Jeong Sewoon Kicks off the New Year with “In The Dark”
It’s been five months since we last heard from Jeong Sewoon, and now the soloist is back with the second part of his full album 24! Last July’s title release “Say yes” was a colorful, upbeat retro track that displayed shining optimism, but this latest comeback has a bit of a darker tone more fitting for the dead of winter. “In the Dark” has a more melancholy aura, but take a bit of a deeper dive into the track and you’ll see the track is actually a form of hope in rough times.
“In The Dark”
Upon first listen, the song composition feels fairly generic for the pop genre, with a driving rhythm guitar and steady beat. One notable aspect is that Sewoon appears to be singing in his deeper register, a stark contrast from his last release. His baritone vocals really shine this way and are highlighted by the more subdued melody. This becomes most apparent in the chorus, where he often sings in a higher register to emphasize that portion of the song. The evenness of this consistency really lends a hand to the more comforting nature of the track. The lyrics as well are a major highlight, where Sewoon persuades the listener not to fear the dark and instead realize that true strength shines through in the most difficult times. It’s a very timely release for the current state of the world, and some of us just need that little bit of comfort he provides in these words.
Watching the video right after “Say yes” makes the dichotomy of the two comebacks even more apparent. The color palette of “In the Dark” is much more subdued and dark, with a heavier focus on sepia and earthy tones and more shadow than light. Even the scenes shot during the day have a darker overtone, depicting sunset and highlighting the subdued coloring. It’s also important to note that no other human is seen within the video. It’s a clear message to match the tone of the song, and definitely drives home the point of the darkness. While Sewoon visibly displays frustration, it’s also freeing to see that emotional expression, as if retreating into himself and finding comfort alone. The more you think about the elements put together in the video along with the track, the more in depth and clear the entire meaning becomes. It is brilliant storytelling.
The Album
24 Part 2 features six new tracks. The album kicks off with the smooth and light “:m (Mind),” a classic R&B track with a catchy beat and upbeat demeanor. There’s a relaxing, lo-fi quality to it that makes it comforting immediately upon first listen. After the title comes the first B-side “Fine,” which, like the title, has some light EDM undertones to the beat as it opens and within the chorus. Sewoon maintains his lower register vocals in this song, so the transition from title to “Fine” is pretty smooth.
“DoDoDo” introduces a slower tempo, more ballad-like track with a strong classic jazz feel for a little bit of flair. After hearing this song, it's hard to deny that our K-Pop content is lacking jazz influence, and it gives a lovely taste of the old timey jazz and blues with more modern mixing. “숨은 그림 찾기 (Find you)” goes back to the more traditional pop sound with a driving beat and Sewoon’s higher singing register for those who were missing that on the rest of the album. Finally we conclude with “Be a Fool,” a modern waltz that is an interesting choice, but a great fit for Sewoon’s vocal tone. It’s a refreshing ending to an album, and definitely the type of sound we don’t often get from Korean artists.
Jeong Sewoon feels like a hidden gem of an artist, at least to the international fanbase. The vocalist has definitely grown since his time on Produce 101 and has become a staple in R&B influenced releases. His latest album is a great comfort for fans of that type of sound, especially the more retro roots of the sound. He’s an artist we definitely shouldn’t be sleeping on, and we’ll continue to watch him grow and reach new heights as an artist.