[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: April 22-29

[hitokage]

I can no longer tell if I'm doing better or worse than I was last week. I certainly feel more wrung out and stressed out than I did last week. I also spent the first half of the week completely wrong about what day it was and this is the worst time of the month for that to be happening, so yeah. We're rolling way behind. And exhausted. And in pain. And totally stressed out. It's wonderful! /s

The roundup is a bit longer this week, with JYP flooding the zone with a whole bunch of releases from their artists. We also have several OSTs, including drops from WOODZ and LUCY, several genres of rock, and the Korean debut of new boy group GENUS. The surrealism was also heavy this week, though one should expect that with the likes of Balming Tiger and NMIXX in the mix. Or if you're looking something for a winding down, Stella Kim brings out the violin and some cute kids and SF9 offered another live recording track. Not sure what you want? Browse the list or jump down to do a genre search!

Banner artists this week are GUMMY and Seungkwan (SEVENTEEN) who collab'd on a sweet spring ballad. Additional favorites (and there are many) can be found by noting the 💚s.

Releases for the week of April 22nd - 29th
Inner Garden - Happy End + *
Airman - The Night of Stargazing (feat. Lee Hyun)
Kim Jaehwan - I'll Be There *
BOL4 - Find You 💚
VVS - STAY THE NIGHT *
Talkie walkie _ Nighthawks (feat. wYtie) * ⚠️ +
Lim Jeonghee - DON'T YOU SEE *
Isaac Hong - Doesn't Matter * 💚
LEE CHANGSUB (BTOB) - Youth 🚩 💚
Forestella - Armageddon 💚
Yesung (Super Junior) - Sakihokoru Toki wo Matsu no wa 🔤 * 💚
Schizo - Like a Motor (feat. La haneul) * ⚠️ 🚩
NiceKatchy - Insane! * ⚠️
NiceKatchy - Stronger +
LE SSERAFIM - CELEBRATION 🔤 * 💚
GUMMY x Seungkwan (Seventeen) - Like Spring 🔤 * 💚
SORAN - Delivery *
HANRORO - Our Goodbye (Perfect Crown OST) *
Bangkey - ManneQueen (My Name Is Queen) *
Stella Kim - Romance in Spring * 💚
Zoe - Pure
MiMi - Pop Pink Apple
Kim Jaemin - Clue (Filing for Love OST) *
THE LAST LIVE - Soluna * 💚
Yoo Yeonseok - Those days (Phantom Lawyer OST) * ⚠️
SW:C - HEAVXXIVEN * 💚
B1A4 - CPR * 💚
WOODZ - EVERGLOW (Perfect Crown OST) * 💚
Chaein - Day by Day (18 Youth OST) * ⚠️
LIT, WillsBife - Just come see me (feat. Microdot)
WISH - So We Part
Marv, PAAK - Voo doo
M1NU - Memento Mori (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only)
gitae, Baek Yeseul - Leave Me, Don't Go
Joo Sebin - Always (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only)
LUCY - Starlight (We Are All Trying Here OST) 💚
he_eul, Yeonwoo - Comma
Ryu Jiwoo - Little Match +
OmO - REBEL+ER *
GENUS - SUGAR RUSH (debut) *
Jadu - Words, words, words *
SAY MY NAME - Sweet & Sour (Absolute Value of Romance OST)
YAOCHEN - ROLL THE DICE * ⚠️ 💚
TWS - You, You * 💚
NEXZ - Mmchk * 💚
Xnghan&Xoul - Glow 🔤 * ⚠️ 💚
HUI (PENTAGON) - Dear Tomorrow *
QWER - CEREMONY * ❌ 🚩
OSSH - Drunk Memory (feat. EUNSAN) +
J-CERA, irun - Like That First Day
Lee Dahyun - Shine on Me
homezone - I know I know (29 year old Wooris OST) (audio only)
HYUNKI - Best friends? *
MINSEO (WOOAH!) - Endlessly you *
Kimmuse - tiny letter *
J-ust - Unsent Messages +
NMIXX - Crescendo *
Balming Tiger - Home
KEYVITUP - LEGENDARY 🔤 * ⚠️ ❌
82MAJOR - Sign 🔤 * ❌ 💚
Lee Chaeyeon - No Tears On The Dancefloor 🔤 * ⚠️ ❌
Hwang Chiyeul - Be a star
SF9 - Fade Into Memories 💚
HeyMen - Square Circle * ❌
toyou. - Rain Loop (audio only)
Ahfoné - front door * ⚠️ ❌


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



Inner Garden - Happy End https://youtu.be/38sf_7pGq3I
genre: jazz/spoken word
cw: lens flares, unsteady cam
note: something a bit different to start the week. The white text was A Choice all right


Airman - The Night of Stargazing (feat. Lee Hyun) https://youtu.be/Ov6eQKLNIv4
genre: R&B
note: lyric video with lyrics in Korean (where the song's in Korean), English, and Chinese. The video background is twinkling lights, but so muted that it didn't feel up to a CW. There's also a small measure of audio strobing, but that also felt mild enough to not need a CW, per se.


