[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: January 8th - 15th

[hitokage]

Yeah, I know, it's the weekend now. I've been an unwell jagu who ended up taking a whole string of zero writing days across the middle of the week, sigh. Listing is still just for releases put out from the 8th to the 15th (Korean time), if only to keep this from being even more delayed.

SO! With all that out of the way … we had another busy and varied week of releases this week. Whether you're looking for a danceable beat or some soothing R&B, new hiphop or a bit of rock, odds are something will tickle your fancy. With over fifty releases again this week, we recommend grabbing a drink and a snack before sitting down to take a full explore of the listing.

Banner artist this week goes to Odetari with Hongjoong (ATEEZ) because how could I resist those dolls? Additional picks go to RIIZE (of course), IVE, &TEAM, and Jungseul with Shindong (SuperJunior).

Releases for the week of January 8th - 15th:
WAKER - Always Be There *
Seventeen BSS - CBZ (Prime time) *
RIIZE - Hug *
1O'clock - Like a street lamp (Winter string ver) (audio only)
Jung Soomin - Thinkin' bout you (Who Is She OST) *
90 project - Another Way *
OranJino - A Taste of Sichuan (audio only)
hanhee - Mayo! (debut) * 🚩
S.min - The Temperature Between Us +
JANICE - Lucille (Gallery ver)
Wheein (MAMAMOO) - Aftertaste +
Element - The Way I Love (Who Is She OST) *
Daybreak - A doll's dream * +
2Z - Great Force *
LUNA Song - Apocalypse Now (audio only)
Isosigi - Dear, (audio only)
Flo Rida - Confessions (feat. Heeseung & Jake (ENHYPEN) x Paul Russell)
iamnot - Time (audio only)
iamnot - Be There
Park Gaeul - Play Games (Nu MIX 2024) *
Huh Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM) - Jellyfish
IO - I Like You (audio only)
KCM - To the person called "Me" *
ron - how easy *
PURPLE KISS - Light the way *
owool9 - Wild Flower (audio only)
Park Manhee - Main Theme (Forbidden Fairytale OST) (audio only)
Lim heonil - BAD *
Lim heonil - GOOD *
Feel Heon - For Your Soul
IMEMINE - I ain't love you yet *
Youngsang - No Way (audio only)
Ralph - Puppy star (audio only)
DKZ - Sunflower (Check-in Hanyang OST)
PL - Always (Namib OST) *
Chu Hwajeong - As long as you were happy *
Park Dalnim - Gayageum Sanjo of Shin Kwanyong-ryu (audio only)
Dept x PRETZELLE - Tell Me (English ver) *
GFRIEND - Season of Memories *
KANGSAN - 불씨 *
IVE - Rebel Heart (pre-release) *
Kandis - Playground (debut)
Jungseul - Tabom (feat. Shingdong (SuperJunior) *
YUSEOL - Silent Love (audio only)
ONAIR - Believe (audio only)
LYSON - Love Scenario *
hey1996 - Dream Tower *
ONEUS - IKUK *
Sondia - As Tomorrow Comes (Namib OST) *
&TEAM - Deer Hunter (Japanese release) *
ZEROBASEONE - Now or Never (Japanese release) *
Seol Hoseung (SURL) - For a moment (Who Is She OST) *
Yoo Geunho - City Night (feat. Youn Jeonghwa) (audio only)
Odetari - SMB (feat. Hongjooong (ATEEZ)) *


The Mea Culpa Section:
...remains empty yet again this week, woohoo!

key:
* content warning - see item below for specific warnings
+ comes with "disappearing" hardcoded subs
🚩other flag - see item below for specifics


WAKER - Always Be There https://youtu.be/oKW3joSYQZM
genre: R&B
cw: flashing, Ijun's stupidly pretty face
note: busy rookies have been incredibly busy since debuting. Also, who gave Ijun THAT VOICE? Ugh, another one to watch out for, that boy.


Seventeen BSS - CBZ (Prime time) https://youtu.be/oKW3joSYQZM
genre: trot
cw: flashing
note: the utter chaos that is Boo Soon Seok...that much camp, I'm sorry (no I'm not), I have to label this as trot.


RIIZE - Hug (DBSK cover) https://youtu.be/4zve1lFvVQA
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: I'm not crying, you're crying! They're doing it with a backing track, but it sounds like they could have done it a capella, too, which just makes me hurt even more.


1O'clock - Like a street lamp (Winter string ver) (audio only) https://youtu.be/5cQpSL1VfYw
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: not sure if this deserves a hanky warning on its own since I was kinda already primed for that after "Hug" and am a sensitive jagu, so.....


