Wheein Paints the Town Redd
Wheein of MAMAMOO has finally released her debut solo mini-album Redd. Following a slew of successful solo releases over the years, Redd and its title track “water color” see Wheein explore her color as a solo artist.
“water color”
“water color” is an R&B dance track that suits Wheein’s personal style as a performer perfectly. Known for her prowess as both a vocalist and a dancer, “water color” allows Wheein to capitalize on both talents. The funk beats and groovy rhythm complements her bright voice, allowing her vocals to shine in exactly the right places. “water color” is an easy listen without much build or many impactful moments, but it’s this easy groove that Wheein has consistently delivered so well in both her time as a soloist and as a member of MAMAMOO. Even more so, the song is about showing one’s true colors—something that Wheein has always enjoyed in her personal life through artistic hobbies.
The music video for “water color” is an enjoyable watch, starting off with Wheein playfully entertaining herself in the aftermath of a party, before cutting to numerous different sets. The video is more performance-focused than plot-heavy, but the performance tells a story in itself. Each set is rather neutral, with Wheein surrounded by backup dancers in similarly neutral clothing. Wheein herself, however, sports a bright pop of color in each setting, from bright purple gloves to a flowing, cerulean tulle dress. If there’s one thing Wheein set out to do with this video, it was stand out from the crowd, and stand out she did. Regrettably, for a song as good as “water color,” the video does leave something to be desired, but I feel as though the live performances of the track will make up for this.
The Rest of the Album
Throughout the rest of Redd (a title intentionally misspelled, stylized with a red squiggly line that often denotes incorrect spelling), Wheein expands on her talents. “TRASH” is the second song on the album and features ph-1 and follows much the same feeling as “water color.” Though the song has a relaxed dance beat that gives it an almost dreamlike quality, “TRASH” is actually a rather provocative song (in his verse, ph-1 even cheekily raps that this song isn’t appropriate to sing in front of his parents). The more mature content of this song certainly pushes Wheein away from the pristine, almost virginal mold many female idols are forced into, and this only cements her artistic image.
“OHOO” trades in dance beats for breezy melodies, sounding like something that could feature in a K-Drama as Wheein sings of wanting to fall in love. Though she’s able to belt in a way that sets her apart from many of her K-Pop contemporaries (she is in MAMAMOO after all), one of Wheein’s biggest assets is her airy voice that allows her to showcase a wide array of musical styles. In a song that pulls from lo-fi music like “OHOO,” this wispy quality of Wheein’s voice is as crucial in creating the relaxed vibe as the instrumental itself. The next song on the album, “Butterfly,” dials things back even further, taking the dreamlike sound found in the previous songs to new heights. It’s the closest thing to a ballad Redd has, with Wheein’s vocals taking front and center, aided even further by G.Soul’s harmonies.
“Springtime” picks the tempo back up, singing of sweet love in springtime. It’s another track that’s more than befitting of a lighthearted K-Drama (it’s no wonder Wheein is a frequent name when it comes to the OST scene). “NO THANKS” rounds out the album on a deceitfully happy soft-pop note, but the lyrics are actually quite sad, as Wheein laments that her lover cares for her no more, insisting that she doesn’t need any pity. The song brings back the album’s theme of independence, albeit a little differently as Wheein suddenly admits she needs her lover. It’s intriguing to see the theme flipped from “water color,” and leads me to wonder if she’ll be looking to continue this concept on future releases.
Overall, Redd is a rather safe release from Wheein, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She’s an artist that knows her strengths and, perhaps more importantly, knows how to play those strengths up. K-Pop is a ruthless industry quite literally teeming with talent, and one in which solidifying your image as a solo artist is just as important as creating good music. With the release of Redd, Wheein has made it clear that she’s here to shine on her own, in the most casually groovy way possible.