Wow! What an epic month May has been for K-Pop comebacks and debuts. With all the different amazing artists and songs to listen to this month, here is a look at just some of my favorite B-Sides released this May.

“Lonely Boy (The tattoo on my ring finger” - TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TXT (TOMORROW X TOGETHER)'s eldest member Yeonjun and maknae Huening Kai teamed up for a duet on this downbeat, contemporary R&B track from their latest album release, minisode 2: Thursday’s Child. This was the first of two tracks that saw the members split up into two units for the first time in their music career. Blending the smooth sounds of an acoustic guitar instrumentation with electronic beats, “Lonely Boy (The tattoo on my ring finger)” is a song that truly lets the vocals of these two members shine in a way some of us may not have heard before; Huening Kai takes charge of the soft, melodic singing while Yeonjun shows us a different, experimental side to his rapping, combining rap with a singing, auto-tuned rap style, that, when put together, create this perfect blend for us MOA’s to enjoy. 

“GOLD” - iKON

Just like its name, iKON’s “GOLD” is the song that shines the most to me among the tracklist of their fourth mini-album FLASHBACK. It’s a fun, laid-back, hip-hop song with cool, tropical vibes that is perfect for the upcoming summer season. I, personally, love the way the group's main dancer and sub-vocalist DK opens the song with this distinct, chopped up, style of singing (and that’s not just because he is my iKON bias). "GOLD" is a really great song that highlights each of the members' vocal styles and is a song I’d love to see a music video for one day. 

“Let’s go ride” - Moonbin (ASTRO)

Prior to listening to this album, I don’t think I had ever heard an ASTRO song before, but Moonbin’s vocals on “Let’s go ride” have definitely drawn me into the world of ASTRO music now. I absolutely love this song; it’s such a beautifully composed R&B track with smooth, sensual vibes that I have had on repeat since I first listened to it. Moonbin gives us nothing but vocal perfection with amazing ad-libs and falsettos that give the song that extra bit of charm. “Let’s go ride” is definitely one to add to your playlist.  

“Ash” - SEVENTEEN

“Ash” is the closing song to SEVENTEEN’s fourth album release Face the Sun, which was co-written by members Woozi and Vernon alongside BUMZU, Kyan Palmer, Nick Lee, and Robb Roy. Despite being quite repetitive and full of auto-tune vocal effects, I think that this is a really impressive track that shows a new and experimental side to not only SEVENTEEN but to K-Pop in general, as it’s not the type of song I have heard in K-Pop before. A lot of music listeners tend to dislike auto-tune vocal effects, but I really like the use of them in “Ash" as I think it makes the song more unique and interesting. It makes me want to check out more of SEVENTEEN’s discography to see what else they have experimented with in previous music releases.

“Side Effects (feat. SATICA)” - Woosung

The Rose vocalist and soloist Woosung has one of the most memorable and unique vocals to ever be heard in K-Pop and indie-pop, and the dreamy, laid-back track “Side Effects (feat. SATICA)" from his 2022 EP MOTH captures his tone beautifully. The song is a collaboration with Cambodian-America singer and songwriter SATICA that talks about being stuck in and wanting to break away from “the same old cycle” through references to moths and butterflies. Just like Woosung’s vocals, the song is dreamy and hypnotic despite touching on a heavy subject, with influences and sounds of British indie music poking through the composition ever so slightly. 

“Dirt On My leather” - WOODZ

K-Pop meets country-rock in "Dirt on My Leather," a B-side from WOODZ's latest album release, COLORFUL TRAUMA. It's such an unexpected track that you would think wouldn't work, but it absolutely does and I love it! It's such a fun concept that adds to WOODZ's versatility and greatness as an artist. The guitar instrumentation and the style of singing WOODZ adopts in this song instantly makes me think of Led Zeppelin with the guitar and high pitched singing, as well as also giving me slight old school Billy Ray Cyrus vibes, again, through the guitar sounds. Who knows, maybe WOODZ can continue the K-Pop meets Western artists collaborations and follow in the style of American rapper Lil Nas X to give us a pop meets American country or rock collaboration one day. 

Edited by Rashelle B.