[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: March 26-April 2

[hitokage]

I'm not gonna say it, I'm not gonna say it, I'm not gonna say it....

So if you follow me on Fedi, you know this list originally clocked in at over 100 entries Wednesday morning. And that I spent the last several days struggling to get the time needed to actually review the whole thing. On the other hand, once I was finally able to get through everything, turned out the back half included over 30 videos that were rights transfers to 1theK rather than genuinely new releases, so that helped. Hasn't stopped my wrist from going "bitch, wtf did you do to me??" but I've got a brace for that. 😅

So yeah! Welcome to the this late-weekend edition of the Midweek New Music Roundup, which, yes, cuts off on April 2nd, rather early, so no Kai yet, he'll be featured next week, I'm sure. 😆 We've got a lot of younger artists and indies in the lineup this week, so if you're still new(ish) to Kpop or just generally not sure where to start with all these potentially unfamiliar names, you may want to do a genre tag search instead.

That said, we've got all kinds of music again this week! From the cuteness of capybaras and cats made into girls, to the sexiness of dripping wet (fully clothed!) male idols (sorry not sorry, the ladies went for mostly cute over sexy this week) to heartwrenching R&B performances. Looking to get your dance on? A number of pop idol groups made comebacks this week, including izna and TEMPEST. Rock more your thing? LUCY are adorable in their new pre-release video with puppets and a giant teddy bear. Or if that's not your style, we've got girlrock from ShinEuiJin, pop-rock from EJel, and plain old rock rock from co-ed band gongwon. Need the freshest hiphop? Jackson Wang brings the attitude (and the tentacles), JUST B show off some moves, and OSSH breaks a guitar. Wanting a therapeutic cry? Maybe Huh Gak, Woody, or Shin YeYoung can help with that. And if you're looking for jazz, Jo Hyunah of Urbana Zakapa is here for you.

Banner artist slots this week go to NiziU and RE:WIND, with my additional picks going to LUCY, I.M, izna, Woody, and IM SOO. And Jackson. And IU. Look, it was really hard for me to narrow things down this week, even with all these new kids running around, okay? 😅


Releases for the week of March 26th - April 2nd:
TNX - For Real?
Jayn Lee - Pillow Talk *
Jo Hyunah (Urban Zakapa) - Softly *
EASTSHINE - Lucky Tonight *
mellow button - Just the two of us under the stars (audio only)
JuwON - Capybara *
Band CUBE - A White Canvas
ONDO - Twilight (audio only)
Dong Ryeol - Smiling at a Love That's Gone (audio only)
DD - One more step *
Beomgyu (TXT) - Panic *
LUCY - Wakey Wakey (pre-release) *
gongwon - fireworks
Wonstein - Rebirth (Newtopia OST) *
EVAN - Star Below (feat. pH-1) *
gongwon - yoonseul *
Jung Joonil - Annie (Newtopia OST)
Jackson Wang (GOT7) - GBAD *
JUST B - CHEST *
AWON - ForEver And Ever
Gae Ddong - Greenlight (Practice Love OST) *
LUMINOUS DAY - Blooming Down *
Reborn - Echoing Voice (audio only)
Kevin Woo - Deja Vu *
I.M (Monsta X) - Don't Speak *
Shin YeYoung - There's no such thing as good love
Hebi - EVER *
EJel - Anti-Spring *
MPRISM - KNOCK DOWN (debut) *
RE:WIND - Forever (debut) *
ILND - 8 sec (feat. kyuto) (audio only)
It's - SAY! + emo girl *
MEMORIA - BLACK OUT (audio only)
2NB - Moving Away *
LEECHANGSUB (BTOB) - I'll Wait For You (Buried Hearts OST)
Yeso - Just wanna be me
Sondia - Pretend (The potato lab OST) *
Yoo Seungho - Be the light (3days OST) (audio only)
Ahn Ye-eun - Pierrot Laughs At Us *
OSSH - Stop fooling around (feat. EUNSAN) *
Huh Gak - Get Ready to Leave (feat. Onestar)
2AM - Moment +
LE SSERAFIM - Come Over *
Ohm Taeyoon - Drama, Champagne, Refresh (audio only)
Heexi - Knock (audio only)
Suite - Bath (audio only)
Kim Sungyeop - Fly one's hopes (audio only)
izna - SIGN *
NiziU - LOVE LINE *
Woody - Sadder Than Yesterday *
TEMPEST - Unfreeze *
Jin clobert - Aurora
Kim JinWoo - Dear Mom
ShinEuiJin Anthem for You *
XloVI - frequency of love (feat. YECHAN) (audio only)
jieut - Geumdarase Taryeong (feat. Shin Jaeyeon) (audio only)
Im Soo - Love Letter *
Kwak Jin-Eon - Name (When Life Gives You Tangerines OST) *
Moze - Daylife (audio only)
toyou. - Bright Day (audio only)
IU - Midnight Walk (When Life Gives You Tangerines OST) *
Jicheon - Still On My Way (audio only)
Kim Yong - Bank of Seoul (Bank of Seoul OST) (audio only)


The Mea Culpa Section
Just the one this week!

Cravity - Jellybean (Japanese release) *


key:
* content warning - see below for specifics
+ comes with "disappearing" hardcoded subs

note: for the sake of making them easier to find, I moved the two gongwon tracks together in this listing.


Cravity - Jellybean (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/jRBCLqFZM0s
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares
note: well now I'm extra sad that I missed this cuz this is both adorable as shit and a total banger.



TNX - For Real? https://youtu.be/jMcnUVuXdfU
genre: dance rock
note: oh not, not another earworm! Dangnabit, already too many boys, don't make me learn even more! XD


Jayn Lee - Pillow Talk https://youtu.be/Jv0vbGSW1eA
genre: dance rock
cw: camera flashes, unsteady cam
note: kinda loving the white boy dancing he's doing, extra especially since he's a former TO1 member. But really, slick dance moves would've been entirely out of place on this, so it works for me. 😉


Jo Hyunah (Urban Zakapa) - Softly https://youtu.be/JpClyKCVl6w
genre: jazz
cw: flashing, shirtless male (dripping wet, too), implied altered mental state
note: water stunts done under professional supervision - do not dive into a pool in full street clothes!


EASTSHINE - Lucky Tonight https://youtu.be/WEHat15GwLY
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, flashing/strobing background spotlights
note: what, another group of almost babies trying to win my attention? Will this madness never end??? 😆


mellow button - Just the two of us under the stars (audio only) https://youtu.be/5U4OXga-aQY
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: time for a soft piano break! Or save it for later - we've got a long list to get through this week, even without the rights transferred videos


JuwON - Capybara https://youtu.be/2K7V2yJy4lY
genre: R&B
cw: surrealism (animated), background flashing
note: who doesn't love a song about capybaras? Video appears to have been formatted/optimized for mobile screens ... which would make sense, since this is clearly just one long meme. Or, you know, several minutes of memes strung together. 😆


Band CUBE - A White Canvas https://youtu.be/EDOM9fsSxdc
genre: rock
note: This is a project band and I don't expect there to be further releases, but who knows.


ONDO - Twilight (audio only) https://youtu.be/PQ5K_KgqK40
genre: rock


Dong Ryeol - Smiling at a Love That's Gone (audio only) https://youtu.be/dq3EK90mEo4
genre: rock (ballad)


DD - One more step https://youtu.be/tVPizXI2Ucw
genre: soft rock
cw: lens flares
note: not me trying to eyeball the pattern for her crocheted top. Of course I'd have to make adjustments in the chest. 😅


Beomgyu (TXT) - Panic https://youtu.be/9hTpDHJmjC0
genre: rock
cw: flashing, blood/injury, surrealism/nightmare imagery
note: things I didn't know I didn't know - Beomgyu plays guitar, I guess?


LUCY - Wakey Wakey (pre-release) https://youtu.be/lTESlQNkd5I
genre: rock
cw: sock puppets
note: using a giant teddy bear for member Shin Gwangil (who is currently doing his military service) was an adorable touch


gongwon - fireworks https://youtu.be/5i9Uy4AbVew
genre: rock
note: hooray for another co-ed band!

gongwon - yoonseul https://youtu.be/_h2Yzqj07Cs
genre: rock
cw: water glare


Wonstein - Rebirth (Newtopia OST) https://youtu.be/8UKRdBtsI_I
genre: R&B
cw: blood/injury, zombie apocalypse, military
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Certainly contains a whole LOT of blood and fire. And is in stark contrast to the song itself, which was not at all what I was expecting from Wonstein. 😅


EVAN - Star Below (feat. pH-1) https://youtu.be/Uig9nfkTdBY
genre: hiphop
cw: unsteady cam, flashing effects (various)
note: again with the featuring artist being Sir Not Appearing In This Music Video 😆


Jung Joonil - Annie (Newtopia OST) https://youtu.be/qxIZNTIsz1g
genre: soft rock
cw: lens flare, military, blood/injury, zombies
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Almost entirely different clips from the last clip video, even. But still with the zombies. 😉


Jackson Wang (GOT7) - GBAD https://youtu.be/zeoRk6dDSFQ
genre: hiphop
cw: surrealism, language, superhuman abilities, guns/armed robbery, unsteady cam, TENTACLES
note: Given that GBAD = Gotta Be A Dick ... well, yeah. Working thru some shit again/still. Wang delivering the most powerful dick moves ever. The 12yo boy in me can't stop giggling about it, either.


JUST B - CHEST https://youtu.be/pqpXaSQUGVo
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing effects (various), blood/injury
note: I only made it thru because the flashing in inconstant - if you're feeling especially sensitive to bright flashes, give this one a pass/look it up on your player of choice instead


AWON - ForEver And Ever https://youtu.be/BuB570K2-XI
genre: rock
note: despite being labeled a visualizer, it's really a performance music video. Stitching together clips from takes with and without the guitar (that she never plays even when wearing) was A Choice all right.


Gae Ddong - Greenlight (Practice Love OST) https://youtu.be/ItJmEiBAUfU
genre: adult contemporary
cw: drinking (social)
note: I'm still not sure if this is a drama or a reality program - Google continues to only pull info from the 2023 C-drama when I try searching and these clips really don't clear anything up. Wouldn't be the first time we got a clip MV from a reality dating show.


LUMINOUS DAY - Blooming Down https://youtu.be/cxdUAxW0rZ8
genre: rock
cw: animated flashing
note: if those popping cards are supposed to be the lyrics, they're only serving an aesthetic purpose


Reborn - Echoing Voice (audio only) https://youtu.be/efHrvu21X1A
genre: R&B
note: almost tagged this as city pop, especially with that cover art, but then I felt a doubt and fell back on R&B


Kevin Woo - Deja Vu https://youtu.be/6TrrwyoLKns
genre: R&B
cw: flashing, dripping wet Kevin, camera motion
note: If you, too, are feeling deja vu, perhaps you remember Kevin from his U-KISS days. So sad he couldn't afford a full set of shirts that actually fit him properly 😉


I.M (Monsta X) - Don't Speak https://youtu.be/MbDoupKadZE
genre: EDM
cw: background flashing, police, uncanny valley
note: kitty! Oddly animated kitty - the steps are out of sync and the movement is very ... unreal. It's the back; that's not how a cat's spine moves when walking. Which makes kitty a complete distraction from the actual track, so no treats for kitty.


Shin YeYoung - There's no such thing as good love https://youtu.be/KGLsv_nFphc
genre: adult contemporary
note: potential hanky warning


Hebi - EVER https://youtu.be/P-N90sCt-7U
genre: folk rock
cw: animated flashing, animated violence
note: the power of art can be greater than hate


EJel - Anti-Spring https://youtu.be/j5fPtPM1WfA
genre: pop rock
cw: lens flares


MPRISM - KNOCK DOWN (debut) https://youtu.be/meF_z30a4Us
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing effects, lens flares
note: with even the maknae being 23 already, these girls are a bit older than the average for a newly debuted girl group. We'll see if they're able to make that work for them. Also, I've styled their name here the way it is on the MV, but pre-debut media did have it styled as M.prism - we'll see how that goes.


RE:WIND - Forever (debut) https://youtu.be/DALbBT9OIyc
genre: dance pop
cw: bright flashes, dripping wet boys (fully dressed), glitch effects
note: sorry, my captain, abuela has to collect these boys, too. Elaya (blond) is half Mexican, too, AND a fellow Horse native (different elements, of course, but still). Oh yeah and they can dance!


ILND - 8 sec (feat. kyuto) (audio only) https://youtu.be/FSSvYoy7EXA
genre: hiphop
note: oh look at that, me disagreeing with the uploader's genre tag again 😆


It's - SAY! + emo girl https://youtu.be/UuUsoypcCrQ
genre: rock
cw: camera motion
note: this is actually a double track MV, connecting the songs "SAY!" and "emo girl" (a song that is not, in fact, emo) for seven minutes of a lovely woman who made A CHOICE with her stage name all right. Tagging for camera motion for the cumulative effect of such a long video with so many push/pulls and intermittent bouncing and just being a lot of motion by the end.


MEMORIA - BLACK OUT (audio only) https://youtu.be/XSfZMLJTsrQ
genre: dance rock


2NB - Moving Away https://youtu.be/ahEVtg_2DiA
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, potential hanky warning


LEECHANGSUB (BTOB) - I'll Wait For You (Buried Hearts OST) https://youtu.be/GzkAHHdwAEo
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, camera flashes
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Yeso - Just wanna be me https://youtu.be/aTME47TRKAg
genre: soft rock
cw: flashing, camera motion
note: yeah, not a fan of the see-saw motion the camera kept doing


Sondia - Pretend (The potato lab OST) https://youtu.be/BX_y4MtWKJI
genre: adult contemporary
cw: flashing, possible consent issues
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Maybe it's the framing of the clips that makes a lot of ML's actions read as being of dubious consent, but on the other hand, pushing is so very common in k-romance, so I can't rule it out that there's a lack of consent in some of these clips.


Yoo Seungho - Be the light (3days OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/ILyh41lV3hQ
genre: folk rock


Ahn Ye-eun - Pierrot Laughs At Us https://youtu.be/ARPYaHCi9tc
genre: modern Korean folk
cw: lens flares
note: yes there's a specific term for this style, no I can't remember what it is because I'm apparently the only one in any of my friends circles who ever listens to it and I have a brain bruise right on the memory center that makes retaining Korean A Real Problem sometimes.


OSSH - Stop fooling around (feat. EUNSAN) https://youtu.be/UypRGhkqqyQ
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, a lot of vocal flanging
note: yes, kids, the proper term for roboticizing the voice like this is "flanging" not "autotuning" - Autotune is a program, flange is the effect. 😉The flashing is quite aggressive, especially in the back half, so you might have to give this a skip for that alone. Also, that poor guitar did not deserve that, sir.


Huh Gak - Get Ready to Leave (feat. Onestar) https://youtu.be/t3ZMt2OAN2I
genre: R&B
note: potential hanky warning (put here due to lack of any other warnings) - it's a beautiful song but ouch my heart


2AM - Moment https://youtu.be/pq9156V1Lic
genre: R&B
note: potential hanky warning 😭 With a side of dammit, I feel old again now.


LE SSERAFIM - Come Over https://youtu.be/z_uqieM8VGM
genre: dance pop
cw: surrealism
note: loving this retro aesthetic that's much more pronounced than the mobile OS for which it's meant to be a commercial.


Ohm Taeyoon - Drama, Champagne, Refresh (audio only) https://youtu.be/Yj_xnVu7yqE
genre: rock


Heexi - Knock (audio only) https://youtu.be/h2ooDkUMF48
genre: R&B


Suite - Bath (audio only) https://youtu.be/mVVga817s04
genre: R&B


Kim Sungyeop - Fly one's hopes (audio only) https://youtu.be/l4d_GPK4CO8
genre: jazz fusion
note: so the uploader tagged this as "Korean traditional" but it feels too modern for that? But at the same time very Korean folk tradition? In a jazz way? So calling it fusion and hoping not to get kicked in my Western-classically-trained buttocks. 😅


izna - SIGN https://youtu.be/88GkYKvnvvI
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, lens flares, fireworks
note: kinda in love with the deeper voices the girls keep using, a relative rarity in girl groups. NOT in love with how they've chosen to present the sung chorus "sign"s in the CC, but... can't have everything?


NiziU - LOVE LINE https://youtu.be/RkPj6AnKm0Y
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, supernatural elements (fate threads, magic catgirls (sans ears))
note: what happens if you give a bunch of cats human forms? This video. This is why cats shouldn't be allowed near the strings of fate.


Woody - Sadder Than Yesterday https://youtu.be/1mZ-hoIvEx8
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, potential hanky warning
note: songs like this make me just want to give him a hug. Or have him give me one, either would work, I think


TEMPEST - Unfreeze https://youtu.be/EeYPiPLAFAY
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, mild hooliganism, blood/injury
note: ok but can I have that house? I'd take good care of it, honest!


Jin clobert - Aurora https://youtu.be/SNfpIrmEgPw
genre: modern folk/fusion
note: something vaguely unsettling about this, but I couldn't put into words what's causing that feeling


Kim JinWoo - Dear Mom https://youtu.be/_G3NjNJOpI8
genre: folk rock (ballad)


ShinEuiJin Anthem for You https://youtu.be/bewXzQ3nlY4
genre: rock
cw: lens flares


XloVI - frequency of love (feat. YECHAN) (audio only) https://youtu.be/dre0RTH-X2E
genre: R&B


jieut - Geumdarase Taryeong (feat. Shin Jaeyeon) (audio only) https://youtu.be/uq8wcEsW5G0
genre: modern Korean folk/jazz fusion
note: the style of singing used here tends to sit weirdly in the Western ear the first few times you hear it


Im Soo - Love Letter https://youtu.be/QqTLV4P70Xc
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing
note: did someone order soft hiphop boi hours?? woof...


Kwak Jin-Eon - Name (When Life Gives You Tangerines OST) https://youtu.be/CDkLAhgqCdg
genre: soft rock
cw: lens flares, blood/injury, hospitalization
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Moze - Daylife (audio only) https://youtu.be/YJwjJZaOGmw
genre: jazz


toyou. - Bright Day (audio only) https://youtu.be/ctg4ypc5AQ4
genre: R&B
note: I mean, there is technically a video here, but after the title, nothing moves, so...


IU - Midnight Walk (When Life Gives You Tangerines OST) https://youtu.be/nFOws0FC6TY
genre: adult contemporary
cw: dubious consent kisses
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Jicheon - Still On My Way (audio only) https://youtu.be/sKE7PiyrEjY
genre: folk rock


Kim Yong - Bank of Seoul (Bank of Seoul OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/uWRBA_y0qZ8
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: I debated leaving this off the listing, but it seemed only fair to include it after including LE SSERAFIM's commercial track


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




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