Best of June

June was another great month for comebacks this year. From boy groups to girl groups to solo artists, duos, and sub-units, last month had something for everyone to enjoy. With so much to listen to, here are some of my favorite B-sides from June 2024. 

“New Ride” - WayV

On June 3, WayV took fans on a “New Ride” in their fifth mini-album Give Me That. This track delivers smooth R&B vibes within a pop encasing, perfect for a summertime wind down. While somewhat monotone (particularly in the chorus) this approach to the song creates a beautifully chilled and peaceful ambience, with each member’s strong yet relaxing vocals adding to the calmness of the track. 

“Answer Me” - AKMU

Brother and sister duo AKMU take their listener on a melodic journey through “Answer Me,” the fourth track on their third mini-album LOVE EPISODE. Against an upbeat, pop-piano backtrack, Lee Chanhyuk and Lee Suhyun sweetly sing of their frustrations of being in love but not receiving an answer to their love confession. Even without understanding the Korean language, AKMU’s vocals seem to deliver a story that is easily understood through the music. 

“Last Drop” - Red Velvet

Red Velvet came back strong with their EP Cosmic. Each song on this mini-album exudes exquisite vocals from the SM Entertainment girl group, but it is the third track “Last Drop” that quickly became my favorite. “Last Drop” adopts a smooth ‘90s and early 2000’s R&B beat that perfectly complements the members' delicate vocals, making it an easy song to listen to and play on repeat. Accompanied by beautiful cosmic themed audio effects, the song carries a beautiful nostalgic feel to it with a talking interlude that feels reminiscent of Britney Spears’s “Oops!…I Did It Again.”

Edited by Cara Musashi