Kim Jaehwan - I'll Be There https://youtu.be/bwnTqdoB3xM
genre: folk rock
cw: blood/injury, flashing, fireworks/pyrotechnics
note: the injuries are pretty minor, but that's a warning with a floor of almost zero - any evidence trips the warning.


BOL4 - Find You 💚 https://youtu.be/o87AImYLT2k
genre: soft rock
note: happy and bouncy and so very green


VVS - STAY THE NIGHT 🔤 https://youtu.be/E5Az6Pb2xnA
genre: dance pop
cw: unsteady cam, background flashing, guns, heist antics
note: CC in English. Ah yes, when the CC is censored and the lyrics aren't. 🙄 Not sure if this should be marked as a pre-release (since it says to be continued), since I don't really follow the group, so leaving that label off


Talkie walkie - Nighthawks (feat. wYtie) ⚠️ https://youtu.be/aTEecFyT-F0
genre: R&B
cw: aggressive flashing
note: this one tried to take me out in the first few seconds, I really don't recommend even trying if you're feeling particularly photosensitive. It didn't ever get as bad as that opening again, but still, do not recommend. Vertical format optimized for mobile devices.


Lim Jeonghee - DON'T YOU SEE https://youtu.be/Tae64btCcz0
genre: R&B (ballad)
cw: lens flares
note: feels rather epic, probably cuz of the setting 😜


Isaac Hong - Doesn't Matter 💚 https://youtu.be/Lgf_9UtLLps
genre: alt rock
cw: unsteady cam, lens flares
note: oh I've missed him, but if the camera could stop being so drunk, that would be even better. 😜


LEE CHANGSUB (BTOB) - Youth 🚩 💚 https://youtu.be/d0rNr_rDAzc
genre: trot (ballad)
note: the video is really just a short, looped clip "projected" onto an environment and I'm ... annoyed that this is probably genAI-assisted compositing, sigh, but still love the song.


Forestella - Armageddon 💚 https://youtu.be/43WPof6Scmw
genre: Kpopera/symphonic metal
note: that font was A Choice all right. 😜 And now I kinda want to watch/listen to their cover of Bohemian Rhapsody again....


Yesung (Super Junior) - Sakihokoru Toki wo Matsu no wa 🔤💚 https://youtu.be/kJ56IFIF95E
genre: pop rock
cw: water glare, lens flares, flashing
note: CC in 9 tracks, including English. I know the upload says "o" for "wo" but it's "wo" in this context (を is one of those fun kana with two modes)


Schizo - Like a Motor (feat. La haneul) ⚠️🚩 https://youtu.be/--eaqHFw9wY
genre: EDM/heavy metal fusion
cw: aggressive flashing
note: there's probably a more specific metal subgenre that covers this, but I haven't been in the metal scene in awhile. Also, I'm not convinced some-to-all of those street scenes aren't at least partly genslop. It's less than half the video, or else I'd've struck it entirely. I might also be giving it a bit more grace because women in rock, especially metal, are rather rare. But when I say aggressive flashing, I mean heavy-metal-typical aggressive, so...


NiceKatchy - Insane! ⚠️ https://youtu.be/JywM-nQjIyo
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, possible f-bombs
note: well... that was something

NiceKatchy - Stronger https://youtu.be/EOT5cBQTmEg
genre: hiphop
note: you know, a lyric video really only has one job, so when it fails at that job.... 😅 It's only a couple of times, but still


LE SSERAFIM - CELEBRATION 🔤 💚 https://youtu.be/a2grcJdfXmY
genre: dance pop
cw: body horror, blood, supernatural elements (monsters/aliens, magic/powers), surrealism, flashing lights
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. Well. That. That happened, all right. 🤣🤣 Good dance song but what is this MV??? 🤣


GUMMY x Seungkwan (Seventeen) - Like Spring 💚https://youtu.be/mOH1A0zZI2Y
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. I'm not crying, you're crying!


