[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: March 18-25

[hitokage]

It's hot, it's cold, it's turn on the A/C time, no wait, switch back to heat, no A/C, no heated blanket ... yeah, the weather's drunk and my body is big mad and dying about it, so count it a miracle I actually made it all the way through this list instead of going Here Be Dragons. I did get a bit ruthless a couple times with my cuts, but my list, my rules. Doesn't stop us from having everything from hiphop and EDM to alt rock and trot, with plenty of pop and R&B along the way. New OSTs from Soobin of TXT and Narin of MEOVV, the much-anticipated return of BTS, a surprise drop from the rappers of xikers, new girl rock from LATENCY, a rap collab from H1GHER Music, plus supplemental releases by P1Harmony, WOODZ, and Bang Yedam to round things out a bit. Not sure where to start? Whether you go straight down the list or hunt and peck, it's up to you! When in doubt, a ctrl+F by genre is always a place to start.

Banner slots this week went to YUNA (ITZY) and BTS for image reasons - actual favorites are, as usual, marked with a heart (even when they hurt me). 💚

Releases for the week of March 18th - 25th:
이응 - 어른은 어려워 * ❌
pH-1, lIlBOI, Woodie Gochild, BIG Naughty - SUPERSTAR * ⚠️ ❌ 💚
INSTANT ROMANTIC FLOOR - TUNG * ⚠️
Xion (ONEUS) - BLOOMING (feat. WOOZI (SEVENTEEN)) * 💚
Lucia - Kirké * ⚠️ 🚩
P1Harmony - L.O.Y.L. * ⚠️ 💚
harry kim - UNTIL IT'S OVER
kenessi - Constancy (feat. floryy) (audio only)
Kyuyeon Park - After Rain (audio only) *
SugarBox - The Cat That Saves World (audio only)
Hyojin (ONF) - Teddy Bear Love 💚
NavyQuokka - 컬러링 * +
PARAMETER - SURFER *
WOODZ - Stray 🔤 * ⚠️ 💚
Gabby Onme - HEART'S RACING *
Hyunjin (Stray Kids) - LOVER 🔤 * ⚠️ 💚
Shin Jeong U, Woo Ji Han - The Night You were There (Always Meet Again OST) *
Chloe Char - Sassy Walk (feat. 7min) (audio only)
tipsymaki never talkin' swag (feat. YUNG CHENS) (audio only) *
BTS - SWIM 🔤 *
Bang Yedam - With Me (audio only)
Soobin (TXT) - Rekindling Memories (Still Shining OST)
SoOv - I LOVE YOU (audio only)
YOUNGHA - Iced Americano (audio only) 💚
BulgogiMacaroon - IBAN CASTLE (audio only)
BTOB - We Together 🔤 *
Kim Suyoung - Somewhere only we know (Still Shining OST) *
Yunmin - And a New Life Begins (Phantom Lawyer OST)
INDEGOAD - ANTI MARRIAGE (feat. HARLYN) *
YEGNY - I Feel You (In Your Radiant Season OST) *
J.BASS - Our March (feat. Naive)
NARIN (MEOVV) - NO SAVIOR (Mad Concrete Dreams OST) *
XEN (OMEGA X) - F KILLER (audio only)
NEKIRU - Still Love, Still Alive (audio only)
Back Jun Hyeon The Other Side of Love (audio only)
DK (SEVENTEEN) - Best Scene (Curtain Up, Class OST) *
HAJIN - Remember (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only)
21univ - Flying Penguin *
Jeong Sewoon - 장난스럽고 다정하게 🔤
Minjae x Sumin x Yechan (xikers) - DELULU 🔤 * ⚠️ 💚
Super Joy Club - Fall In Peace *
ZIDA-B - Apologize !! (feat. Sejin) (audio only)
LATENCY - LATENCY *
Egen Boys, Steven Lee - May we all be rich *
Kim jeong yeon - My First Love Waits for Spring *
YUNA (ITZY) - Ice Cream
OWIS - MUSEUM (debut) 🔤 *
NMIXX - TIC TIC (feat. Pabllo Vittar) 🌟 *
j1yul - Too Fye *
Hoony Keys - Echo (audio only)
SMALEAR - Present (audio only)
Kim Minul, Morning Coffee - From friendship to love (audio only)
sunwoojunga - Look At Me (Climax OST) *
toyou. - In Between Us (audio only)
OuiOui - Unhappy Ending * +
LINEN - Spring by chance *
Yu-nan-e - You're gone (audio only)
BamBam (GOT7), Nadech - ไปอีก (Ready for MORE) *
HANUM - Bonfire (audio only)



The Mea Culpa Section:
... I've had worse misses than this. Between Starship being pants at promoting Japanese releases and STRITZ trying to be homegrown, neither of this misses surprise me, per se, but I still feel bad about it.

