[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: May 6th - 13th

[hitokage]

It started as a joke, but maybe I should change the schedule on these just so maybe I'll actually get them posted on time. Or, you know, even better, Life could stop kicking me while I'm down long enough for me to get things done in a timely fashion. Either or. 😜

We've got another mix of genres again this week, hitting everything from R&B to EDM, trot to hiphop, with a handful of OSTs, a couple debuts, and some unexpected gems. If girl groups are your jam, we've got comebacks from Billlie, KIIRAS, and aespa to get you started. Looking for the freshest hiphop? Check out the latest from BE'O or Taeyong (NCT). Feeling nostalgic? We've got new music from the original hard body idol, RAIN and Jay Park is back with his latest project, LNGSHOT. Wanting something more rock? LUAMEL's in the desert while ILHOON says the devil can take a number. Not sure what you want? Peruse the list at your leisure, check out my personal picks, or hit me up for more specific recommendations!

Banner artist slots this week go to Mingi (ATEEZ), Jihyo (TWICE), and RAIN, because I have zero shame. As per usual, my weekly favorites can be found by looking for the 💚s.

Releases for the week of May 6th - 13th:
Mad Clown - except you (feat. siso)
Billlie - ZAP 🔤 *
B:DAWN - BEOM (debut) *
KIIRAS - TA TA *
LUAMEL - Desert Wanderer *
Wanna one - WE WANNA GO
Sumi Jo - Romance (with SUHO (EXO)) +
Seohwa - Drive *
HAJIN - In my dreams
Shin Yeyoung, SOONSOONHEE, Jeon Gunho, YERIN - All For You
YUHZ - Rush Rush (debut) * 💚
ROSESIA - Cinnamon Love *
Lee Jiham - memory
J.BASS - summer border (feat. sido)
Jeon Sangkeun - Night sea *
HANHAE, Moon Seyoon - Airplane (feat. CHUU) *
DAVINK, Kei - How Can I Forget you
Woona - The Conditions for an Ending *
Jenevieve - Hvnly (feat. JIHYO (TWICE)) 🔤 *
Tiffany Young (SNSD) - Summer's Not Over 🔤 *
Forestella - Armageddon 🔤 * ⚠️ 🚩
BE'O - HATE 🔤 * 💚
ILHOON - Devil Can Wait 🔤 * ⚠️
Nam Jong - Anyway (My Royal Nemesis OST) *
HAN (Stray Kids) - back to life * ⚠️ ❌ 💚
SAM KIM - If You Were My World (Perfect Crown OST) *
mac - Goldfish * ❌
Ha Jin-Yang - I Think I Found the One (Japanese release) *
Andrew Choi - Royal Flush (feat. Microdot) (Filing for Love OST) *
Jenipril - Still Here (feat. Keris)
HORI7ON - Fly With It * ⚠️
Im Joongwon (sonlmor) - In Your Orbit (Perfect Crown OST) *
Tanu, skavh - Love Letter (Japanese release)
Fairy - ily * ⚠️ ❌
Doyoung (NCT) - Listen To My Soul (Filing for Love OST)
NEXZ - HYPEMAN 🔤 *
BOYNEXTDOOR - Knock Knock Knock (pre-release) 🔤 *
Ahn Seongjoon - I'M YOUR BROTHER *
Seo Youngju (Nerd Connection) - Parallel Night (We Are All Trying Here OST) *
HARO - Once Today Passes
Kim Juwon - I Can't Tell (feat. Jaymoon) *
BMK - PRESENT *
Mingi (ATEEZ) - Dinero 🔤 * 💚
Jay Park & LNGSHOT - 4SHO 4SHO 🔤 *
NMIXX - Heavy Serenade 🔤 *
H//PE Princess - Stolen (KR ver) (official debut)
RAIN - Feel It ⚠️ * 💚
aespa - WDA (Whole Different Animal) (feat. G-DRAGON) (pre-release) 🔤 * ⚠️
TAEYONG (NCT) - Storm (pre-release) * ⚠️ 💚
YEEUN - Scent of Memories (Japanese ver) *
Seo Eungyo - The Day I Find Myself (Always You)
CrazAngel - Picasso * ⚠️ 🚩
ChaDongHyeop - Doogeundae (subunit debut) *
Jeon Gunho, Lee A Young, Kim Yechan - Lalala (Our Happy Days OST) +
Shim Sojeong - Velvet Sky (feat. Sungha Jung)
YOUNITE - POSE! * 💚
LIT, WillsBife - Just come see me (feat. Microdot) *
Song Hayoung (fromis_9) - Love Story (Youth of Revelation OST) (audio only) 🔤
Angella Kim - I'll leave a piece of my mind (feat. SIWA)
Earth Sky, Lily Lu - Nightfall * 💚


