POW Brings Summer Ease in Being Tender
Photo: GRID Entertainment
Grid Entertainment’s fresh, youthful boygroup POW is back with their latest summer EP Being Tender, a quick, chill four-track release. Being Tender delivers four laid-back tracks that make for an easy listen featuring their characteristic boyish charms. Being Tender is the group’s third EP after their 2023 debut, leaning back into their soft pop sound after the pop-punk track “Boyfriend” (a remake of Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend.”) Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon, and Hong are back with a visually lush music video and a light-hearted gentle sound that is just that: tender.
Tracklist:
“Being Tender”
“Reason”
“Celebrate”
“Fingerprint”
Title track “Being Tender” is a piano-forward, percussive pop song with sing-songy, with almost nursery rhyme-esque characteristics. The highlight of the song is its post-chorus with bright brass accents and charm. The music video’s distinct setting (art school) places the members in a creative college setting, with that casual “boy next door” vibe. B-sides “Reason”, “Celebrate”, and “Fingerprint” have the same Peanut’s-esque piano light jazz tendencies. “Reason” is reminiscent of a 2000s indie-pop track, with its running piano chords and layered post-chorus. “Celebrate” feels like a soft pool party kind of track, something to put on in the background during light summer fun, with its thumping beat and whistle points. Jazzy “Fingerprint” highlights that jazzy piano undercurrent that spans the whole album with a catchy pop hook and punchy chorus. Overall, Being Tender provides an easy 12-minute listen, but a charming one, full of fresh summer fun and bright tracks.
Edited by Bryn Claybourne