STRITZ - HOPE (WE GOT THIS!) (debut) *
CRAVITY - BLAST OUT (Japanese release) *

key:
* content warning
+ includes “disappearing” hard subs
🔤 includes CC in English
⚠️ elevated content warning
🔞 age-restricted by YouTube
🚩 other warning
❌ did not complete
🌟 special note
💚 picks of the week


note: the missed videos have been moved to the top


STRITZ - HOPE (WE GOT THIS!) (debut) https://youtu.be/9n0Nk-l4LdA
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares
note: So from what I've found so far, this is a group of ordinary college kids who have a passion for the arts, but with one exception, haven't had any formal idol training. At least half of them have even already done their military service. Their pre-debut promo says their object is to build an idol group from grassroots ordinary people, so we'll see what happens.


CRAVITY - BLAST OUT (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/O-q-3KzqrIY
genre: dance pop
cw: background flashing, unsteady cam, lens flares, faux-IR cam
note: some kind of SciFi/androids plot going on in here, but I wasn't giving it that much attention.







이응 - 어른은 어려워 ❌ https://youtu.be/gk2d4m4Pido
genre: pop rock
cw: stop-motion flashing, implied drinking (antisocial), surrealism
note: welp. that was a video all right...that I had to quit because of the flashing, which unexpectedly hit me in the face, sigh


pH-1, lIlBOI, Woodie Gochild, BIG Naughty - SUPERSTAR ⚠️ ❌ 💚 https://youtu.be/bPkMVHOaZE0
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: elevated warning for the flashing, which starts early and hard. CC is only in Korean, but auto-translate kicked in which of course means the timing rapidly fails out during the rapping. I made it most of the way before the flashing got too much, so still giving it a heart, but do be careful with yourselves.


INSTANT ROMANTIC FLOOR - TUNG ⚠️ https://youtu.be/4VIUpZR0LE0
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, SPIDER, implied severe smoking
note: elevated warning for both the bright flashes and the HUGE fuck off spider AUGH. It was just one brief appearance but still.


Xion (ONEUS) - BLOOMING (feat. WOOZI (SEVENTEEN)) https://youtu.be/8KokAkRwYAA
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing
note: Welcome to Missing Woozi Hours, featuring XION of ONEUS and assorted shots of Okinawa, meaning now I'm missing Woozi AND feeling stupidly homesick.


Lucia - Kirké ⚠️ 🚩 https://youtu.be/pHl0J1dyVXc
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: aggressive flashing, possible genslop, scorpion
note: It could be mundane computer graphics, but I don't have any faith in the industry not to be slopping it up at this point, so....


P1Harmony - L.O.Y.L. ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/npSJCiL-MUI
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing, glitching, background flashing, lens flares, implied drinking (social)
note: sorry, what was that? Blond Keeho got me again. Guess they spent all their money on Unique, cuz this has such a shoestring budget feel. 🤣


harry kim - UNTIL IT'S OVER https://youtu.be/3WWYJoMdiFY
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: lyric video where the only motion is the lyrics


kenessi - Constancy (feat. floryy) (audio only) https://youtu.be/B5pk3438etI
genre: R&B
note: that opening gave me flashbacks to The Lawrence Welk Show (that's not a bad thing, per se, but definitely unexpected)


Kyuyeon Park - After Rain (audio only) https://youtu.be/N2oGqDQD4Zg
genre: R&B
cw: stereo strobing
note: the way the audio bounces between left and right channels is, uh, maybe not great if you're sensitive to that sort of thing. Unlikely to be an issue if you're not using headphones


SugarBox - The Cat That Saves World https://youtu.be/oGre4A56Pv4
genre: folk
note: happy bouncy cute and might be intended for young listeners, but good for anyone needing a moment of cheer and cat-ness


