NMIXX Embraces All Types of Love Through “Heavy Serenade”
Photo: JYP Entertainment
NMIXX’s Blue Valentine covers all facets of romantic relationships, the beautiful parts on the surface and the ugly moments hidden in secret, and the group expands on this exploration of love through Heavy Serenade. Released on May 11, their fifth EP seeks to achieve even greater feats following Blue Valentine’s massive success. NMIXX likens the progression of love to a “crescendo,” when its power becomes too massive to ignore.
TRACKLIST:
“Crescendo”
“Heavy Serenade”
“IDESERVEIT”
“Different Girl”
“Superior”
“LOUD”
The Pre-Release: “Crescendo”
NMIXX’s pre-releases in recent years masterfully tease the core themes in their respective albums. “Soñar (Breaker)” alludes to rebelliously escaping society’s expectations; “High Horse” represents an experimental transformation that comes with exploring one’s sense of self; and “SPINNIN’ ON IT” portrays the multiple sides of romance, not just an idealized healthy relationship. “Crescendo” shows someone coming to terms with attraction. Heavy Serenade deals with how love can evolve from a passive, gradual realization into a bond that individuals actively embrace with all their hearts.
“Crescendo” takes from its namesake—when a musical piece gradually reaches its peak in volume—through its message, not necessarily from its volume levels. Co-written by Lily, it depicts when romantic feelings spill out past the surface in an uncontrollable force. In contrast to the extreme emotions, “Crescendo” sounds light and delicate. Though this alternative pop song includes some dramatic chords that take advantage of its multiple pauses, “Crescendo” stays fairly tame in amplitude. This pre-release gives listeners a peek of a concept fully actualized in “Heavy Serenade.”
The Title Track: “Heavy Serenade”
Romantic feelings can certainly weigh heavily on people’s hearts and “Heavy Serenade” turns this into a positive message of acceptance. Much like flowers starting to bloom in the spring, love eventually blossoms with care. The song balances volume through soft and airy verses and a chorus exploding with passionate vocals.
The pop and EDM mix seen in “Heavy Serenade” grows alongside the emotions depicted in its lyrics, making for an intriguing narrative. Alongside the hazy quality seen in the music video, “Heavy Serenade” comes off dreamy and hopeful. It straddles this line of what reality is and what people want their reality to become.
The B-Sides: Love From All Perspectives
Though “Heavy Serenade” and “Crescendo” focus on romantic relationships, the rest of the EP delves deep into internal dynamics and what constitutes love. “IDESERVEIT” centers the self as the most important person. With an electronic filter placed on top of the chorus’s hook, it becomes trance-like in the best way. The future bass song “Different Girl,” co-written by Bae, features a female love interest, a surprising and refreshing take on a magnetic attraction.
Leading into the EP’s end, “Superior” goes grand with pounding drum beats that sound like they accompany a war march. The ascending vocals in the chorus peak just right to leave a satisfying impact. The finishing song solely written by Lily, “LOUD,” gives the most relatable message that reflects diverse relationships—it addresses romances that require secrecy from society, despite the desire for visibility. The strength of “LOUD” comes not from its volume, but in its vulnerability. Overall, NMIXX should continue to be proud of themselves for another profound collection of songs. Heavy Serenade touches the heart.