Jung Soomin - Thinkin' bout you (Who Is She OST) https://youtu.be/baI6uIF74O0
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, melodramatic interpersonal violence
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


90 project - Another Way https://youtu.be/tEKDSb0XVeE
genre: rock
cw: flashing, unsteady cam
note: the video somehow feels like a throwback to the 90s (I'm blaming the color balance)


OranJino - A Taste of Sichuan (audio only) https://youtu.be/0OPBaCzJR9c
genre: hiphop
note: nope, not even touching this one 😅


hanhee - Mayo! (debut) 🚩https://youtu.be/kx0wsrl-LLM
genre: EDM
cw: flashing graphic additions, inappropriate use of mayonnaise
note: this video manages to be both wholesome on the surface and deeply unsettling just beneath that. Largely due, IMO, to the fact that, despite being 23, hanhee is styled to look 12 while her headless boyfriend... well, we never get above the shoulders, so age is difficult to gauge, but that hand leads me to think late 20s at the very youngest (and probably more like 30+), so yeah, creepy AF. Add in the way the mayo is used and I'm ... yeah, completely creeped out. Seriously calls into question the judgment of those responsible.


S.min - The Temperature Between Us https://youtu.be/PwVteOoPTwE
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: something so soft and sweet, almost like a palate cleanser (if you're going straight down this list)


JANICE - Lucille (Gallery ver) https://youtu.be/Ui1bnuW3Tvc
genre: blues
note: oh yes, give me that smokey blues vocal tone please!


Wheein (MAMAMOO) - Aftertaste https://youtu.be/1AhQGtlTqiE
genre: R&B
note: no notes, excellent performance


Element - The Way I Love (Who Is She OST) https://youtu.be/QP9oFkAHLw4
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, flashing stage lights (outdoor)
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


Daybreak - A doll's dream https://youtu.be/U2bzsEQhNw0
genre: R&B
cw: flashing
note: the English subs are a nice thought, but poorly executed. The interpretive dance works better at telling the story anyway, at least in my opinion.


2Z - Great Force https://youtu.be/ZlQGxT4OYx0
genre: hard rock
cw: flashing, blood/injury, violence, supernatural elements (chained angel)
note: the violence is mostly self-harmful, given each band member is alone in those scenes


LUNA Song - Apocalypse Now (audio only) https://youtu.be/AhSOjEyJZHg
genre: symphonic metal (instrumental)
note: ... yes, I know, I once said I wasn't going to get into trying to peg down different subgenres of metal, but sometimes it's just ... blatant and also useful information to have. So here you go, have a voice-less break in the flow (if symphonic metal is your jam).


Isosigi - Dear, (audio only) https://youtu.be/99Jcko9JNyM
genre: folk rock (ballad)
note: puts me in mind of a cold and rainy day (the cover art probably has something to do with that)


Flo Rida - Confessions (feat. Heeseung & Jake (ENHYPEN) x Paul Russell) https://youtu.be/mIl8bT7a_2I
genre: R&B
note: yes, I know, technically not Kpop, but we support these crossovers wherever they come up. Curious how this one came about, that's for sure. Since it's not a static image, this doesn't have the audio-only flag, but the movement is so subtle, I almost didn't notice it at first (for whatever that might be worth).


iamnot - Time (audio only) https://youtu.be/35vtxE6lpkU
genre: soft rock
note: I've gotten so used to the three minute wonder that at five and a half, this one felt really long (it's not, but pop songs have gotten stupid short lately)


iamnot - Be There https://youtu.be/qpiVd5HN1RQ
genre: soft rock
note: so after the last track, I was not expecting the singer to be the *drummer* (which just makes me the dummy)


Park Gaeul - Play Games (Nu MIX 2024) https://youtu.be/ubdeT5oOl5o
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, awkward high school romance
note: oh the melodrama! XD


Huh Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM) - Jellyfish https://youtu.be/z0QWWB-f5HI
genre: R&B
cw: flashing graphic/animation effects
note: it's entirely in the style of animation being used and I don't like it. Highly distracting, but as always, YMMV.


IO - I Like You (audio only) https://youtu.be/Oj9i031tNZw
genre: R&B


KCM - To the person called "Me" https://youtu.be/pCOvGC2O9xw
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: implied mental health struggles
note: sure, I could be reading too much into things, but it's hard not to see depression all over that apartment.


ron - how easy https://youtu.be/q5lyktd_3qE
genre: rock
cw: creepy maquettes/dolls, smoking, surrealism
note: the song is fine, but the video is ... unsettling. I almost didn't make it through it and it's not a long video. :p


PURPLE KISS - Light the way https://youtu.be/_7thNsw_vGc
genre: pop rock
cw: concert lights, flashes


owool9 - Wild Flower (audio only) https://youtu.be/DDqI5SfGbk8
genre: rock


Park Manhee - Main Theme (Forbidden Fairytale OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/ls64beJnp-E
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: another voiceless interlude for those who might need a break


Lim heonil - BAD https://youtu.be/VEnON60hQRs
genre: R&B
cw: flickering city lights at night
note: we do so appreciate a night video shot in a way that you can still see things...

Lim heonil - GOOD https://youtu.be/gNK-lHItIMY
genre: R&B
cw: water glare, lens flares
note: this pair of songs is giving me wild nostalgia vibes and I can't put my finger on why. Something about it just feels so pre-first-wave somehow? Or something, I don't know.


Feel Heon - For Your Soul https://youtu.be/aOERHgix130
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: there's something almost heartwrenching about this performance....