Hyojin (ONF) - Teddy Bear Love 💚 https://youtu.be/Sx76p89zqk0
genre: R&B
note: soft and sweet, just like a teddy bear


NavyQuokka - 컬러링 https://youtu.be/a64h1kHw5vk
genre: jazz
cw: person in fur suit
note: as a lyric video, you had one job and you still boffed it up, sigh. Then again, the dancing quokka fur suit loops are pretty distracting from the lyrics anyway


PARAMETER - SURFER https://youtu.be/52pa8zeAdGM
genre: alt rock
cw: lens flares, unsteady cam, dark flashes
note: CC is marked as being in Korean, but I has a suspicion that's not actually true - YT claims auto-translate is on, but, uh, "enuogh" is a human-made oops (and the song's lyrics are all English anyway?). Not actually surf rock, but maybe a close cousin? Of course all the ocean shots have me feeling homesick again, le sigh.


WOODZ - Stray 🔤 ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/kyBC1Lwsu3I
genre: hard rock
cw: aggressive flashing, camera motion
note: CC in 6 tracks, including English. Elevated warning for the flashing that almost took me out several times ... and honestly, I shouldn't have finished it, the last quarter is completely Not Good for anyone feeling photosensitive, but I have a weakness for rockstar!WOODZ that makes me make bad choices.


Gabby Onme - HEART'S RACING https://youtu.be/YvSMgWW6Qos
genre: soft rock
cw: flashing effects (various), possible f-bombs??
note: just when I think I've got a handle on these guys, they do something different. Enunciation is not clear enough for me to say for sure, but it sure SOUNDS like some f-bombs in there, so ... better safe than sorry?


Hyunjin (Stray Kids) - LOVER 🔤 ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/l8sSQAa1kNM
genre: R&B
cw: aggressive flashing, lens flares
note: CC in English and Japanese. Elevated warning for the stark flashing - the video being mostly in B&W makes the situation worse


Shin Jeong U, Woo Ji Han - The Night You were There (Always Meet Again OST) https://youtu.be/521IWBR-APA
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: video is mostly clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Ah yes, the slightly creepy romance tropes that persist even in BL...


Chloe Char - Sassy Walk (feat. 7min) (audio only) https://youtu.be/BySyzthtwwo
genre: disco
note: yes, you read that right, I'm filing this as disco. Because I can. And because I'm right. 🤣🤣🤣


tipsymaki - never talkin' swag (feat. YUNG CHENS)
genre: hiphop
cw: f-bombs
note: a bit tech-y and very mumble-mouthed


BTS - SWIM 🔤 https://youtu.be/b4iVv91Z6lY
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. That interior does not fit that exterior, unless we're saying the ship's a TARDIS 😜


Bang Yedam - With Me (audio only) https://youtu.be/Pgj99RIS-rM
genre: R&B
note: I know I've mostly dropped covers from this roundup (this was originally recorded by RealSlow aka Wheesung), but seeing as this was part of a special tribute project that Bang Yedam then put up on his channel, well... Get your tissues ready cuz this is prime hanky warning material. For all the broken hearts....


Soobin (TXT) - Rekindling Memories (Still Shining OST) https://youtu.be/yMyXXPDv3ek
genre: R&B
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. CC is only in Korean, but auto-translate kicked on for me, for what that's worth. Do you need the potential hanky warning warning or are you normal? 😅


SoOv - I LOVE YOU (audio only) https://youtu.be/-Igrlma6gfM
genre: techno
note: I ... I suppose you could dance to this, but it's a bit slow and discordant, unless we're talking modern interpretive dance


YOUNGHA - Iced Americano (audio only) 💚https://youtu.be/DHlLLJDsF1s
genre: hiphop
note: of course I'm a sucker for a jazzy backing track


BulgogiMacaroon - IBAN CASTLE (audio only) https://youtu.be/O7KGBzNsQuM
genre: alt rock
note: ... oo, should I call this surf rock? It sorta has that vibe ... or maybe more like if surf rock and ska had a Korean baby....


BTOB - We Together 🔤 https://youtu.be/lUJ3JEAp-II
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, flashes
note: CC in 6 tracks, including English. So much Old Man Sweater Energy in this video.


