dodree Blends Gugak and K-Pop in Debut Single Album Just Like a Dream

Photo: dodree Official X

Female vocalist duo dodree brought something unique to the K-Pop scene with their debut single album Like a Dream on January 21. Lee Songhyun and Na Yeongjoo draw on traditional Korean music, Gugak, and K-Pop for a genre they describe as “K-rossover Pop.” This creative characteristic makes their songs “Just Like a Dream” and “Born (本)” stand out. 

Pre-Debut: THE DDANDDARA

dodree began their journey as participants on a survival show created by JYP Entertainment founder J.Y. Park. From November 2024 to January 2025, individuals from various entertainment industries showcased their talents through the survival show THE DDANDDARA, also called The Entertainer. Alongside judges Cha Taehyun, Kim Haneul and Red Velvet’s Wendy, Park used the show to “find an all-rounder entertainer with star quality.” The pool of contestants included Gugak singers, trot singers, musical actors, traditional actors, former K-Pop idols, and K-Pop trainees. 

The top five winners, Ahn Youngbin, Na Yeongjoo, Lee Songhyun, Jo Hyejin, and Yuu, formed the trainee group DDDD 25 after the show. They documented their training process on YouTube but stopped uploading after April 2025. Their company, JYP Entertainment subsidiary INNIT ENTERTAINMENT, never clarified their specific plans for the trainees; however, with Youngbin’s solo debut on September 17, 2025, DDDD 25 may no longer exist.   

Debut: “Just Like a Dream”

dodree combines the English word “free” with dodeuri jangdan (도드리장단), a specific Gugak six-beat rhythm, which adds another nod to their fusion music style. Their debut title track “Just Like a Dream” does feel like a dream with its atmospheric sound. Yeongjoo’s training in pansori, a type of Indigenous traditional music style, and Songhyun’s training in traditional Korean dance make “Just Like a Dream” rich in expression. 

As expected, the song pulls off a performance that normally does not crossover with modern K-Pop. The lyrics about a shattered perception of a person who once gave love “like a dream” cut deep with heartbreak. The B-side off the single album, “Born (本),” also comes with a pop and Gugak combination. Using a Hanja character meaning “origin,” the song speaks of a love that continuously brings people back together. Its place on dodree’s debut single album keeps listeners anticipating what comes after this “origin” story. Outside of Just Like a Dream, dodree will continue spreading their music through collaborations with the National Museum of Korea and acapella group MayTree.

Edited by Clark Royandoyan