Music Highlights 1.25.21
+ News
Not really directly music news…but could somehow in some way in the future be influenced: Naver has bought the fanfiction site, Wattpad. Wattpad has it’s own film section, and has produced movies based on works created for the site. That were influenced by musicians. I guess we’ll be seeing some kpop fanfic turned into kdramas in the future.
I very much love CL. I think that is already known. This Billboard article is a really great look at what she’s doing now, and her goals for the future.
+ DAY6
So many things were released these past couple weeks with DAY6.
Allure released a great interview with Jae that focused on his struggles with anxiety, and him finding the path to help him. The more mental health is talked about, the easier it will be for people to take it seriously. He’s talked about all his struggles before in various lives, but this article is a good perspective.
Young K released another cover, this time with Lee MinHyuk - Solar System (Sung Si Kyung cover). He also realeased a song with the Thai singer, STAMP, for the song ‘Sugar High’.
Jae worked on the song, ‘Be the Change’, with Yoolee, Sooyoon Kim, Elii for the web comic, Lost in Translation.
Even of Day also released the song, ‘So This is Love’ which was written on their YouTube reality show where they spent some time creating a song. The song is pretty cute, but I won’t lie to you and say it’s my favorite DAY6 song of all time. But it doesn’t matter how I care, it’s definitely an Korean public favorite and has spent weeks on the charts and is currently the longest charting song from a boy group at JYPE.
+ Releases and Finds
-BAND-MAID came out with their album, Unseen World and every bit of the album is great. I really can’t pick a favorite song. I’m biased, I love them, but the album really is that great.
-Another no-bad-song album that came out was Hoppipolla’s mini And Then There Was Us. If you don’t know Hoppipolla, I got into them last year. They were the 2019 winner of the band survival show, Superband. They combine everything I love with powerful ballads, great vocals, and a cellist. Their last release, ‘Let’s’, was going in a bit of different direction than they had gone at that point and while it was fine it just lacked the uniqueness that was what they had started but I am happy to report that they’ve gone back to the sweeping emotional songs and I just love the entire. Thing.
-Ling tosite sigure hasn’t put out a single in a while, and that has changed with ‘Perfake Perfect’. I’ve been a long time fan of them and TK’s solo work.
-Leaves Black came out with a fantastic EP, Farewell My Books. One of my newest finds from last year, I am happy to listen to new music to start the new year. It’s a solid album to have in the background while you work.
-Also a favorite, We Are the Night came out with a new single, ‘Illusion of Dreams’.
-Some other songs that I was digging this week include Queen Bee’s single, ‘Starry Night’, AleXa’s gorgeous ballad ‘Never Let You Go’, ALEPH’s ‘Baekdusan’, ‘Dive Into the Night’ by Hong Yubin and while I haven’t been able to dive into the full album, I really am digging Epik High’s ‘Rosario’.
+ Upcoming
Dreamcatcher mini album, Dystopia: Road to Utopia (26)
IU pre-release single, ‘Celebrity’ (27)
Yorushika EP album, Creation (27)
Super Beaver album, I Love You (3)
Se Seo Neon single, 'Jayu' (5)
+ Album Spotlight
SEAPOOL is a great grunge/alt-rock band from Japan. Their EP Kiss the Element from last year is fantastic and one of my favorites. ‘Schizo Flare’ made it into my top 25 songs of last year. They are definitely worth a listen.
Check out the last highlights post here.
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