IMEMINE - I ain't love you yet https://youtu.be/SEPG7UABeBQ
genre: hiphop
cw: lens flares, drinking


Youngsang - No Way (audio only) https://youtu.be/BbaiZZPv6Uc
genre: R&B


Ralph - Puppy star (audio only) https://youtu.be/UWxRK5zKv4g
genre: hiphop
note: adorable puppy cover art!


DKZ - Sunflower (Check-in Hanyang OST) https://youtu.be/p3EIWAufZ4M
genre: pop rock
note: video is roughly half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


PL - Always (Namib OST) https://youtu.be/CVUpccp8kJI
genre: R&B
cw: blood/injury, interpersonal violence, flashing lights, bullying, lens flares
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Chu Hwajeong - As long as you were happy https://youtu.be/F8iCnU2neBE
genre: R&B
cw: fireworks
note: kitty! (yes, I'm a sucker for random stray kitties) Why did they break up? Who knows, but I liked it better when it felt like he died and that was why they weren't together anymore. Not sure what that says about me, though XD


Park Dalnim - Gayageum Sanjo of Shin Kwanyong-ryu (audio only) https://youtu.be/NMKA4PnVSxc
genre: traditional Korean instrumental
note: I'm including this for the sake of completeness, but at almost half an hour in length, it's...a lot. And I ended up skipping over it in a vain effort to be on time. I'm sure it's perfectly lovely, but yeah...


Dept x PRETZELLE - Tell Me (English ver) https://youtu.be/Vl-sKvH_cHs
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares
note: just when I was thinking Dept was one of those artists who never did regular music videos....


GFRIEND - Season of Memories https://youtu.be/DxMu1pv8b9Y
genre: dance pop
cw: animated flashing, surrealism, fur suit, lens flares, concert stage lights


KANGSAN - 불씨 https://youtu.be/QaG-kVnqgWg
genre: dance pop
cw: flickering
note: other than the lyrics (which really could've been made to stand out better, le sigh), there's not a whole lot of motion in this video, but I have a low threshold on warnings for a reason. Not sure if the static image is of a firework explosion or a sparkler


IVE - Rebel Heart (pre-release) https://youtu.be/g36q0ZLvygQ
genre: dance pop
cw: arson, flashing, fireworks, kickboxing, blood/injury, lens flares, vandalism
note: the (girl) power rebellion anthem 2025 is going to need?


Kandis - Playground (debut) https://youtu.be/4wcYVTP4gJ8
genre: hiphop
note: loose fit jeans, stompy boots, oversized tees... yeah, this is an aesthetic for a rookie girl group I can get behind XD Plus that one girl hula hoops about as well as I do. ;)


Jungseul - Tabom (feat. Shindong (SuperJunior) https://youtu.be/H9o8XVmFGMg
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, flashing
note: I want to dance a tango with Shindong!


YUSEOL - Silent Love (audio only) https://youtu.be/PhnDqveGbc8
genre: adult contemporary


ONAIR - Believe (audio only) https://youtu.be/pLbQlNXdQu4
genre: hiphop


LYSON - Love Scenario https://youtu.be/sLT4xv00n2Q
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: I've been listening to older Kpop again lately, so of course my brain already had an idea for what this song should be ... that didn't entirely match with what it turned out to be. XD


hey1996 - Dream Tower https://youtu.be/4VOc90BLw2o
genre: alt rock
cw: flashing, lens flares, water glare, extreme close up (eye), arson/forest fire
note: this video is a bit on the psychedelic side


ONEUS - IKUK https://youtu.be/8KeQSgbD0Rk
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, supernatural elements (vampires)
note: there's like a fig leaf of deniability that this isn't vampires, but it's a very thin, very smol leaf. XD


Sondia - As Tomorrow Comes (Namib OST) https://youtu.be/h_SzYoi-st8
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flare, drinking
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


&TEAM - Deer Hunter (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/D1balyin1yE
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, supernatural elements (werewolves)
note: always up for some werewolf pack shenanigans, oh yes.


ZEROBASEONE - Now or Never (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/whrNetEPe_M
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, camera motion, fireworks
note: streaming from a lecture feels like a good way to get in trouble, but hey...whatever sparks joy? XD


Seol Hoseung (SURL) - For a moment (Who Is She OST) https://youtu.be/IZrX3Xnlibc
genre: rock
cw: flashing, lens flares
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Yoo Geunho - City Night (feat. Youn Jeonghwa) (audio only) https://youtu.be/f9Cp_CtznFA
genre: dance pop


Odetari - SMB (feat. Hongjooong (ATEEZ)) https://youtu.be/wlPCQFYWRFo
genre: EDM/hiphop
cw: dolls, camera motion
note: I could wish the animation was longer, but I'm amused at little doll-ATEEZ showing off their moves

Congrats, you've made it to the end! What were your favorite(s) this week? Any surprises? Let's chat about it!




This post brought to you by my lovely Patreon and KoFi supporters. No obligations and the foster kitties will love you either way.
DW | Mastodon | Bluesky | Ko-fi | Patreon | Discord | Twitch