Throwback Thursday: Winter-Ready Playlist

It’s only the first day of December, so we won't overwhelm you with Christmas tracks. However, for this week’s edition, we’ll give you a taste of some Winter-ready vibes. 

From true K-Pop to the many other diverse genres in the K-Music scene, plenty of songs are suitable for the chilly Winter season. So, enjoy these hand-picked, December-appropriate throwbacks! 

“첫눈에 (First Sight) ” - HEIZE

HEIZE has an expansive discography full of lovely, melodic tracks with vibes fit for any season. There's no doubt she excels in producing some amazing, melancholy ballads. This single, released in December of 2018 came right in time for the contemplative winter months. Just like the aesthetics of the music video, HEIZE’s light vocal tone against the introspective groove of the music feels like walking through a snow-covered, empty street. 

“I’ll be your family! ” - Yerin Baek 

Yerin Baek reached 10 years since her debut in October, and seven years since her solo debut on November 30 of this year with the EP Frank, and title track “Across The Universe.” Now, as the acclaimed artist and certified “cool girl” embarks on her first North American tour, we can reminisce on her excellent beginnings and also highlight some more recent gems in her broad discography. Yerin’s 2020 full-length album, tellaboutyourself, showed the depth and expansiveness of her talent with 14 tracks that explored several different genres.

During these months, while many may find themselves gathering with loved ones, there are those who may not. With this song, Yerin comforts listeners with the repetition of “I’ll be your family,” offering up a loving space to those who need it.

“Gondry” - HYUKOH

Whether it is the original version, linked below, or the slightly more polished version produced by Primary and featuring soloist Lim Kim, both iterations are equally capable of evoking timid feelings of hopefulness over the inevitable passage of time. As a tribute to director Michel Gondry, the themes here are executed well through the empty yet meaningful cinematography.   Seven years ago, as HYUKOH was just digging out a place for themselves in the industry, no one could have anticipated their massive success later down the line; however, the comments on the video definitely prove that people were desperately hoping for their talents to gain recognition. 

“Winter” - SE SO NEON

SE SO NEON knows exactly how to convey the feelings expressed lyrically through their musical performance. “Winter” is one such poignant track wrought with intense, somber emotion that is perfectly laid bare through the lingering guitar notes, slow drums, and lead vocal Soyoon’s delivery. The swell of the music at the bridge, paired with the shrill tones of the piano definitely strikes a chord here, getting into the complicated feelings of the track. While the cinematic video (courtesy of the 2019 film, Moonlit Winter) is absolutely worth a watch, the live performance video released on the band's official YouTube offers another way to experience this amazing song and Soyoon’s incredible vocals. 

Edited by Deshalia Murray