LIGHTSUM Cooks Up Something Nice with Honey or Spice

LIGHTSUM comes back with their second EP Honey or Spice after over a year. Switching over from the teen crush school aesthetic of “ALIVE,” LIGHTSUM gives listeners a taste of a fiery and sweet concept. Sangah, Chowon, Nayoung, Hina, Juhyeon, and Yujeong capture listeners with their dual-faceted styles. The EP contains the title track of the same name, and five other tracks: “Not My Style,” “Skyline,” “Whoopie,” “Light it Up,” and “Candle LIGHT.” 

The Song and Music Video 

Released on October 11, the music video for “Honey or Spice” pops out. With the variety of bright colors, cool outfits, and catchy lyrics, “Honey or Spice” delivers a pleasing experience for the eyes and ears (and the taste buds, judging by those large pizzas).  Fans can get their long-awaited fill of LIGHTSUM from this music video.   

The song’s lyrics tell of the desire to capture someone with their charms.* It’s as Juhyeon says in the chorus: “Whatever you pick, you’re my style.” The lyrics position themselves in a cute way of beckoning someone over, but also persistent by telling the person to make their move soon. The “honey” and “hurry” part will satisfy needs for the next smooth earworm. 

The B-Sides 

Luckily, LIGHTSUM also returned with five B-sides on the EP. Maybe track two “Not My Style” is exactly your style. The energetic percussion and chanty elements could be a well-needed boost. Track three, “Skyline,” features the touches of Sangah and Juhyeon on the lyric writing and composition aspects. Sangah wrote lyrics with Cube Entertainment producers Chungyoon and Bick Sancho, the individuals who also composed the song with Juhyeon. It belongs to the realm of dreamy K-Pop songs perfect to relax to.    

Tracks four and five, “Whoopie” and “Light it Up,” split the group into sub-units. “Whoopie” features the trio of Nayoung, Hina, and Yujeong; “Light it Up” forms the team of Sangah, Chowon, and Juhyeon. These two songs feel like the epitome of the EP’s title. For those wanting more of a cute concept, “Whoopie” will bring joy. For those who gravitate towards a girl crush concept, “Light it Up” will ignite that passion. The final track “Candle LIGHT” dims down the energy with a calming four-minute-long ballad, a welcomed addition in this period of short songs. Welcome back, LIGHTSUM—they sure cooked up a tasteful comeback in Honey or Spice.   

*Note: lyrics taken from English captions in the official music video.