The Mea Culpa Section
not entirely sure how I missed some of these, but alas....

Soobin, Taehyun (TXT) - I Love You I Love You too (Sold Out On You OST)
Keyveatz - Catch My Breath * ⚠️ ❌
T.EV - 5AM *
NouerA - A-LIST 🔤

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: this section starts with the missed releases
Soobin, Taehyun (TXT) - I Love You I Love You too (Sold Out On You OST) https://youtu.be/RMuxkBUjZuw
genre: pop rock
note: video is roughly half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers (and does contain one very good pupper). The other half is Soob and Tae being entirely adorable in a recording studio.


Keyveatz - Catch My Breath ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/cKnMKy_i48Q
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, camera motion, surrealism
note: featuring That Service Station. Elevated warning for the flashing that got so bad and constant I had to nope out. Felt rather gratuitous - like someone just learned they can use flash cuts and went ham.


T.EV - 5AM https://youtu.be/DtLQeI6UsMc
genre: dance pop
cw: bright flashing
note: sometimes styled as T:EV. After some digging, I found where they're supposed to have had a Japanese debut this week, but there's no sign of that on their official channel, so...


NouerA - A-LIST 🔤 https://youtu.be/2XWrVeqB3mg
genre: dance pop
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. I have questions for their stylist. Nothing bad! Just... questions




Mad Clown - except you (feat. siso) https://youtu.be/HtMHhHFvsvA
genre: R&B/hiphop fusion
note: my face when I realized this was indeed brand new Mad Clown in the year 2026.... Video is all recording studio footage. The way Mad Clown hasn't aged in the last mumble years... This is exacerbating my issues with the idea that 2006 was not, in fact, less than ten years ago, but was actually 20 years ago oh goddess....



Billlie - ZAP 🔤 https://youtu.be/iqCx5RfI6Tw
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, laser lights
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. Well, sorta English - there's one instance of the Korean being left in and the Japanese line is in kanji rather than translated. Unfortunately, my ability to read kanji is, uh, not great, so I'm not going to even try, sorry


B:DAWN - BEOM (debut) https://youtu.be/AJSdfU2kB2A
genre: dance pop
cw: surrealism, animated flashing, supernatural elements (spirit tiger)
note: Another brand new virtual idol group, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for now.


KIIRAS - TA TA https://youtu.be/LT02e2EeCng
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, animated surrealism, fireworks/pyrotechnics
note: ooph, some of the late flashing is pretty rude


LUAMEL - Desert Wanderer https://youtu.be/QLk8A3qHCFM
genre: rock
cw: smoking, lens flare
note: almost slapped this with the country-western genre. Someone's done a bad, bad thing. Maybe. Just watch and you'll understand.


Wanna one - WE WANNA GO https://youtu.be/fBS6EWD_MGc
genre: dance pop
note: a ridiculously cute lyric video with all eleven members


Sumi Jo - Romance (with SUHO (EXO)) https://youtu.be/4UkQGzG5f5c
genre: jazz
note: I'm not crying, you're crying!!! 😿 And then we get the stupid "ser-ah-na-de" in the middle of English lines and it kicks me RIGHT OUT of the moment. I can ... kinda see why it was pushed to be that way, but at the same time no, no, no, that's wrong and unnecessary!


