Favorite Song: “비가 그치면 (When The Rain Stops)” - Hoody

Standing as the pre-release single for her new mini-album [D-day], “비가 그치면 (When The Rain Stops)” just hits different upon first listen. The smooth R&B ballad feel hits the right note for the melancholy feelings rooted within. Her vocals bring such a feeling of comfort even as she sings of heartbreak. It’s kind of hard to describe how this song makes me feel, but it’s something very strong and somehow very warm despite the sadness laced within it. Hoody is without a doubt an extremely talented vocalist and continues to prove it with every new release.

Favorite Album: ONLY LOVERS LEFT - WOODZ

WOODZ is the type of artist that is wholly addicting once you let his music into your life. His raw realness is laced within all of his releases, and the latest one really showcased that fact. ONLY LOVERS LEFT supplies a bit of a different sound from his previous releases, with more focus on a pop driven sound through most of the album. Each song has a unique charm despite that, with different elements used in each song to make it stand out, while adding an overall cohesive sound to the EP. The title “WAITING” is a personal favorite, but there is plenty of charm in each individual track.

Favorite Music Video: “Savage” - aespa

aespa can certainly be a bit of a polarizing topic given their rather interesting choices in music, but there’s no doubt that they’re breaking into new ground in the K-Pop world. While I did like “Savage” as a song, the video was really the selling point of this comeback. Initially I was somewhat put-off by the concept of AI members, but as that has come to be manifested a bit differently then I imagined, it’s a super cool concept that we finally get to see a bit more fully in this comeback. The video has a futuristic twinge and the avatar versions of the members are animated so well they appear real at a few points. It’s cool to see animation come into play as well throughout the video, and there are a lot of creative elements that are super eye-catching.

Favorite Performance: “Rock with you” - SEVENTEEN on Music Bank

When it comes to performance, you know SEVENTEEN will never disappoint. Their choreography will always be effortlessly performed and will be eye-catching without a doubt, and “Rock with you” is no exception. The track itself has a different feel from previous releases, and the concept features an almost boyish and youthful vibe. The outfits for this performance fit that concept very well, while at the same time appearing a bit more mature. It’s like a mix between school outfits and business suits, which shows a good middle ground between the concept and the actual age of the group itself.