SORAN - Delivery https://youtu.be/Lx7mu6_vmRk
genre: pop-rock
cw: lens flares
note: most cursed shoot ever? If only it were that easy to turn back time....


HANRORO - Our Goodbye (Perfect Crown OST) https://youtu.be/yFCR9d_Ri2o
genre: R&B
cw: blood/injury, flashing
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


Bangkey - ManneQueen (My Name Is Queen) https://youtu.be/Upu35N6LElA
genre: pop-rock
cw: implied creepiness not otherwise specified
note: At first I thought the makeup around her mouth was supposed to indicate vampirism, then I thought oh maybe a maquette/puppet? Now I'm not so sure


Stella Kim - Romance in Spring 💚 https://youtu.be/t41LgXUGIMw
genre: jazz (instrumental)
cw: lens flares
note: always here for violin in Kpop with a side of I landed on jazz for this but some might argue for neoclassical. Also this being over five minutes caught me off guard given the recent trend of songs struggling to get over the 2.5min mark


Zoe - Pure https://youtu.be/z5oBhj39rpc
genre: soft rock (ballad)
note: another fairly bare staging for what's basically a performance video


MiMi - Pop Pink Apple https://youtu.be/HosGMY8IcGk
genre: dance pop
note: if apples kept appearing places I didn't put them, I definitely wouldn't be this calm about it. I was expecting so much more pink, too


Kim Jaemin - Clue (Filing for Love OST) https://youtu.be/xPqqwhl0pug
genre: jazz
cw: lens flares, gun violence, other violence, flashing lights, drinking (social)
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Not enough brass to be true funk, but it's got that vibe.


THE LAST LIVE - Soluna 💚 https://youtu.be/0gLc6L-zepM
genre: soft rock
cw: lens flares
note: apparently half the band has a shirt allergy, how terrible. Giving me some nostalgia feels, not sure why


Yoo Yeonseok - Those days (Phantom Lawyer OST) ⚠️ https://youtu.be/5oVAk1nSf8o
genre: soft rock (ballad)
cw: drinking (antisocial), character death, camera flashes, supernatural elements (Korean shamanism, ghosts/spirits), flashing lights, police/EMT
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Elevated warning for the cameras and the character deaths which, while not graphic, are quite explicit


SW:C - HEAVXXIVEN 💚 https://youtu.be/j1ppbHUneEk
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, lens flares, camera motion (pulse), supernatural elements (angel wings)
note: A mixed Korean & Japanese group, a quick search pulled up a debut release last April that I missed entirely because algorithmic discovery continues to be completely terrible, despite what the techbros say, but that's a rant for another time and place. They look to have some promise, I'll have to keep an eye out


B1A4 - CPR 💚 https://youtu.be/nWPs7sxFl6M
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, fireworks/pyrotechnics, flashing, blood/injury, car accident
note: yeah, I have a type when it comes to Kpop favorites, so sue me. 🤣😅🤣 Men being goofy boys, we love to see it. One possible reading is that they didn't survive the accident, but that's only one possible reading and probably NOT the intended one, so I'm saying it here instead of in the CWs.


WOODZ - EVERGLOW (Perfect Crown OST) 💚 https://youtu.be/WAoXXfvcFuQ
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: fireworks/pyrotechnics, camera flashes
note: video is entirely clips from the drama and definitely contains spoilers. I'm not crying over WOODZ perfect voice, YOU'RE crying!


Chaein - Day by Day (18 Youth OST) ⚠️ https://youtu.be/BfpX8j-OSLw
genre: soft rock (ballad)
cw: lens flares, blood/injury, domestic violence, character death (suicide + suicide attempt)
note: video is entirely clips from the movie, so may contain spoilers. Elevated warning for the domestic abuse/violence and on-screen suicide + attempt.


LIT, WillsBife - Just come see me (feat. Microdot) https://youtu.be/bONENtqfFRw
genre: R&B
note: visualizer where the only motion is the bar EQ under the cover art


WISH - So We Part https://youtu.be/hG7CgHP6NdI
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: do you need a hanky warning or are you normal? A simple performance video for a simple and touching song.