Seohwa - Drive https://youtu.be/4yhad1M3kog
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares
note: who's a good pupper?! Multiple good pups, even! Also many wide open spaces and one very pretty kitty.


HAJIN - In my dreams https://youtu.be/pIeMkqB43qQ
genre: soft rock (ballad)
note: a very simple video for a simple song that's entirely in English


Shin Yeyoung, SOONSOONHEE, Jeon Gunho, YERIN - All For You https://youtu.be/WJiwZO49qr0
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: half live performances, half clips from ... looks like the show is Lulu-Lala Friends 2, but this isn't marked as an OST, even though it probably could be? Maybe? Eh, gonna leave it like this


YUHZ - Rush Rush (debut) 💚 https://youtu.be/C-JTrPZ4JFw
genre: dance pop
cw: full-body fur suits, surrealism
note: Oh look, another crop of baby idols! 😜 Cute if pretty standard BG dance pop (hey, if a formula works, why break it?)


ROSESIA - Cinnamon Love https://youtu.be/NjwB3rvadtI
genre: R&B
cw: brightness, lens flares, flashing
note: the way she's "lip-syncing" "tongue" is entirely distracting. The brightness levels are ... probably fine for most people, but I went into this with a mild headache already, so having a bright white light beamed straight at the camera was... A Choice imo.


Lee Jiham - memory https://youtu.be/Kny3KPv_LRY
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: points for including an English translation to the hard subs and even using a clean, clear font for it! Now, if they were kept more distinct from the background video.... 😜 It's such a pretty song, but potential hanky warning, too.


J.BASS - summer border (feat. sido) https://youtu.be/Xa41_jRUiKc
genre: folk rock
note: look, video, you have ONE JOB! I wouldn't say the lyrics vanish into the background, but they could've been bigger, especially as the only movement in the video


Jeon Sangkeun - Night sea https://youtu.be/lweXKu5-W9I
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, water glare
note: another instance of being part performance, part clips from reality content by the artist. And of course, because they're at the ocean, I'm getting homesick again.


HANHAE, Moon Seyoon - Airplane (feat. CHUU) https://youtu.be/c_tzMhE1Jfc
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, water glare, camera flash (brief, once), fireworks/pyrotechnics
note: using a standee for your featuring artist was a way to go all right. 🤣 Was not expecting it, definitely, and gets away from the featuring artist become another Not Appearing in This MV


DAVINK, Kei - How Can I Forget you https://youtu.be/GFU_OPUylt0
genre: EDM
note: another instance of a lyric video where the lyrics ... sort of stand out from the background image, but they could've done better, either by changing the placement, the font color, the font size, or the image picked as the background. 😜 At least the lack of other movement makes this a rest point, visually.


Woona - The Conditions for an Ending https://youtu.be/xwm5-qvAnGo
genre: pop rock
cw: brightness
note: am I supposed to believe she's young enough to be a high school student? Cuz I kinda don't.... I mean, I suppose it's possible, but something just feels like no 😅 I almost feel bad about having a CW on this, but here we are....


Jenevieve - Hvnly (feat. JIHYO (TWICE)) 🔤 https://youtu.be/_opQpDYh33I
genre: R&B
cw: flashing
note: CC in English and all caps and I hate it, but's an annoyingly common style rule in the US, so not really surprising. Yeah, it's not Kpop, but shh, Jihyo compels you


Tiffany Young (SNSD) - Summer's Not Over 🔤 https://youtu.be/HZOs_6AmtmE
genre: R&B
cw: water glare, lens flares, supernatural elements (not-mermaid siren Tiffany)
note: CC in English and Korean. Did you know originally sirens and mermaids were entirely separate creatures? Now you know... ww Three minutes and yet it feels entirely too short


