Best B-Sides of June 2023
June has been an incredible month for K-Pop comebacks this year. So much applaudable talent and music has been released from some of the best artists currently on the K-Pop scene—from older, well-loved K-Pop groups to more recent, rising K-Pop groups and popular idols on their solo activities. The comebacks this month have been some of my favorite releases for a while. With so many great songs to listen to, here is a look at just some of my favorites for you to enjoy too.
“Dune” - ATEEZ
ATEEZ has done it again! The vocals. The songwriting. The production. The delivery. Everything about their latest album THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW is borderline perfection to me.
Second track “Dune” is a signature ATEEZ track and my favorite B-side on the album. Without knowing who the artist is, your first listen to “Dune” will immediately tell you that this is an ATEEZ track; it is an action-packed song with so much energy and power radiating through the members’ vocals and the song’s arrangement, screaming the name ATEEZ.
When it comes to music, I am a sucker for a low toned, deep whispered vocal, so Yeosang’s verses shocked me in the best way possible. I am obsessed with his section of the song. His deliverance gives “Dune” a gritty rock or metal music sound that I am in desperate need of seeing and hearing a live performance of.
“불면증 Insomnia” - SHINee
SHINee’s back! And better than ever with their eighth full-length album HARD. As someone who only listens to SHINee as a casual listener (don’t get me wrong, I have loved what I have heard from them and their solo activities), this album made me want to fall deeper into the SHINee World. With so many great B-sides to choose from on this album, it is the ninth track “Insomnia” that captured my attention the most.
Carrying a chilled soul and R&B sound, “불면증 Insomnia” is a relaxing and sensual track that showcases each of the SHINee members' impressive vocals. The song has a sound fitting for a night time jazz bar atmosphere with those "midnight feelings"* that the song provides the listener with: drinking wine, staring out at the lights of the city landscape while listening to the beautiful sounds of SHINee and this song.
“Habit” - I.M
MONSTA X member I.M continues to show his fans other elements of his artistry and himself with his latest solo EP, OVERDRIVE. His deep, husky vocals have always captivated listeners, shining even further on his solo releases and in particular on OVERDRIVE’s fourth track, “Habit.”
“Habit” encapsulates a smooth jazz ambience with I.M’s rich tone sailing over the backtrack, boasting his bilingual skills as he sings in both Korean and English. Known for his rap skills, I.M has also on several occasions showcased his ability to sing, with “Habit” being the next installment of tracks that display his smooth singing vocals. There is a calming and tranquil essence to I.M’s vocals that, along with the jazz composition, is perfect to listen to when wanting to unwind and relax. “Habit” itself carries a sound that is reminiscent of the music that DPR Ian creates, making you eager to hear a collaboration between these two incredible artists.
“I Am You” - P1Harmony
With each new release, I fall deeper and deeper into the world of P1Harmony and their incredible music. From highly energetic pop tracks to slow, R&B ballads, P1Harmony have already shown that they are capable of doing it all in their three-year career span.
From their latest EP HARMONY: ALL IN, closing track “I Am You” delivers some of the best R&B-pop-ballad vocals I have ever heard in K-Pop. There is a stunning vocal chemistry and vocal balance between the rappers and singers throughout the track. Although, it is the chorus and the way in which members Jiung and Theo respectively sing the line, "You just gotta reach / Son daeul gose I'll be there,"** that gives me the greatest pleasure when listening to this song. The vocals in "I Am You" are just too good and make me want to hear more tracks of this nature from them.