Kim Suyoung - Somewhere only we know (Still Shining OST) https://youtu.be/-kUmOY-tB-Q
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. As like before, the CC is in Korean but auto-translate did its thing but it doesn't matter cuz the timing is a mess even more than just the usual auto-translate timing issues.


Yunmin - And a New Life Begins (Phantom Lawyer OST) https://youtu.be/-7NfQDh-Q2I
genre:
cw: supernatural elements (ghost, shamanism), blood/hospital, supporting character death,
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers ... or, actually, I'm pretty sure that's an entire episode's plot there being exposed, albeit without sound, but still ... spoilers.


INDEGOAID - ANTI MARRIAGE (feat. HARLYN) https://youtu.be/I_yAyK1NkoY
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing effects
note: i get vacuum-sealing flowers, but a burger? That's just wrong


YEGNY - I Feel You (In Your Radiant Season OST) https://youtu.be/tKDiBRrpRYU
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, implied injury (very minor). fireworks/pyrotechnics, background flashing
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


J.BASS - Our March (feat. Naive) https://youtu.be/n2nzGKKnV64
genre: R&B
note: you're a lyric video, you have one job and you're FAILING. It's not impossible to read the lyrics, but they could've been set off better. On the other hand, the song is entirely in English, so....


NARIN (MEOVV) - NO SAVIOR (Mad Concrete Dreams OST) https://youtu.be/t63lQ_1mtZY
genre: EDM
cw: human vs. vehicle accident, genre-typical violence (including character death)
note: video is about half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


XEN (OMEGA X) - F KILLER (audio only) https://youtu.be/qVMpdbo8dQ4
genre: R&B
note: Omega X hwaiting!


NEKIRU - Still Love, Still Alive (audio only) https://youtu.be/ARl_VWZOVAs
genre: metal
note: Is lolita metal a thing? This reminds me of BAND MAID (in a good way).


Back Jun Hyeon The Other Side of Love (audio only) https://youtu.be/KvOEZluaMDY
genre: folk rock
note: slow but not necessarily melancholy, though it probably could be


DK (SEVENTEEN) - Best Scene (Curtain Up, Class OST) https://youtu.be/0XrGxq5cSr0
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing
note: video is about half clips from the show and half DK being stupid-adorable in a recording studio, so really this is cuteness overload.


HAJIN - Remember (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/A2xpWVwP1tY
genre: R&B
note: gonna feel something if they decide to put out a clip MV later, but for now....


21univ - Flying Penguin https://youtu.be/ujhjTJ3AHsY
genre: rock
cw: lens flares, water glare, unsteady cam
note: there is a distressing and complete lack of penguins in this video. I guess she's supposed to be the penguin, but still. Could've given her a penguin shirt or a penguin patch. Something.


Jeong Sewoon - 장난스럽고 다정하게 🔤 https://youtu.be/SnkwxcPz0zM
genre: pop rock
note: CC in English and Korean. The mismatched socks are going to be the end of me... 😅 Normally someone at Jeong Sewoon's level, I can find an official English (or romanized) title, but it looks like this single hasn't fully released yet.


Minjae x Sumin x Yechan (xikers) - DELULU 🔤 ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/nC6tSUowhIg
genre: hiphop
cw: demon masks, aggressive flashing, f-bombs, supernatural elements (enchanted objects, spirit fire), false color
note: wait, oh, we know we in trouble when KQ skips the 10s intro.... With an elevated warning right off the top for all the flashing.
... boys, I'm not sure this is the correct usage of that word. On the other hand, this is at least the third Delulu this year, so, uh. Something.


Super Joy Club - Fall In Peace https://youtu.be/ENZVtPYY6l4
genre: R&B
cw: flash transitions
note: could be tagged "easy listening" 😅


ZIDA-B - Apologize !! (feat. Sejin) (audio only) https://youtu.be/Dxrjuay2IPA
genre: hiphop
note: cover art features an apple with the largest caterpillar ever, like, damn... but it's a cute colored pencil art, so....


LATENCY - LATENCY https://youtu.be/O6EMq0I0fq4
genre: rock
cw: background flashing, unsteady cam
note: always here to support women in rock, especially if they're being hooligans about it


Egen Boys, Steven Lee - May we all be rich https://youtu.be/pb3R8_xURuY
genre: trot
cw: terrible graphics, flashing
note: this video screams very Graphic Design Is My Passion (derogatory). Like it's giving early GeoCities, dancing baby gif energy. If this damages your brain, don't say you weren't warned.