Forestella - Armageddon ⚠️ 🚩 https://youtu.be/EXsv2vbAabo
genre: Kpopera
cw: lens flares, aggressive flashing
note: CC in English and Korean. Still salty that they lead me to believe there wouldn't be an MV. The Italian remains untranslated. And oh look, those are probably genslopped backgrounds/scenes of apocalypse threaded between actual shots. Some of them could just be regular computer-aided effects, but since we're living in genslop hell.... At least the fire ring is ... probably a real, practical effects shot? I'm just salty and annoyed cuz the video looks COOL but I can't shake the creepy genslop fears and I HATE THAT


BE'O - HATE 🔤 💚 https://youtu.be/9y86NbotmEg
genre: hiphop
cw: lens flares, unsteady cam
note: CC in 6 tracks, including English. Oh no, not another noppleninger (a joke only my wife will get)


ILHOON - Devil Can Wait 🔤 ⚠️https://youtu.be/nqmbtf5gDKA
genre: alt rock
cw: aggressive flashing, shirtless Ilhoon
note: CC in 5 tracks, including English. Gee, I hope the words that keep flashing in tiny font aren't that important.... And oh whoops, raw hangul in the English CC track. Unfortunate that he still can't afford a shirt. Elevated for the flashing ... and I guess that final gesture, too, while we're at it 😜


Nam Jong - Anyway (My Royal Nemesis OST) https://youtu.be/5uQNA8fRdPk
genre: pop rock
cw: drinking (social), lens flares
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Well now I'm curious....


HAN (Stray Kids) - back to life ⚠️ ❌ 💚 https://youtu.be/F0UIsSnotlA
genre: rock
cw: aggressive flashing
note: elevated warning for the aggressive flashing that forced me to scroll down, so I could confirm genre and write these notes, meaning I had to see stupid comments (never scroll on YT videos unless you want to see the stupid) and now I'm frumple about the flashing because I LOVE THIS SONG and I can't watch this video.


SAM KIM - If You Were My World (Perfect Crown OST) https://youtu.be/B1xY1Jgrfbc
genre: soft rock
cw: camera flashes, blood/injury, hospital/medical, lens flares
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers (we're at part 9, odds are there are spoilers).


mac - Goldfish ❌ https://youtu.be/1Vg-UJwZF1Q
genre: alt rock
cw: surrealism, camera motion
note: I ... have so many questions and I'm pretty sure I don't want the answers to basically any of them. Pegging it as alt rock but psychedelic might've been more accurate, I'm undecided (part of that whole many questions thing). The camera motion didn't get super bad until the last half minute, and then it was making me queasy, so I quit


Ha Jin-Yang - I Think I Found the One (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/3JCVV5ZqIB0
genre: pop rock
cw: camera flashes
note: hard-coded subs in Japanese and Korean. I was sitting here going why does this feel so familiar ... and it's because in April this song was released by Aoi Yoake and I'm almost positive this is the exact same video, just a different audio.


Andrew Choi - Royal Flush (feat. Microdot) (Filing for Love OST) https://youtu.be/BM5LdDfOB0k
genre: pop rock
cw: implied aborted car sex, flashing lights, interppersonal violence, drinking (social), possible sexual harrasment???
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. This drama looks like a wild mess ... that probably makes a lot more sense in context. At least we hope so. 😅


Jenipril - Still Here (feat. Keris) https://youtu.be/TMe31wwvPAE
genre: alt rock
note: only motion is the lyrics and I hate the font, but such is life.


HORI7ON - Fly With It ⚠️ https://youtu.be/XQXdFIu4s5o
genre: R&B/spoken word
cw: aggressive background flashing/strobing lights, false color, camera motion
note: Always unfortunate when a group can't even afford shirts for everyone.... Elevated warning for the lights. I probably shouldn't've stuck it out, but since I was taking a break immediately after anyway.... But use caution, those spots get aimed right at the camera in their rotations a few times.


