Korean band WAKER’s comeback album Sweet Tape and the title song “Vanilla Choco Shake” are just the perfect treat in the heat of summer. Released on July 16, the nine-track record is fresh, bubbly, and easy to the ears.

The band (in Korean, 웨이커) debuted with their first mini-album Mission of School on January 8, 2024, so fans did not have to wait long for new music from the six members Leo (리오), Sebum (세범), Kohyeon (고현, the leader), Ijun (이준), Saebyeol (새별), and Kwonhyeop (권협).

"Vanilla Choco Shake" fun, funky dance-pop tune that’s perfect for cooling down during the hot summer. After the catchy, high-pitched vocals of the intro begin to draw you into the playful atmosphere, it’s a steady rise until the addictive hook, making it an easy-listening track that can appeal to listeners of all ages.

The lyrics of “Vanilla Choco Shake” depict a lively and effervescent scene, with each member coming from a different background, but all are swept away by a new love that makes them feel dizzy with the sweetness. With its refreshing sound, witty lyrics, and catchy rhythm, it captivates any listener.

“I don't wanna be your best friend / I'll stop being friends / I'll melt sweetly / Yes I'm gonna be your boyfriend / I wanna wake you up from your sleep / You're my princess / I get curious Na Na / I'm completely falling for you / Shall we dance dance dance / Come drink me up / Fall deeper / You'll find me before you know it / Sweetness limit exceeded.”

The video is an explosion of pop colors and energy, each member with picture-perfect K-pop visuals, and the scenes flowing fast one after the other, drawing you into the song’s rhythm: a perfect match for the track.

The song was composed by SoulShock and Sam Gray, who have worked on music for artists like Chris Brown, Usher, and Whitney Houston. The already remarkable duo of producers is further enriched by the likes of ROHAN, who has worked on K-pop music and wrote songs for other Korean artists like Im Jaebum and BMK: he’s credited as the mastermind who created WAKER's unique sensibility and color.

WAKER also performed the song live on KBS’s Music Bank, showing all the theatricality needed to perform confidently on stage, proving to be idol material. 

The rest of the album Sweet Tape doesn’t fall short: the fifth generation group sound spans in different directions, and each track has its own peculiar charm, like the chill “Dolce” that comes across as soothing and fascinating, or the exotic “Don’t Worry” whose somewhat Arabic sounds mix with Korean rap in a very intriguing way.

WAKER was the first boyband to debut in 2024, and the announcement came in December 2023. Before that, four of the members had already made appearances in the entertainment industry: Kohyeon performed in various fields such as solo activities, musicals, and web dramas; Sebum participated in the teen reality survival show Cap-Teen (2020–2021) and in the co-ed survival show Stars Awakening (2022); Kwonhyeop was a contestant in the season two of Produce 101 (2017); and Saebyeol was a contestant in Produce X 101 (2019).

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Edited by Rachael Lovette