HEART OF WOMAN Shows How to Make a Stand-Out Debut
Photo: HEART OF WOMAN Official X
It’s not often that K-Pop groups debut with a full album anymore, but HEART OF WOMAN assures that this older-generation strategy is not a lost art. Released on May 28, their 13-track album provides a lot of material for listeners to get familiar with their hip-hop sound. The album may be named Heart Byte: LEGACY, but it’s anything but byte-sized. This ambitious debut rollout comes courtesy of heavy promotional efforts by HEART OF WOMAN’s company, BLUE BROWN RECORDS.
TRACKLIST:
“ALIVE”
“SHOW H.O.W”
“Told U So”
“TEA”
“My Vision”
“Skit.exe”
“Lost in Proof”
“($.$)”
“Close to Me”
“One Beat”
“Dive With Me”
“북극성 (Daydreaming)” (physical album only)
“Life is a game” (physical album only)
Pre-Debut Show: TEACH ME HOW
HEART OF WOMAN documented their journey to debut through the show TEACH ME HOW, a collaboration by YouTube channel it’s Live and BLUE BROWN RECORDS. Spanning across five episodes, the show aired from March to April. Five trainees from the label practice for their final evaluation and anticipate who will debut in the final group. The lineup includes Jihyun, former R U Next? contestant; Chaei, who previously competed on Universe Ticket and Unpretty Rapstar : HIP POP Princess under her legal name Yoo Sooin; Ayne; Liri; and Chinese-Italian member Liuyin.
Pre-Debut Track: “HOW’s Delight (mixtape)”
On May 6, HEART OF WOMAN released “HOW’s Delight (mixtape),” a song fusing hip-hop, classical instruments, and traditional Korean instruments. This song speaks of how the members will “delight” audiences through their performances. While most of the song is in English, with some Korean lyrics, it also features a rap section in Italian by Liuyin. Though HEART OF WOMAN did not include this song on their debut album, it showcases the members’ individual talents.
Title Track: “Lost in Proof”
“Lost in Proof” channels BoA’s 2000s discography. It starts off with hints of new jack swing then transitions into Latin pop. As HEART OF WOMAN pulls off stunning choreography with wide arm movements, the members sing about how self-love keeps people grounded in their sense of identity. “I'm going to love myself / Even this foolish side of me / So I won't lose myself in any moment,” they say in the chorus.
There is so much more to explore in HEART OF WOMAN’s Heart Byte: LEGACY. Many of its songs either lean towards dreamy pop or relaxed hip-hop. Personal favorites include “TOLD U SO,” which falls into the former category, and “TEA,” which fits the latter category. HEART OF WOMAN entered the K-Pop industry with a strong first impression, and this album proves that they will leave a future legacy.