From its humble start lurking in the shadow of J-pop to partially dominating the globe, the unstoppable power of K-pop has been fascinating to witness. Today, in the hazy wake of the Gangnam Style craze, the genre has grown to have its own annual convention KCON, which aims to celebrate South Korean culture in various locations around the world. In North America, K-pop boy bands and girl bands are being received with open arms. Groups such as seven-member boyband BTS has even gone so far as to win 2017's Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist, beating pop royalty like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande.
Enjoying and appreciating K-pop is one thing, but when it comes to actually navigating its ecosystem, this can indeed be a daunting task. Backed by the massive machinery of various entertainment agencies and trainee system, the industry tirelessly churns out new talents on a regular basis. While most of these so-called idol bands will be cut from more or less the same cloth, some will bring a little extra something worthy of your time and attention.
Which brings us to Chung Ha, the 22-year-old singer who has recently metamorphosed from 11-member girl band IOI into one of K-pop's most promising solo artists. After the success of her 2017 dance-pop debut EP Hands On Me, she's followed it up with Offset, a five-track mini album that further highlights her potential as K-pop's go-to dance diva.
Introduced by sensual, interlude-like title track, the EP finds Chung Ha getting right down to business on lead cut Roller Coaster. Produced by K-pop hit-makers Black Eyed Pilseung and Jun Goon, the upbeat electro-pop track matches her coy vocals with R&B undercurrents. "I remember very first time in love … So I'm in love," she sings as she likens the experience of falling in love with a rollercoaster ride.
Do It comes with all the on-trend elements of today's Top 40 singles: reggae melody and trap beats. Chung Ha's vocals here are pretty remarkable and somewhat reminiscent of Ariana Grande. In fact, the whole vibe recalls Grande's single Side To Side. Bad Boy is an exuberant, brass-inflected offering, though pales in comparison with closer Remind Of You, a yearning piano ballad about a lost love.
Despite its short length, Offset does provide a solid glimpse into Chung Ha's all-round talent and potential as a rising K-pop performer. With powerhouse vocals at her disposal, she knows how to use them to full effect, whether on dance jams or torch songs. This EP picks up where Hands On Me left off, yet still indicative of what she will be capable of if/when given a larger format, such as a full-length album.
K-pop might be on the verge of oversupply, but do keep an eye out for Chung Ha. With this level of versatility, this girl's poised for greater things.
THE PLAYLIST
Somkiat/ Khor The Pee Nee
Khor The Pee Nee (This year, please make it happen) is perhaps the most poppy-sounding track we've heard so far from Thai indie-pop quintet Somkiat. But this being a Somkiat song, we can always expect a gimmick or two. Set to a deceptively simple indie-pop melody, it manages to sneak in those crunchy riffs that they've perfected and made their own. "As long as the sky waits for the sun to shine/I'll wait every second," frontman Kanawin "Boat" Cheartaw yearns for that special someone to arrive. "Don't know when we'll meet/This year, please make it happen."
Tinashe (ft Future)/ Faded Love
After their collaboration on her debut LP back in 2014, R&B singer Tinashe has reunited with rapper Future on her new single, Faded Love. Produced by Norwegian pop machine Stargate, the track further establishes Tinashe as a sensuous R&B songstress. "Don't give me your name," she teases over the understated production. "I don't need your number saved in my phone/Just follow me, follow me, follow me, follow me home." Future then shows up with equally sexual statements as he vows to take her "farther than Jerusalem." If all goes as planned, Faded Love should appear on Tinashe's forthcoming third studio record, Joyride.
MGMT/ Me And Michael
Indie duo MGMT continues to get weird on their latest cut, Me And Michael, which marks the fourth single from their latest studio record, Little Dark Age. A solid follow-up to When You Die, Hand It Over and the title track, the song serves up dreamy '80s synth-pop and infectious new wave that will have some of you misty-eyed with overwhelming nostalgia. "Me and Michael/Solid as they come/Me and Michael/It's not a question now," vocalist Andrew Van Wyngarden sings, accompanied by a thick layer of hazy synthesisers and backing vocals.
EDM king Calvin Harris has returned with a PartyNextDoor collaboration on his latest cut, Nuh Ready Nuh Ready. Jumping (or, rather, still staying) on the dancehall train, the Scottish DJ/producer follows last year's Funk Wav Bounces Vol 1 with strong Caribbean vibes courtesy of the Canadian singer who befits it with some of his legit patois ("Dem want mi children and tings/Mi nuh ready fi all dem tings/So sweet, you're so sweet/Mi nuh ready fi all dem tings"). The song itself is a nod to '90s house complete with bright, exuberant horns. Another banger under Harris' belt.
Rina Sawayama/ Valentine (What's It Gonna Be)
Yes, we're aware that the Valentine's has already been and gone, but this anti-Valentine anthem by Rina Sawayama will still be relevant come next year. Here, the Japanese singer-songwriter boldly rebels against "the boring age old narrative of heterosexual monogamy," and straight up gives us a realistic, millennial's point of view on love. "It's not impossible for us to have it all/Your gendered principles were so incompatible … I don't think about the future/Or whether we'll stay together/Making promises is dangerous," Sawayamacoos alongside lite-trap beats and futuristic R&B production.
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