Kim jeong yeon - My First Love Waits for Spring https://youtu.be/PHs15dQ86tQ
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: flashing
note: feels like the soft filter highlights the very idealized demure femme energy


YUNA (ITZY) - Ice Cream 🔤 https://youtu.be/x0FwbTiD3iA
genre:
cw: surrealism, flashing
note: CC in 10 tracks, including English. I have nothing but inappropriate comments to make here.... I do appreciate all the humans credited in Art and VFX, even if it was a nightmare to check the speed-crawl.


OWIS - MUSEUM (debut) 🔤 https://youtu.be/J7OhGsGbaM4
genre: dance pop
cw: surrealism, animated flashing
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. OWIS is a newly debuted "virtual" idol group ... except their concept involves transitions between a dream world and a "real" world, so while the primary forms are going to be the animated avatars, there's also been glimpses of flesh-and-blood versions of the members, too ... although I suppose there's no guarantee those flashes are "real" actually at this point, sigh, and also, SIGH. I guess we see what comes next


NMIXX - TIC TIC (feat. Pabllo Vittar) 🔤 https://youtu.be/1tkjwhhYIFU
genre: dance pop
cw: background flashing, lens flares, surrealism
note: CC in English (sort of - the English is in English, obv, but the BrPor is still in BrPor). Yeah, we've already had one video for this song, but now there's an official MV, so here we are again


j1yul - Too Fye https://youtu.be/NxYNNXIC7NM
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing
note: aww, cute tiny pupper is bestest boy!


Hoony Keys - Echo (audio only) https://youtu.be/GUl1TDuwttg
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: a soft piano interlude, should you need a break or to add to an evening winding down playlist


SMALEAR - Present (audio only) https://youtu.be/uRILyrPI1eY
genre: R&B
note: more groove than pop...or something....


Kim Minul, Morning Coffee - From friendship to love (audio only) https://youtu.be/ywdFOlSJ1Yo
genre: folk rock
note: adjusted romanization to match cover art. Light and cheerful


sunwoojunga - Look At Me (Climax OST) https://youtu.be/OwfvUWfhY90
genre: alt rock
cw: drinking (solo), flashing (camera), blood/injury
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


toyou. - In Between Us (audio only) https://youtu.be/EXIupRAguo8
genre: instrumental jazz
note: turned down my headphones again for that snap crackle pop in the background


OuiOui - Unhappy Ending 🔤 https://youtu.be/6DgCuS9eSU8
genre: R&B
cw: unsteady cam
note: CC in English and Korean. Which is nice, since the hard coded subs are kind of a mess (and only in Korean and Japanese). The camera work kept threatening to push me over the edge, so be kind to yourself?


LINEN - Spring by chance https://youtu.be/IeBPvxcEpCk
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: soft flashing, lens flare
note: ah yes, the coffee shop meet-cute that's wonderful in fiction but a terrible idea in real life. At least our ML is a dweeb instead of a creep


Yu-nan-e - You're gone (audio only) https://youtu.be/iChk1uv78-U
genre: folk (ballad)
note: soft and wistful with solo acoustic guitar and solo woman's voice


BamBam (GOT7), Nadech - ไปอีก (Ready for MORE) https://youtu.be/5IpijccabU4
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, very prominent product placement, Bammie's cute giggles
note: Yes, yes, that's Thai. In the Kpop roundup. Because my baby Bammie is always going to get a pass. Look at hims cute face, how can I not? Even when it's basically a coffee commercial.


HANUM - Bonfire (audio only) https://youtu.be/wJBg9Pr3MPM
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: a soft final note for the week, just in time for me to go to bed (as I'm writing this part anyway)


And that's the end of another week!! What were your favorites? Any surprises?


This post brought to you by my lovely Patreon and KoFi supporters. Did you know these posts take 8-12 hours/week to compile? If you've found them at all valuable, a KoFi would be much appreciated. No obligations, of course, and the kitties will love you either way.
DW | Mastodon | Bluesky | Ko-fi | Patreon | Discord | Twitch