Marv, PAAK - Voo doo ⚠️ https://youtu.be/7bjVQ_dMJK8
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: elevated warning for the flashing. At not even two minutes, this was disappointing in its shortness 😔


M1NU - Memento Mori (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/Lumi8Rv4dF8
genre: hiphop
note: every time this show drops the next OST track without a clip MV, I get more curious (not enough to actually do anything, but I think about it)


gitae, Baek Yeseul - Leave Me, Don't Go https://youtu.be/EKpoi1spOc0
genre: adult contemporary
note: the hard-coded subs aren't awesome, but we've seen worse


Joo Sebin - Always (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/luAFx9GoqpE
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: has a certain epic feel to it


LUCY - Starlight (We Are All Trying Here OST) 💚 https://youtu.be/51Fv5K6h4pU
genre: rock
cw: blood/injury
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Since I'm not watching this drama, I can't tell if ML is actually nutty or if it's just the way these clips have been cut together.


he_eul, Yeonwoo - Comma https://youtu.be/6XLnzE2gqfY
genre: soft rock
cw: brightness, lens flares, unsteady cam, drinking (social)
note: I don't normally warn for brightness, but it kinda slapped me in the face when the video started with that stark white, so, uh, if you're going down the list.... And now I'm hungry again.


Ryu Jiwoo - Little Match https://youtu.be/BF29uAfVO0E
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: he's so young and Jiwoo is such a common name that I can't find a profile for him. Or, well, there's one that might be him, in which case, he's coming from the trot side of Kpop, in which further case, all complaints about him being too young can be shoved in a bucket and set on fire. Ok no, not really, but also kinda.


OmO - REBEL+ER https://youtu.be/D6unUU1cd5Q
genre: pop rock
cw: lens flares, flashing
note: another live clip/performance version in support of women in rock


GENUS - SUGAR RUSH (debut) https://youtu.be/_0fMqfxsPck
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, camera motion
note: ah yes, That Helipad, yet another place to add to the list (that I'll likely never compile at this rate). A quick search says they had a Japanese debut in January and have already had to put a member on hiatus in March, so a rocky start, but we'll see how things go from here.


Jadu - Words, words, words https://youtu.be/slyMUgihcq8
genre: kawaii hard rock
cw: full head masks (horses), creepy unicorn inflatable, lens flares
note: yes, that's the wrong genre for a Korean release, but at the same time, it fits. Even with the creeper unicorn being creepy.


SAY MY NAME - Sweet & Sour (Absolute Value of Romance OST) https://youtu.be/qwjK5kOLIB4
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, blood/injury
note: video is about half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. The other half is the girls in a recording studio being cute.


YAOCHEN - ROLL THE DICE ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/cwgA7QerOC0
genre: EDM
cw: surrealism, finger guns (literally), flashing, character death (sorta)
note: I'm aware he's not Korean. He is, however, shooting this at one of those That [Place]s, is signed by JYP, and oh yeah, Bang Chan of Stray Kids was involved in this, so he gets passed through. Elevated warning for the sorta MCD (explaining why "sorta" would spoil it)


TWS - You, You 💚 https://youtu.be/MiO16KlMPaU
genre: dance pop
cw: blood/injury, lens flares, supernatural elements (magic)
note: CC in 7 tracks, including English. They're going to be finding glitter in the most random places for the next five years, minimum, thanks to this video. 🤣


NEXZ - Mmchk 💚 https://youtu.be/PIgmxjozeCU
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, surrealism
note: this nonsense is what boys being boys should mean. I think I may have to love the one adoring his body pillow. 🤣


Xnghan&Xoul - Glow 🔤 ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/9VH0hLImWjY
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing, lens flares, dripping wet dancers (fully clothed)
note: CC in 8 tracks, including English. Elevated warning for the amount of aggressive flashing. Happy to see Seunghan thriving even if it also makes me a bid sad/mad. Did someone order a side of soaked twink? 😅


HUI (PENTAGON) - Dear Tomorrow https://youtu.be/DG9v8Hg3jXw
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing, lens flares, vintage effects, fireworks/pyrotechnics
note: that school facade looks rather familiar, do we have a That School entry for the list now? ww


QWER - CEREMONY ❌ 🚩 https://youtu.be/QdT4kx6SDJU
genre: pop rock
cw: surrealism, bridal visuals
note: I. Um. Oh boy. Look, I can handle a lot of questionable Choices, but this ... oh this stomped on a nerve all right and I didn't finish it, so CWs may be incomplete. MAYBE they didn't mean to use it for laughs, but I'm too [frumple] to give the benefit of the doubt, so dumping this isekai with a strong Do Not Recommend


OSSH - Drunk Memory (feat. EUNSAN) https://youtu.be/eRrBEPFTg6k
genre: alt rock
note: that shade of yellow-orange for the hard subs was A Choice, all right, yikes. It says "visualizer" but it's really a performance version.


