Eric Nam Greets Fans On The Other Side of “Paradise”
Eric Nam has returned with another EP! Titled The Other Side, this marks the soloist’s fourth EP to date. Despite COVID-19 bringing Eric Nam to a full halt for his Before We Begin world tour, Eric was quick to make sure to gift fans with another release fit for the summer season. With four brand new songs and the Korean version of “Love Die Young,” Eric Nam does not fail to bring another banger of an album.
Tracklist:
Trouble With You
Paradise
How You Been
Down For You
Love Die Young (Korean Version)
“Paradise”
As the lead single off the album, “Paradise” is a song that is filled with flavor and grittiness that we have yet to see from the solo artist. Just the first few seconds of the song alone is a big indicator of how spicy and groovy “Paradise” is. It’s the type of song that one cannot simply sit and nod along to, rather anyone who is going to put this song on must get up and dance. “Paradise” speaks of wanting to escape from a mundane and caged life. Sometimes doing the same thing over and over again can be suffocating and tiring and we all dream of going to a place that is liberating and stress-fee. However, while it’s fine to dream, getting too caught up in them might not necessarily lead down a path one thinks is the best.
The music video for “Paradise” features Eric Nam leading a boring day job, stuck doing the same task in the office but one day he finds an ad for a remote that will take him to paradise. Once the item comes in the mail and he is then transported through his TV to paradise, there are parallel themes to Alice in Wonderland where he is offered a drink by his doppelgänger (also the reflection of his best self) to go further in paradise. But what he thinks would be a great escape turns out to be a nightmare of a place to be. This paradise that was once dreamt of is not the actual paradise wanted. By the end of the music video, instead of falling for the temptation of paradise, he chooses to close the box and proceed on with life. Plot-line aside, the music video features primarily dark earth-tones and dark colors with accent colors whether it be in the suave outfits that he dons to the various set items. While it seems like there is a lot to take in with the music video, it’s nothing but a pleasure to watch Eric Nam do his thing and shine bright.
As the album is geared for the summer season, it’s another album to add to the library of great comebacks that have happened this year. “Trouble With You” is a song that gives off the 80s-90s vibes with the electro-synth sounds that would fit perfectly in those slice-of-life romantic comedy movies (take To All The Boys I’ve Loved for example). There is something that is so charming with “Trouble With You” that starts the album off in such a good way that one cannot deny that this album will be put on repeat. “How You Been” slows the album just a bit as one of the pop-ballads off the album. It’s the type of song that is perfect for those long summer drives as the sun sets and the time of reflecting during golden hour. “Down For You” is another party banger, and for those who are fans of “Don’t Call Me” or “Come Through” from his previous releases, it has this fun quality that you can’t help but jump and dance around to. Ending off the album is the Korean version of “Love Die Young” that hits straight in the feels with emotion. There is something about hearing it in Korean that hits a little differently but still remains such a beautiful song.
Overall, Eric Nam’s latest EP is a joy to listen to from beginning to end. Eric Nam manages to outdo himself with every release and is a solo artist that should be on everyone’s radar as he has consistently put out albums that are worth being in everyone’s library. While the veteran soloist has been active in the industry since 2013, Eric Nam shows no signs of stopping and The Other Side is proof of that. This album is highly recommended to those who haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet!