Midweek New Music Roundup :: May 7-14

[hitokage]

Look, Thursday still counts as mid-week and it's still Thursday until I go to sleep, regardless of what the clock says, okay? Okay! 😆

This week the listing was a tiny bit more manageable and still covering a whole range of genres. We got two debuts this week - virtual group Priz and new girl group ablume - plus more comebacks than you can shake a stick at. In the mood to dance? Try the latest comebacks from E'LAST or MEOVV. Looking for more trot? Jeong Dongwon dropped another video, plus we got performances from two Handsome Trot artists. In the mood for something rock? There's dance rock from KARDI and CHUU, folk rock from Big Baby Driver and SoonSoonHee, soft rock from MRCH and Seoul Dabansa, or whatever Sons of Madam are doing this week. Seeking the freshest hiphop beats? Check out the latest from Loco, MOST, and JA!L. Need some R&B? Woody dropped a bunch of performances. Wanting a theraputic cry? Search out the hanky warnings. Not sure where to start? Browse the listing however you like or drop me a comment and I can try to steer you in a good direction.

Banner slots this week went to KARDI and P1Harmony, with my additional picks going to LUCY, SAAY, and Kwon Soonkwan with Bang Yedam, because I can be both surprising and predictable some weeks. 😉


Releases for the week of May 7th - 14th:
Kylie Cantrall - See U Tonight (feat. YUNAH & MINJU (ILLIT)) *
Kihvn - Body Line (feat. DUT2) *
THAMA - Still, With You
E'LAST - Crazy Train *
KISS OF LIFE - Live, Love, Laugh *
CHUU - Back in town *
MOST - Just Like a Habit (audio only)
Jang Minkyu - to You (audio only)
Kim Jaeseok - I SEE YOU * ❌
JA!L - MONCCUBUS (feat. Rosy Barbie) *
Hong Jimin - Mom's mom *
Big Baby Driver - Spring Whistle
Jeong Dongwon - Only U *
Vincent Blue - Wonderland +
Loco - random summer night (feat. Jordan Ward) 🔤 *
LUCY - I'll Dive Into You (Villain With a Crush OST) (audio only) 🔤
P1Harmony - DUH! *
i-dle - Girlfriend 🔤
ROSÉ - Messy (F1 The Moive OST) *
ablume - Echo (debut) 🔤 *
Roa - Although, Even now (audio only)
Chris Alice, Laurence Larson - Driving Blind
904 - Like a film (audio only)
INSOONI - FOOL
DPR Cream, DPR Artic - Drift *
Jackson Wang (GOT7) - BUCK (feat. Diljit Dosanjh) 🔤 *
KyoungSeo - Our Sea (Crushology 101 OST) *
kang kyunsung - your name *
SoonSoonHee - Three Friends *
Punch - I Hope You're Happy *
LET ME KNOW - 阿呆みたい (Japanese release)
K.Will - Be Your Shade (The Haunted Palace OST)
Samuel - ROCKSTAR *
Gwyn Dorado - What If (ToGetHer OST) + *
NIKA - Time + *
S.jin - Will You marry me (audio only)
Lilith - Blackhole (feat. Parangago) (audio only)
Hiding Day - Probably not
SOONI GROUP - The Person Who Once Loved Me (feat. Bagna, An Ye-seul, Park Dahye) (audio only)
2BIC - Star
Jeong hyobean - End of a Day (Crushology 101 OST) *
SUDI - TOO LOUD (feat. manolin) 🔤 + 🚩
MOROCK - Mo' Blue Whale (audio only)
SUDI - I Don't Need You (feat. ROYDO) 🔤 🚩
Recordame - I Told You (I told you OST) (audio only)
KARDI - Not But Disco 🔤 *
Sean Kim, Boaz - Upside Down (audio only)
TXT - When the Day Comes (Resident Playbook OST) *
Kwon Soonkwan - Eiffel Tower (with Bang Yedam) 🔤 *
BYUNYONGMIN - Man in the Mirror (audio only)
Hyun Woo - I'll hug you + *
Choo Sunghoon - Men to Man + *
donburi - It's spring (audio only)
Kim DongHa - LOVE YOU, FOREVER *
hansol - I don't know (audio only)
Sons of Madam - Answer Is You *
LUCY - I'll Dive Into You (Villain with a Crush OST) 🔤* +
MEOVV - Drop Top 🔤 *
tripleS - Are You Alive *
Lee Changsub (BTOB) - I will be your flower 🔤 * +
SAAY - Mood *
Kim Juyoung - You're all I need (audio only)
Priz - We! (with you) (debut) *
MRCH - Green we shared *
SUNGOL - May's Bride + * 🚩
Conut - Gazing into Indigo (audio only)
1LEEY - Thinking About You (audio only)
MOST - Just Like a Habit
BOYNEXTDOOR - I Feel Good 🔤 *
FIFTY FIFTY - Midnight Special 🔤 *
Jay Park - Mayday (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) 🔤 *
Woody - Say I Love You
Woody - Flower in the Desert
Sandeul - You Made Me Smile (Second Shot at Love OST) *
Woody - Natural
Jung Seunghwan - One More Day *
Jo Hwanji - Dissonant Hearts
Woody - Fire Up
Hoony Keys - May's Song (audio only)
toyou. - Urban Nights (audio only)
Hutanbando - Caveman (audio only)
Seoul Dabansa - Still Falling *
Michael Choi - Etude: Palmes (Boy in the Pool OST) (audio only)
DJ Magic Cool J - 108 Passions


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

note: despite the order of the listing above, where artists have multiple videos on the week, those additional releases have been pulled back up to under the first instance in order to make them easier to find.

Kylie Cantrall - See U Tonight (feat. YUNAH & MINJU (ILLIT)) https://youtu.be/vJB6baLzeHw
genre: dance pop
cw: unsteady cam
note: Okay, yes, technically this is not Kpop, but with two idols as featuring artists, into the list it went anyway. And with the bonus of all of ILLIT being in the video (which is not formatted for mobile screens, despite most of the video being made to look like it)


Kihvn - Body Line (feat. DUT2) https://youtu.be/B6row0NC8FQ
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing (transitions), lens flare
note: hokay, so... this time the ending title card does credit the artist as "Kihvn," so we're going with that romanization this time (and probably all future times as well).


THAMA - Still, With You https://youtu.be/n4LOymagIzw
genre: R&B
note: look, I don't appreciate the reminder/attack that 1995 (aka my high school era) was thirty years ago, making it vintage and also a whole generation and a half ago. Going to my happy place now....


E'LAST - Crazy Train https://youtu.be/uK5E1q3lxdk
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing graphic effects, video game-style "violence"
note: they're baby enough, is it really necessary to do the younger blushing makeup? 😜


KISS OF LIFE - Live, Love, Laugh https://youtu.be/tOBXveU3Efs
genre: R&B
cw: animated flashing, flashing stage lights, video "artifacts"
note: a sweet thank you to their fans


CHUU - Back in town https://youtu.be/VulDZHQyv1s
genre: dance rock
cw: flashing effects (various), lens flares, surrealism
note: the surrealism is really pretty mild, but still there in full weirdness


MOST - Just Like a Habit (audio only) https://youtu.be/2IoQ4cZfCoc
genre: hiphop (lyrical)

MOST - Just Like a Habit https://youtu.be/m0znnKPAHCg
genre: hiphop (lyrical)
note: a lyric video with pretty simple animation, the timing of the lyrics is sometimes suboptimal, but that's a common risk in rap


Jang Minkyu - to You (audio only) https://youtu.be/5-jMuEPBQes
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: a soft break early in the listing this time around. Listen now for a break now or save it for a later palette cleanse


Kim Jaeseok - I SEE YOU ❌ https://youtu.be/CZaxS_CWi0U
genre: R&B
cw: video artifacts (flashing, scratches)
note: I had to stop watching after ~90s because the dark pulsing was messing with me, so you'll have to proceed at your own risk


JA!L - MONCCUBUS (feat. Rosy Barbie) https://youtu.be/F9eH_eT27v0
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, supernatural elements ((fallen?) angel wings)
note: another one where the flashing wanted to take me out, so proceed with caution?


Hong Jimin - Mom's mom https://youtu.be/QHa_75rCPFs
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares (mid)
note: Given when this was posted, I'm assuming this was in honor of South Korea's Parents' Day (May 8)


Big Baby Driver - Spring Whistle https://youtu.be/fpIcmiV8wJ0
genre: folk rock
note: an interesting framing for the lyrics, I'm not sure what to think of it. It gets a bit messy in the spoken word section, but other than that ... it's cute? Video appears to have been optimized for mobile screens.


Jeong Dongwon - Only U https://youtu.be/3koGHaMIZeo
genre: trot
cw: lens flares, camera motion, flashing effects
note: we were doing so well and then we hit the 3 minute mark and ow. He's lucky he's cute? At least the hard subs stayed legible


Vincent Blue - Wonderland https://youtu.be/cAtD4sJGqRw
genre: dance pop
note: sigh, and the bad hard sub practices strike again. Sure, the whole song's in English, so I personally don't need them so much, but so not the point. 😜


Loco - random summer night (feat. Jordan Ward) 🔤 https://youtu.be/GqmOhvyOViA
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing
note: says he's not a freak, then talks about tying his hands. Yeah, okay, whatever you say, sir. 😜 Heavy use of vocal flanging.


LUCY - I'll Dive Into You (Villain With a Crush OST) (audio only) 🔤https://youtu.be/GQkZa34aYCg
genre: rock
note: thank you, LUCY, for providing an English CC track for this audio upload~

LUCY - I'll Dive Into You (Villain with a Crush OST) 🔤 https://youtu.be/ONv6Hph2iUo
genre: dance rock
cw: lens flares
note: also includes hard subs because sure why not. Adorable (fake) recording session video is adorable!


P1Harmony - DUH! https://youtu.be/oVKHAmij1-Y
genre: dance pop
cw: blood/injury, aggressive flashing, camera motion, surrealism
note: I am feeling very attacked right now, damn. Who told these boys they could do this? (And also, you kids are not old enough to be proclaiming GOAT-ness, who do you think you are, Key? 🤣)


i-dle - Girlfriend 🔤 https://youtu.be/zKfs2EM8LQ4
genre: dance pop
cw: vandalism, police, flashing lights (police, club), f-bombs, blood/injury, drinking (social)
note: girl power in Paris could be dangerous 😆


ROSÉ - Messy (F1 The Moive OST) https://youtu.be/ia2Ph61bYzc
genre: R&B
cw: drinking (social), flashing/strobing lights, lens flares
note: video is maybe half clips from the movie, so may contain spoilers (though probably not)


ablume - Echo (debut) 🔤 https://youtu.be/EtecXqZnSDA
genre: dance pop
cw: surrealism/supernatural elements (magic), lens flares
note: that is the biggest hummingbird ever. Still not sure if it was meant to be magic or just garden variety surrealism, hence the tag combining the two


Roa - Although, Even now (audio only) https://youtu.be/Y0yj0oN1N1c
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)


Chris Alice, Laurence Larson - Driving Blind https://youtu.be/WtRW33jQuwY
genre: dance pop
note: don't look at me like that 😆


904 - Like a film (audio only) https://youtu.be/i71OyypxJE8
genre: hiphop


INSOONI - FOOL https://youtu.be/zSSaSpMOMro
genre: soft rock
note: we live for older women still living it up and having a good time


DPR Cream, DPR Artic - Drift https://youtu.be/Y1s3reEYadY
genre: EDM
cw: flashing effects (various), smoking


Jackson Wang (GOT7) - BUCK (feat. Diljit Dosanjh) 🔤 https://youtu.be/mj-DPqiTZzc
genre: EDM
cw: flashing, blood/gore, f-bombs, dark surrealism
note: the Eng CC doesn't actually translate Diljit Dosanjh's lines, which sucks cuz that's half the reason for having CC turned on. Jackson continues to find new ways to be a little unsettling, so good for him?


KyoungSeo - Our Sea (Crushology 101 OST) https://youtu.be/173WudvyGlk
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares, jealousy/romantic tension, background flashing
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


kang kyunsung - your name https://youtu.be/0qUDhMnWRWI
genre: R&B
cw: video "artifacts" (intermittent), lens flares


SoonSoonHee - Three Friends https://youtu.be/Cr4as4bJ1V4
genre: folk rock
cw: lens flares, drinking (social), background flashing, blood/injury
note: some days are just shit and need to end in friends and alcohol


Punch - I Hope You're Happy https://youtu.be/NIsIG5LFM54
genre: R&B
cw: flashing video "artifacts"
note: so much paper litter....


LET ME KNOW - 阿呆みたい (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/YsdHOWPCSpQ
genre: rock
cw: flashing, lens flares, unsteady cam
note: just when I thought maybe we were done for a bit. The budget to shoot so many MVs for one album...can't imagine. 😅


K.Will - Be Your Shade (The Haunted Palace OST) https://youtu.be/YDN-YU8YvgQ
genre: R&B
cw: blood/injury, character death, supernatural elements (possession)
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Samuel - ROCKSTAR https://youtu.be/UFZTU8I0McQ
genre: hiphop
cw: lens flares, shirtless male, f-bombs
note: featuring That Diner and That Garage, cementing that this is indeed a Kpop production 😆


Gwyn Dorado - What If (ToGetHer OST) https://youtu.be/1Haz6frcvj4
genre: dance pop
cw: drinking (social)
note: video is clips from the reality program


NIKA - Time https://youtu.be/6BaYsd88pMk
genre: R&B
cw: flash transition
note: the pale buff hard subs were bad enough, but the switch to black with a black drop shadow was actually worse


S.jin - Will You marry me (audio only) https://youtu.be/7sDyMwqRkWg
genre: R&B


Lilith - Blackhole (feat. Parangago) (audio only) https://youtu.be/7j_qNemOExo
genre: EDM


Hiding Day - Probably not https://youtu.be/EMaMrNHF5mA
genre: folk rock
note: Not a fan of either the font of the timing. Or the sweeping in/out of the text. Clearly, I am not part of the target audience.


SOONI GROUP - The Person Who Once Loved Me (feat. Bagna, An Yeseul, Park Dahye) (audio only) https://youtu.be/Mqd8y8FJ03g
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)


2BIC - Star https://youtu.be/4lQ3xYwonUY
genre: R&B
note: potential hanky warning


Jeong hyobean - End of a Day (Crushology 101 OST) https://youtu.be/tBg81Th-8KE
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, jealousy/romantic tension, drinking (social)
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Shame the narrative is going to force FL to choose instead of allowing a reverse harem polycule solution. :p


SUDI - TOO LOUD (feat. manolin) 🚩 https://youtu.be/anke4CdCR5g
genre: hiphop
note: The 🔤 flag on this one is actually the hard subs instead of a CC track. Other than the lyrics, the video is two stitched together short clips with a petal effect overlay and even with as many times as it repeated, I couldn't shake the suspicion that it's genAI slop just because of the sheer laziness of the animation. Worst. Timeline. Ever.

SUDI - I Don't Need You (feat. ROYDO) 🔤 🚩 https://youtu.be/B09Usj2GWvQ
genre: hiphop
note: another case of the English as hard subs along with the Korean hard subs. Unfortunately, I have reason to think, again, that the "art" on this video is genslop again. JFC. Two strikes in one week, I'm about to pretend SUDI no longer exists for this.


MOROCK - Mo' Blue Whale (audio only) https://youtu.be/4LRQhtGhGOc
genre: R&B


Recordame - I Told You (I told you OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/IGRa228TXl4
genre: folk rock


KARDI - Not But Disco 🔤 https://youtu.be/kbx0sg4S1cg
genre: dance rock
cw: aggressive color flash
note: co-ed group AND use of traditional instrumentation? Yup, I'm down for that, always. The flashing color overlays get pretty intense towards the end, but didn't feel quite intense enough to elevate the warning higher


Sean Kim, Boaz - Upside Down (audio only) https://youtu.be/y29dxgA1b2c
genre: atmospheric rock
note: I know, the uploader says R&B, but here I am, respectfully disagreeing. 😜


TXT - When the Day Comes (Resident Playbook OST) https://youtu.be/FtEgUrOTkXM
genre: dance pop
cw: medical/hospital, flashing lights (karaoke/noraebang)
note: video is roughly half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Tubatu are too cute


Kwon Soonkwan - Eiffel Tower (with Bang Yedam) 🔤 https://youtu.be/6Fo55dHfmhs
genre: jazz
cw: background flashing (city lights at night), potential hanky warning
note: another ideal voice for this sort of music. I'm not crying, you're crying! Also, need to steal Yedam's cardi for the collection, yes. Actually, I might need that whole fit. Gimme. 😅


BYUNYONGMIN - Man in the Mirror (audio only) https://youtu.be/8qPvnsToK1Q
genre: hiphop
note: sus cover art is sus, but I'm not entirely sure what it's depicting?


Hyun Woo - I'll hug you https://youtu.be/BNnqw8E8Cr0
genre: trot
cw: background color flashing
note: ironically, if they had scooted the hard subs to align left instead of centered, they would've stayed visible better


Choo Sunghoon - Men to Man https://youtu.be/H6Jecr-6rgY
genre: trot
cw: background flashing
note: he looks like a mafioso and then he starts singing and that impression somehow gets stronger?? 😅 I think it's the way he shapes his mouth when he sings on top of his whole aesthetic. This could easily be used for a tango in professional ballroom and I love it.


donburi - It's spring (audio only) https://youtu.be/JbiI2DHqhAw
genre: folk rock
note: I know, here I am disagreeing with the uploader again, but I'm right, dammit. 😅


Kim DongHa - LOVE YOU, FOREVER https://youtu.be/OhnlgQpik-Q
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares


hansol - I don't know (audio only) https://youtu.be/iZ255Ggx_g0
genre: rock


Sons of Madam - Answer Is You https://youtu.be/t6KFu9b36c8
genre: rock
cw: full-cover ski masks, something like MCD
note: look, this video is just ... weird. At least the hard subs stayed distinct? But the story of the MV is so... I don't even know where to start. 😅


MEOVV - Drop Top 🔤 https://youtu.be/l4On7TQoM-M
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, water glare, flashing lights
note: cosmic kitties eeeee 😆


tripleS - Are You Alive https://youtu.be/177y0J0Ynos
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing (dark), blood/injury, unsteady cam, pyrotechnics, lens flare, suggested SI
note: I don't know why the self-harm caught me off guard, given the title, but it did


Lee Changsub (BTOB) - I will be your flower 🔤 https://youtu.be/hP092xFmmUo
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares, potential hanky warning
note: Changsub's been having a very busy year this year. Alas, the hard subs are so bad, I barely caught them at all - the color and that unexpected placement, I was halfway through the song before I ever noticed them.


SAAY - Mood https://youtu.be/w8DyhYhjxtA
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing
note: there's a Korean CC track so if you have auto-translate set up, you will get English CC, but the song's lyrics are already in English, so it creates defects


Kim Juyoung - You're all I need (audio only) https://youtu.be/37DPdv3hw08
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)


Priz - We! (with you) (debut) https://youtu.be/Jg1Wf7znUFA
genre: dance pop
cw: animated lens flares, animated flashing
note: took some digging around, but Priz is another virtual girl group - the members have been v-tubers for awhile now brought together to form a girl group and this is there first activity as a group, so it gets the debut tag.


