On April 10, Kep1er’s newest release “Giddy” indulged us all in the midst of Spring, and the LOVESTRUCK! EP solidifies the group’s place in the fourth generation of K-Pop.

The title track “Giddy” kicks off the EP with its funky bass line and addictive drumbeat which follows us throughout the whole track. In the song, the girls explain how they can’t help but feel nervous and their hearts shake around the person they like, hence why they feel giddy. The music video plays on this as the girls are captivated by a glowing heart in the sky which then follows through them as if instilling these emotions in them. 

“Giddy” follows a trend of fun title tracks for the group, from their last release “We Fresh” which came after their song of the summer “Up!” Like their other title tracks, by the third listen, “Giddy” sticks in your head and you find yourself singing along to it.

Only debuting in January 2022, the 10-member girl group has been known for their high-energy, EDM-style tracks, however through LOVESTRUCK! listeners can hear the shift in how Kep1er has started exploring different sounds within their music. The second track “LVLY” has a light Latin-American influence to it through its synths, creating a fun track that you can envision being performed on a large stage. “LVLY” is a track which adds to the wider range of Kep1er’s discography, with a bridge that can be easily followed and fun to hear sung back by a crowd.

Despite only being a year since their debut, Kep1er have been able to promote themselves on global stages, performing last year at HallyuPopFest’s London and Sydney dates, KCON LA 2022, and they’ve shown that the multinationalism in their team is one of their strongest points. This year, Kep1er will be performing at K.Flex, which will be held in Frankfurt, Germany on June 17 this summer. Make sure to catch them in Europe when they visit!

LOVESTRUCK! marks the beginning of a new era for Kep1er, as they begin to explore a different sound in the heart of Spring. Next up on the tracklist, “Back to the City” offers a Kep1er-fied pop-rock song, similar to YENA’s “SMILEY,” but with the familiarity of electronic instruments. The beat, melody, and progression of “Back to the City” creates a fusion of both genres which doesn’t feel out of place. The fast pace of the track alludes to them running at such a pace, showing their desperation and the underlying pop-rock influences feel great for this– particularly in the bridge when all the instruments are stripped away then added back.

“Why” follows this song and it’s another song that feels different, but great for Kep1er. From the bass to the tone of the synthesizers, the slight jazz influence in “Why” makes this one of my favorite tracks from Kep1er from their debut to now. It’s playful beat ranges in its use of both electronic and live instruments which, when all put together, creates a track that is so Spring and so Kep1er. After listening to this track I think it would be interesting to hear a Kep1er song produced by Korean hip-hop artist GRAY, whose music takes on many genres and whose abilities would make for a great crossover between the K-Pop and Korean hip-hop industries. 

The EP ends on “Happy Ending” and this track provides just that. The members’ voices stand out a lot and you can fully hear how their abilities have strengthened since their last release. Kep1er’s vocal members have been praised and recognised, with members Chaehyun and Bahiyyih being invited onto Lee Mujin Service, a YouTube channel by singer Lee Mujin where he allows guests to showcase their skills in a comfortable environment for everyone to enjoy. The harmonies in this song provide a nice reminder that Kep1er are those girls, and that their versatility is unmatched.

If there’s one Kep1er release that you tune in to, let it be this one and they will not disappoint. LOVESTRUCK! is available now on Spotify and all streaming platforms.

Edited by Omani