QWER’s Third EP Shows What They Hold “Dear”
Photo: QWER Official X
QWER has experienced a popularity rise many underdogs in the Korean music industry dream of. After last year’s successes of “T.B.H” and “My Name is Malguem,” the band has continued to skyrocket to heights previously considered out of reach. QWER’s third EP, In a million noises, I’ll be your harmony, focuses on the hardships Chodan, Magenta, Siyeon, and Hina experienced to get to the present. Released on June 9, this EP makes for a cathartic listen.
TRACKLIST:
“Dear”
“Be Happy”
“#QWER”
“OVERDRIVE”
“D-Day”
“Yours Sincerely”
The Title Track: “Dear”
The structure of In a million noises, I’ll be your harmony reads like a letter. It starts with “Dear” and ends with “Yours Sincerely.” The song’s Korean title, “눈물참기” (Nunmulchamgi), meaning “holding back tears,” which sounds heartwrenching. The song’s lyrics plead for advice on how to stay strong, as the narrator feels sick of enduring so much adversity: “I’ve never really learned how to stop crying / It’s too cold and it hurts so bad / When I say I’m okay, it’s all a lie.” Main vocalist Siyeon’s voice conveys such deep emotions in her singing, and “Dear” highlights this once again. This song pulls out tough emotions in the best way, making for a fulfilling and thought-provoking listen.*
The music video takes inspiration from the members’ situations, especially Siyeon’s, before joining QWER. Siyeon was a former K-Pop trainee-turned-member of Japanese idol group NMB48, but had to stop after two years due to financial hardship and stifling future career prospects; she found herself unable to support living alone in Japan and wanted to return to South Korea. She had previously abandoned her ambition to attend art school while pursuing the idol life. The video displays hints of these aspects of Siyeon’s life, and when it shows her at her lowest, the present day Siyeon goes to comfort her. The outfit that past Siyeon wears mirrors the one she wore when Egg Kim, the creator of the group, went to Japan to recruit her for QWER.
The B-Sides: Concert-Ready Songs
The rest of the songs on In a million noises, I’ll be your harmony build up as a journey to a concert. Alongside Siyeon, bassist Magenta, and keyboardist and guitarist Hina contributing lyrics to “Dear,” they also helped out on most of the EP’s other tracks. The sound of “Be Happy” reflects its name: the energetic guitar strums paired with claps create imagery of a joyful summer day. “#QWER” brings a different sound with electric elements.
“OVERDRIVE” goes crazy with energy. While it sports an expected dynamic rock instrumental, its dubstep breakdown comes as a surprise. “D-Day” takes listeners into a concert area with fans’ cheering at its start. The EP finishes with “Yours Sincerely,” a soft ballad that fits as a concert closer. Every release by QWER shows the evident improvement by the band, and this one has become my favorite collection of songs. In a million noises, I’ll be your harmony captures QWER’s story beautifully and I wouldn’t be surprised if “Dear” stays as one my favorite songs of the year.
*Note: lyrics taken from the English captions found in QWER’s “Beyond the Studio” live performance.
Edited by Bryn Claybourne