MRCH - Green we shared https://youtu.be/0rG4WPZpGaY
genre: soft rock
cw: lens flares
note: unexpectedly, this made me feel homesick (for the PacNW, which is always going to be "home" no matter how long I live elsewhere)


SUNGOL - May's Bride 🚩 https://youtu.be/4EaTSCItiVk
genre: folk rock
cw: lens flares, water glare, possible genAI
note: the fact that I spent the entire video trying to decide if these were all actually real people or not and in the end couldn't completely discount that some of the scenes might well be genAI slop is bothersome. On the other hand, genAI is too racist to remember Black people exist most of the time, so...


Conut - Gazing into Indigo (audio only) https://youtu.be/TaeLOCuhorE
genre: rock


1LEEY - Thinking About You (audio only) https://youtu.be/vBwKYXtlPQw
genre: R&B


BOYNEXTDOOR - I Feel Good 🔤 https://youtu.be/ic31SJ4uK4Y
genre: dance rock
cw: flashing (camera flash, stage lights), lens flares
note: the CC doesn't kick in until the actual song starts at :30. That said, this song and video are both so wonderfully stupid, I love it.


FIFTY FIFTY - Midnight Special 🔤 https://youtu.be/XPbhKiC1JrI
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, lens flares
note: Why the kitty theme? No idea, but I'm loving it


Jay Park - Mayday (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) https://youtu.be/E-wnTqd6fsc
genre: hiphop
cw: lens flares, flashing, drinking (social)
note: Look, I know he released this song like nine months ago, but the video was just uploaded, so here we are. With a side of Jay going oh hey, remember I'm a dancer? 😆


Woody - Say I Love You https://youtu.be/93DqVmxNCfk
genre: R&B
note: slapping an MV tag on a live performance so I end up "breaking" my own rules (repeatedly). Call this the re-releases section, I guess 😅 Do you, too, need the potential hanky warning for this or are you normal? 🤣

Woody - Flower in the Desert https://youtu.be/DupVxxvPg50
genre: R&B
note: another potential hanky warning, but it's the only warning, so putting it down here.

Woody - Natural https://youtu.be/gOUhR0djgTg
genre: R&B
note: no hanky warning this time, just happy vibes!

Woody - Fire Up https://youtu.be/qkqIFjHhAKE
genre: R&B
note: ok, last of the teddy bear's lies (for this week) (but he's teddy bear, so he gets away with it).


Sandeul - You Made Me Smile (Second Shot at Love OST) https://youtu.be/9UJvOiMely0
genre: R&B
cw: flashing (transitions)
note: video is a series of stills from the drama, so while not zero, chances of spoilers are greatly reduced


Jung Seunghwan - One More Day https://youtu.be/gMuONqDv2Kk
genre: R&B
cw: drinking (social), lens flares (mild), potential hanky warning


Jo Hwanji - Dissonant Hearts https://youtu.be/uitQgTGIjps
genre: R&B
note: potential hanky warning! ooph, my heart....


Hoony Keys - May's Song (audio only) https://youtu.be/6FLc5OtM2lY
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: a soft moment of piano for anyone needing a break


toyou. - Urban Nights (audio only) https://youtu.be/F_s6difYgwU
genre: jazz (instrumental)
note: continuing the piano break, but with a different genre 😉


Hutanbando - Caveman (audio only) https://youtu.be/NryM2IkG-bo
genre: folk rock
note: I ... have no idea what's going on with that cover art


Seoul Dabansa - Still Falling https://youtu.be/Uomp-v0AGhY
genre: soft rock
cw: background flashing, drinking (social), lens flares


Michael Choi - Etude: Palmes (Boy in the Pool OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/V6JYlFTb9Pw
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: and another late-appearing instrumental break


DJ Magic Cool J - 108 Passions https://youtu.be/zkeL_swCBBk
genre: EDM
note: it's labelled as an MV, but that's probably pushing it a little, since this is really just a beat visualizer, but hey, whatever makes the artist happy?


Look at that, you made it to the end! What were your favorites of the week? Any surprises? Let's chat!


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