WHIB Serves Up a Message of Hope Through “CHERRY PIE”
Photo: Gramophone Media
After showing tough cyberpunk and dystopian concepts in BANG OUT and ROCK THE NATION, WHIB introduces a sentimental and contemplative image in CHERRY PIE. Released on August 5, their second EP taps into the emotional moments of WHIB’s career. The five tracks represent WHIB’s past, present, and future, creating a thoughtful listen. Junmin, Haseung, Jinbeom, UGeon, Leejeong, Jaeha, and Wonjun approach the future with a unified, hopeful outlook.
TRACKLIST:
“PAGES OF US”
“CHERRY PIE”
“MOTTO”
“CAN’T STOP = NOT FOUND”
“MAKE IT”
The Title Track: “CHERRY PIE”
WHIB returns to their roots for their latest title track. K-pop listeners who found out about WHIB from Junmin, Leejeong, and Wonjun’s participation in Mnet’s BOYS II PLANET will likely know the group for “BANG OUT” and “ROCK THE NATION,” but the group started their career with cute, vibrant concepts that weren’t afraid to get silly. “CHERRY PIE” comes more in line with title tracks seen in WHIB’s earlier discography, such as 2024’s “KICK IT” and “Rush of Joy.” The shift back to a cuter concept is a welcome one for those who prefer those types of songs. While “ROCK THE NATION” gets listeners pumped to face challenges ahead using an industrial rock sound, “CHERRY PIE” gives its own kind of encouragement through a dance-pop instrumental.
The music video combines a few equally charming looks. WHIB starts the day as workers at a pie shop, and they take on all tasks, from cleaning the store, making the pies, and delivering the pastries. By the latter portion of the video, WHIB steps outside of the shop and puts on classic sailor outfits for added cuteness.
The B-Sides
The CHERRY PIE EP kicks off with “PAGES OF US,” a piano and string-filled R&B ballad. It sets off a theme of deeply reflective songs that will dive into WHIB’s desires and dreams. According to a press release, the EP’s songs capture WHIB’s journey through its “sweetest and hottest moments while exploring the excitement, passion, and growth found along the way.” The track “MOTTO,” which comes in the middle of the EP, takes a page out of the ROCK THE NATION EP with an aggressive hip-hop-driven EDM sound. However, the rest of the EP goes back to a sweet-sounding concept. The synth-pop song “CAN’T STOP=NOT FOUND” and the city-pop ballad “MAKE IT” lay out the WHIB members’ ambitions to keep rising together as artists.
The inclusion of “MAKE IT” as the final song on the EP feels more impactful when considering the track’s history with the group. WHIB first performed the track during their debut showcase in 2023, but never officially released the song until now. With lyrics co-written by Junmin and UGeon, the song's official release makes it a special gift for fans. WHIB hasn’t been through the easiest career, but CHERRY PIE acknowledges that such journeys don’t need to be experienced alone. WHIB’s name signifies the array of colors in between black and white, and they refuse to have their career defined so black-and-white: instead of being tied down to a fixed outcome, they plan to move ahead with their own definition of what success looks like.