J-CERA, irun - Like That First Day https://youtu.be/7iiL_NIOTlk
genre: R&B (ballad)
note: do you need a hanky warning or are you normal?


Lee Dahyun - Shine on Me https://youtu.be/rx-0lXktNmU
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: I spy, with my little eye, a familiar book (Where the Sidewalk Ends). This feels very much like something that would have felt entirely appropriate on The Lawrence Welk Show, which is a wild sentence for me to write in 2026.


homezone - I know I know (29 year old Wooris OST) (audio only) 🔤 https://youtu.be/A55tPQKPGC0
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: CC in English and Korean. Yeah, surprised me, too, but it does sometimes happen that one of these comes with CC.


HYUNKI - Best friends? https://youtu.be/rsvTYEsOIVs
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing, lens flares
note: [insert muttering here about nothing wrong with being friends]


MINSEO (WOOAH!) - Endlessly you https://youtu.be/uvU45RM2dyc
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: brightness, potential hanky warning, (brief) color flashing
note: don't know why, but this wasn't what I was expecting. The CWs on this one feel a tiny bit bullshit, but the brightness was quite stark and as long as I'd started, well... hanky warning is appropriate


Kimmuse - tiny letter 🔤 https://youtu.be/ywtFbWisyCc
genre: adult contemporary
cw: animated surrealism
note: CC in English. Amazingly, my CC and the video's hardcoded subs are not stacked on top of each other and oh look at that, the hard subs are done properly! I has a concern for how the tiny paper doll animation came to be, but I'm trying to stay optimistic


J-ust - Unsent Messages https://youtu.be/65A6d47e0Gw
genre: adult contemporary
cw: background flashing, drinking (social)
note: interesting composting but what a bland presentation


NMIXX - Crescendo 🔤 https://youtu.be/-SEKt_0pdHM
genre: damce pop
cw: surrealism, lens flares, horror tropes, supernatural elements (magic, creatures/fae)
note: CC in 9 tracks, including English. Song's interesting, video's a hot mess, what the actual fuck (derogatory).


Balming Tiger - Home 🔤 https://youtu.be/iDAStwuWFTE
genre: alt rock
cw: face masks, surrealism, violence
note: CC in English, Japanese, and Korean. Yeah, it's Balming Tiger, so this is about what I expect, really.


KEYVITUP - LEGENDARY 🔤 ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/6VJLhAiF3oA
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing (various), lens flares
note: CC in 7 tracks, including English. A LOT of flashing, to the point that I had to quit around halfway through, so CWs may be incomplete


82MAJOR - Sign 🔤 ❌ 💚 https://youtu.be/cp77ALn_JgY
genre: dance pop
cw: surrealism, flashing, gun violence, masks, strobing lights
note: CC in 6 tracks, including English. The eye glasses and the mouth masks are kinda unsettling. The flashing did me in, which annoys me cuz I like the song


Lee Chaeyeon - No Tears On The Dancefloor 🔤 ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/kxa11rqAu1g
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: CC in 4 tracks, including English. I tried to hold on to this, but half a minute and my brain was cooked from the flashes, so proceed at your own risk


Hwang Chiyeul - Be a star https://youtu.be/mxJ4ohLyfI0
genre: folk rock
note: and now for something distinctly different. 😅 Something soft and gentle as we get into the final stretch of the listing.


SF9 - Fade Into Memories 💚 https://youtu.be/WorJqExF7Kk
genre: R&B
note: continuing the gentle soothing. I did say before I was going to keep listing these as long as FNC keeps making them. We need soft things.


HeyMen - Square Circle ❌ https://youtu.be/OJVp9vn6Cnk
genre: rock
cw: lens flares
note: another one where I tried, but even with the break, with spots aimed right at the camera, I was out pretty quick, so... be careful


toyou. - Rain Loop (audio only) https://youtu.be/OhmycrWRJMQ
genre: jazz (instrumental)
note: unsurprisingly, I had to turn this one down to compensate for the hissing and scratching, but there's also actual rain noises, so use with caution if you like to sleep to rain sounds 😅


Ahfoné - front door ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/Y5a5KHaCFeA
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, unsteady cam
note: alas, we're ending on a sour note this week as the flashing took me out pretty fast on this one, too, sigh, so CWs may be incomplete.


And that's the end of the road for this week! What were your favorites? Any surprises? Let's chat about it!




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