Im Joongwon (sonlmor) - In Your Orbit (Perfect Crown OST) https://youtu.be/ycJ9prr1tYE
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: medical/hospital, camera flashes
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers (this is part 10, so probably contains spoilers).


Tanu, skavh - Love Letter (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/DD37NdTXKB4
genre: rock
note: it's a low-budget way of doing an MV (half process/performance, half just walking around), but it works


Fairy - ily ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/pxh5ChdpoE8
genre: pop rock
cw: aggressive flashing
note: the song is fine, kinda mid, but the flashing was bad at the start and knocked me out pretty quick. So while I hung out in comments to finish these remarks and get a better sense of the song, CWs may be incomplete.


Doyoung (NCT) - Listen To My Soul (Filing for Love OST) https://youtu.be/LFCjeVN1NnI
genre: soft rock
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. A collaboration (sort of) from The Other Brothers Kim ( Gong Myung is Doyoung's older brother). Okay, but intra-office romance is bad, mmkay? 🤣


NEXZ - HYPEMAN 🔤 https://youtu.be/83l78xKvHWM
genre: dance pop
cw: surrealism, flashing, lens flares
note: CC in 9 tracks, including English. Even with me kinda hating the animation style, this is still stupidly cute.


BOYNEXTDOOR - Knock Knock Knock (pre-release) 🔤 https://youtu.be/WxGWMI2B7r8
genre: hiphop
cw: rodent (rat), violence, surrealism, lens flares, angry cats
note: CC in 9 tracks, including English. Well, at least they're knocking? IDK, imma need some more listens to settle how I feel


Ahn Seongjoon - I'M YOUR BROTHER https://youtu.be/sQtfat8Ygws
genre: trot
cw: background flashing
note: so the background color flashing is ... not terrible but not great ... but so much better than the last few trot releases that got booted entirely for gross genslop, so, you know, as someone who enjoys trot, I'll take it.


Seo Youngju (Nerd Connection) - Parallel Night (We Are All Trying Here OST) https://youtu.be/gW5rI8NGSxE
genre: folk rock
cw: drinking (social/antisocial), flashing, blood/injury
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Out of context, some of ML's actions appear rather maladaptive. Whether that's still true in the context of the drama, I have no idea.


HARO - Once Today Passes https://youtu.be/ZJnjYgY841Y
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: shot in wide, by the ocean, so guess who's having all the feels now.... 😿


Kim Juwon - I Can't Tell (feat. Jaymoon) https://youtu.be/M004Wgg_Km8
genre: R&B
cw: boxing, flashing
note: boxing, especially friendly boxing, should be done with more head protection that this. On the other hand, that ... kinda feels like part of the point. 😅


BMK - PRESENT https://youtu.be/ss7LkAPk12k
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares
note: the hangul title,선물, suggests the title is meant to reference gifts rather than time (maybe).


Mingi (ATEEZ) - Dinero 🔤 💚 https://youtu.be/uD0yLUVtAvk
genre: EDM
cw: shirtless Mingi (brief), lens flares, flashing
note: CC in 10 tracks, including English. The Spanish lines are not translated. Sir, was this assault really necessary? Didn't even have the KQ logo spin at the front for extra bracing, no, it's right into it. Asshole (affectionate).


Jay Park & LNGSHOT - 4SHO 4SHO 🔤 https://youtu.be/Q1sE699jthg
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing, unsteady cam, lens flares
note: CC in 8 tracks, including English. French lyric remains untranslated. For a second, I thought someone was enabling underage drinking, but no, those are ramune bottles. 😅


NMIXX - Heavy Serenade 🔤https://youtu.be/6Ycn9qZK09I
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, lens flares
note: CC in 9 tracks, including English. Again with the ser-ah-na-de this week, le sigh.


