing on the members’ flawless looks and choreography, the video looks even more rich and eccentric. Many shots are centered on the choreography, featuring the members with a squad of backup dancers stage their energetic and on-point dance moves, once again lighting up on the members’ talents as performers.

The album consists of seven unique tracks, including the single with three instrumentals and is a package of different rhythm and style. From the grand and fierce “Intro” from Dohyun, the playlist consists of comforting tracks like “Good Night,” and melancholic “Unfamiliar.” The duo also features a few breezy tracks such as “Make me a different person” and “toward tomorrow,” which indeed gratifies their fans.

Personally, it was such a rollercoaster ride to finally get to listen to the album. I was indeed beyond anxious to welcome the members back onto the scene as a duo but they have done it exceptionally well. One of the major points to notice in the album is the members’ growth as artists and individuals. It really makes me proud and overwhelmed to finally see them moving towards their dream. As the lyrics in the single go, Dohyun and Hangyul neither gave up on their love or their dream but kept moving forward with dedication and passion. And with love, let us support the boys for a long run!

“SOUL” Title Track Score: 8/10

“SOUL” Music Video Score: 8.5/10

SOULMATE  Album Score: 8/10

Did you enjoy listening to H&D’s SOULMATE? Comment below!