On July 21, the stars aligned when singer-songwriter Colde teamed up with K-R&B’s newest behemoth Baekhyun in their new single “When Dawn Comes Again.”

If you’ve read any of my past reviews or follow me on social media, it’s no secret that Colde and Baekhyun are my two favorite voices in the Korean music industry. A collaboration between the two always felt like too much to ask for, even with Colde featuring in the production of multiple songs in Baekhyun’s solo work such as “Love Scene” and “Diamond.” However, prior to his enlistment in May, Baekhyun answered my (and many others’) prayers with the promise that an official duet with Colde would drop later this year. That duet finally saw the light of day in the song “When Dawn Comes Again,” a mellow R&B track written, composed, and arranged by Colde. 

Like most of his discography, the song is ripe with Colde’s signature jazzy, lofi sound, featuring muted percussion, atmospheric synths, and a melody carried by a soft electric guitar. This allows the sultry tones of both Colde and Baekhyun to take front and center. Colde’s voice has an airy quality to it that sounds like the calm emptiness of a night alone at 4 a.m. (fitting, as the track is about missing someone whilst being unable to fall asleep). Meanwhile, Baekhyun’s voice adds a sensual layer to the song, making the feeling of longing ever more poignant. Suffice to say, “When Dawn Comes Again” is the perfect song to showcase the two artists’ vocal synergy: the final chorus with Baekhyun’s soft adlibs floating in and out behind Colde’s vocals is musical heaven, sure to please any K-Pop or K-R&B fan.

The video for the track features actor Nam Yoonsu as he goes about his life during a quiet night in the city. Tinged with somber blues and an overall darker color palette, the simple video illustrates how it feels to lose sleep due to sadness. One of the more striking moments in the video takes place when the music cuts away and the following lines appear on the screen:

Like the new day, you always seem to find me.

Night passes, knocking on the door to my heart.

No matter where I am, you seem to find me.

Then you look at me.

You listen to me in silence.

You colour my memories blue.

That is how I think of you.

When dawn comes again.

The music swells back in with the final chorus just as dawn breaks, feeling akin to the relief felt in that first gulp of air after having held your breath for just a little too long. As a video, it’s pretty straightforward, but as a visual counterpart to the sorrowfully introspective song, the video for “When Dawn Comes Again” feels like a work of art.

Check out the video for “When Dawn Comes Again” below and prepare to fall in love, whether you’re wide awake or suffering from a sleepless night.