H//PE Princess - Stolen (KR ver) (official debut) ⚠️https://youtu.be/RRKtQmsSI9g
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, surrealism, camera motion
note: With the amount of reshooting they had to do for Korean lyrics, they did at least take the opportunity to make a somewhat different video, but I'm still feeling some kind of way that this is the debut.


RAIN - Feel It ⚠️💚 https://youtu.be/QiQJxMQ6TMU
genre: R&B
cw: aggressive flashing, surrealism
note: Rain's aged so well and is still a dancing ace. The video being in B&W aggravates the flashing, so take care


aespa - WDA (Whole Different Animal) (feat. G-DRAGON) (pre-release) 🔤 ⚠️ https://youtu.be/iTJSbJtS8MU
genre: EDM
cw: aggressive flashing, horror tropes
note: CC in 8 tracks, including English. This could have some ... interesting implications for The Lore that I'm not sure anyone's ready to unpack... Alas, GD is Sir Not Appearing in This MV


TAEYONG (NCT) - Storm (pre-release) ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/bXYcla36v_o
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, lens flares
note: speaking of potentially interesting implications for The Lore.... Elevated warning for the sheer amount of aggressive flashing.


YEEUN - Scent of Memories (Japanese ver) https://youtu.be/4nT8lhS1Kqo
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing, lens flares, supernatural elements (magic)
note: not quite the usual red thread visuals although combined with the sakura petals...hmm...


Seo Eungyo - The Day I Find Myself (Always You) https://youtu.be/4NfUQHFVbhg
genre: soft rock (ballad)
note: a simple performance video


CrazAngel - Picasso ⚠️ 🚩 https://youtu.be/5RT4ISfzlrU
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing, lens flares
note: elevated warning for the flashing ... and the pikapikapikaso oh boy, now I keep hearing "pikachu I choose you" and then they slip in some probably genslop and sigh


ChaDongHyeop - Doogeundae (subunit debut) https://youtu.be/8x1w57yR5Dw
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, surrealism
note: so this is a DRIPPIN subunit, for those curious. At least that supersized confetti probably won't be hiding in weird places for the next eight to ten years. And now I want konpeito.


Jeon Gunho, Lee A Young, Kim Yechan - Lalala (Our Happy Days OST) https://youtu.be/xNSVQA6sfUY
genre: country-western
note: Performance clip with a horrid font choice on the hard subs, yikes. This is some old school country vibes all right.


Shim Sojeong - Velvet Sky (feat. Sungha Jung) https://youtu.be/Y1s3mReDYl8
genre: adult contemporary (instrumental)
note: these are the moments when I wish I'd had the time to learn harp back when I actually had access to a harp (and guitar)


YOUNITE - POSE! https://youtu.be/BEjDI5MwLb4
genre: dance pop
cw: audio strobing, surrealism, aggressive flashing, supernatural elements (cultivation), arson
note: the stereo strobing isn't too bad, but still worth noting (and I'm sure it goes away entirely when listening on speakers)


LIT, WillsBife - Just come see me (feat. Microdot) https://youtu.be/XM_cCEm7bDs
genre: R&B
cw: flashing stage lights
note: this song original made the list last month but as a lyric video/visualizer only, and now it's back with an official MV, so a re-listing it is


Song Hayoung (fromis_9) - Love Story (Youth of Revelation OST) (audio only) 🔤 https://youtu.be/kPfFdl-f070
genre: R&B
note: CC in English and Korean. Romantic easy listening


Angella Kim - I'll leave a piece of my mind (feat. SIWA) https://youtu.be/S_6EVwN5XhM
genre: adult contemporary
note: is it really a music video if nothing moves?


Earth Sky, Lily Lu - Nightfall 💚 https://youtu.be/EuqMhmDCZXI
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: oh look, hard subs done right. See how that doesn't have to be hard at all, Seoul? Hard subs are in both Chinese (as applicable) and Korean


And that's it for another week! What were your favorites? Any surprises? Let's chat!



This post brought to you by my lovely Patreon and KoFi supporters. Did you know these posts often take 6-12 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