IDID debuts boldly: I did it.
Photo: Starship Entertainment
Starship Entertainment’s newest boy group IDID steps on the scene, ready to make a statement in debut EP I did it. Fresh, fun, vamping funk instrumentals over vocal-eaze: indeed, IDID did, in fact, do it.
Formed from the survival variety program “Debut’s Plan.” IDID officially debuts with a seven-member line-up: Jang Yonghoon, Kim Minjae, Park Wonbin, Chu Yoochan, Park Seonghyeon, Baek Junhyuk, and Jeong Semin. Starship Entertainment’s first boy-group in five years, following CRAVITY and MONSTA X, IDID hits the ground running with a clever blend of funk and hip-hop groove with their boyish light and fresh charms in the title track “제멋대로 찬란하게” (CHAN-RAN) and across the eight-track EP I did it.
TRACKLIST.
“CHAN-RAN”
“SLOW TIDE”
“STEP IT UP”
“ImPerfect”
“So G.oo.D”
“STICKY BOMB”
“Taking Off - Through Your Dreams”
“Blooming CROWN”
CHAN-RAN
With a name both cut-and-dry yet ambiguous, IDID quickly sets their own pace, literally, in “CHAN-RAN,” whose Korean title “제멋대로 찬란하게” translates to “shining in my own way.” The song highlights the charm of going with the flow, with laid back funk-bass lines and clean rap verses, across shimmering vocals. IDID goes with their own flow, doing it at their own place, until confident enough to say, when all is said and done: I did it. The listening experience is a treat, one that had this writer sitting up straight and listening in, gradually building off a minimal guitar line until splashing into funk and rhythm. “CHAN-RAN” is all anticipation, bursting with eagerness to debut. By the last chorus, the song dazzles.
I did it. in this way, it cleverly interpolates some of the dominant trends and sounds of current K-Pop freshness: melding the boyish light-hearted pop-rock charms that are far and wide with innovative sound textures. Featuring that ever-prolific Dem Jointz producer tag on both “CHAN-RAN” and pre-release “Step It Up,” there’s a cadre of industry hard-hitters on the production-end of I did it. With this, alongside the hard work and sheer talent of the seven members’ vocals, rap, and performances, it’s no wonder that IDID brings a unique soundscape to their generation.
STEP IT UP
Showcased at KCON LA, pre-release “Step It Up” is a unique choice for a pre-release single, in that it’s easily the most novel track on the album, and the edgiest. That being said, it’s great: jazz piano runs and trap beats paired with some really, really nice harmonies that happen to scratch that constant K-Pop itch for satisfying vocal layering. The choreography is likewise crisp, stepping a lot, true to its name.
B-SIDES
Clear atmosphere and laid-back chill, “SLOW TIDE” embodies the group’s ice-cube motif. The verses of slow tide roll into the chorus with little pause, mimicking the ease of its fellow tracks with the emotional ebb and flow the tides. Likewise, “imPerfect” is an on-the-nose bright-pop inspirational summary of the concept of “I did it,” with the lyrics, “It’s okay to be imperfect [...] Don't, don't, don't be afraid we’re perfect together.”
“So G.oo.D” is an easy-listening R&B delight. Slipping between the playfully chanted “SO G DOUBLE O D GOOD!” and smooth vocals, “So G.oo.D” is a personal standout from the EP’s cohort of laid-back tracks.
Rowdy and raucous, “STICKY BOMB” is percussive and catchy. It’s clever, knowing that minimal instrumentals can counter punchy, in-your-face yells, whispers, raps, and everything in between. “It’s time to blow up,” indeed. What might be over-the-top in different hands is balanced well in IDID’s.
My personal favorite on the album, “Taking Off – Through Your Dreams,” delivers funk-pop to a tee. It’s got all the ingredients to shine: that delicious running bass line, catchy catchy chorus, and even a choral-esque moment in the backing vocals—harmonic excellence.
Closing track “Blooming CROWN” is another funky treat, with sax riffs and jazz piano moments. The perfect track to round out the album—with a party! A fitting celebration for seven boys who did it, “Blooming CROWN” takes to the dance floor, streamers, crowns, and all, ready to commemorate a job well done (er, did).
The crux of the album, from title tracks to B-sides, lies in that simple but profound truth: in order to accomplish anything, to transform “do” into “did,” one must live with imperfection. Despite flaws or roadblocks (and somehow, in only a few months before debut, IDID has had them) the only recourse to get where you want to be is to move forward. This yearning to do, despite it all, is tangible. From IDID’s minimal instrumentals and clean musical switches, harmonies to whispers, rolling beats, and melodic verses, it’s all a delicate balance of perfect and unfiltered.
IDID can’t be bothered with waiting for perfection, but, in all fairness, I did it. gets close.
Edited by Joi Berry