It’s a great Wednesday of music from MYNAME, ONEUS, AHOF, POW and Jessi!
“Bad Bad Higher” by MYNAME
So awesome to see MYNAME back with fresh music! It’s been seven years since their last new release and they are back with the new album Vivid, also celebrating the 13th anniversary of their Japanese debut. Ihyeon (Chaejin) is currently on hiatus while JunQ is working as an actor at the moment. So Insoo, Seyong and Gunwoo come together for this great release showing that they most certainly still got it. And effortlessly at that!
Title track “Bad Bad Higher” is a strong, catchy and retro-infused dance track. The members joke it is a fresher and younger song than some of their previous releases. But it is indeed an energetic and fun vibe with lyrics that represent MYNAME of 2025.
The other five tracks on the album are equally great including hip-hop track “With or Without You”, ballad “Forever You”, songs dedicated to fans in “Our Days” and “For You”, and the personal “We Are The One (with MYNAME)”.
Again, so happy to have one of my all-time favorite K-pop groups back with fresh music after such a long time!
“X” by ONEUS
Wowow! I absolutely love “X” from ONEUS! What a pleasant surprise as they effortlessly deliver with this new sound. A refreshingly funky pop-dance track whose vibe and feelings are perfectly expressed through the group’s charismatic performance and neon futuristic music video. The album 5x represents the group wanting to show their limitless potential. And they very much show that in this title track and the other four tracks on the album. This might be my favorite album from ONEUS in a while! And I am sure many, if not all of these songs will in regular rotation for me this year!
“Rendezvous” by AHOF
Being a fan of JL and Steven before winning their spots in AHOF, I was definitely looking forward to their re-debut. And the nine members of AHOF make a great first impression with title track “Rendezvous”. The rock-powered dance track offers a great showcase for the group’s versatility. A powerful performance of emotional and hopeful lyrics. It’s a great combination and certainly a strong introduction to them as a group.
As are the other five tracks on the album Who We Are which give a good sense of the group’s sound and style moving forward. A great debut!
“Being Tender” by POW
As for another talented Filipino in K-pop, Dongyeon and his equally talented co-members in POW are back with a new album and title track “Being Tender”. A fitting title for this tender and refreshing track, POW serves up a bright performance of a charming song. And it also suits the other three tracks on this album as they all evoke youthful hope and uncertainty. A great release from POW!
“Newsflash” by Jessi
Though she of course was always able to be herself in the Korean scene, Jessi perhaps gets an opportunity to do exactly what she wants as evidenced by the release of her latest track “Newsflash”. As she embarks on the next chapter of her career, launching her own independent label, Jessi’s signature confidence and charisma shine here. A catchy beat and rhythm support Jessi’s effortless rapping of lyrics telling her story, including touching upon recent events in her career too. The song is a reminder of her talent and unmistakable charm and it’s awesome to see her forging her own path now.