Kep1er is dropping its fourth mini album, 'LOVESTRUCK!', which is led by the titular track, “Giddy. – Photo: Swing Entertainment
Just as the weather has been warming up in Korea, some of the major K-pop artistes have been making comebacks to warm up the music scene.
NCT MarkMark of NCT recently returned with his second solo single, Golden Hour. This track is the sixth to drop from SM Entertainment’s special archiving project, Station: NCT Lab.
Mark took part in composing and writing the lyrics to this hip-hop song.
The song is composed of strong guitar and drum sounds that harmonise with Mark’s stylish rapping.
Next up are the K-pop sensations Kep1er and IVE, which made comebacks last Monday.
Kep1er dropped its fourth mini album, LOVESTRUCK!, which is led by the titular track, Giddy, and four side tracks: LVLY, Back to the City, Why and Happy Ending.
The title track is a disco funk tune that sings of a young woman who wishes to be loved.
Kep1er added its energetic chanting to the song, making both the lyrics and the melody addictive, according to Swing Entertainment.
IVE
On the other hand, Gen Z wannabe icons IVE released their first full-length album, I’ve IVE.
The album comprises a total of 11 tracks led by the titular track, I AM, and 10 sidetracks: Blue Blood, Kitsch, Lips, Heroine, Mine, Hypnosis, Not Your Girl, Next Page, Cherish and Shine With Me.
IVE's side track, Kitsch, was released in late March prior to the group's comeback and it is already topping major local music charts.
The album expresses the keywords, confidence, freedom and narcissism, through music, according to Starship Entertainment.
Kard – Photo: DSP Media
Another long-awaited comeback dropped last Monday – KARD, a co-ed quartet, is returning with digital single Without You.
This comeback came 10 months after the group dropped its fifth mini album, Re:.
The quartet presented themselves with a new concept through the single, which is perfect to tune in to in spring, says DSP Media.
Park Ji-hoon – Photo: Maru Entertainment
Then there are some soloists that released new albums last Wednesday, including Park Ji-hoon and Lee Chae-yeon.
Park, of now defunct group Wanna One, launched his seventh mini album, Blank or Black, led by the titular track, Blank Effect.
This mini album came six months after his most recent, sixth mini album, THE ANSWER.
Lee Chae-yeon – Photo: WM Entertainment
Lee Chae-yeon of now defunct group IZ*ONE unveiled her second mini album, Over The Moon, led by title track KNOCK.
The titular track has an addictive hook and energetic beats that accentuate Lee’s confident vocals.
Singer-songwriter Bol4 also released a new album on April 16. Her eighth EP, Love.zip, comes after a yearlong hiatus.
Bol4. – Photo: Shofar Entertainment
The last two weeks of April will be graced by male K-pop artistes.
First off is a new trio unit from NCT, DOJAEJUNG, making its debut with its first mini album, Perfume, on April 17.
NCT DOJAEJUNG consists of Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo.
The album carries a total of six tracks led by the titular track, Perfume.
The titular track will be in the R&B electro funk genre, accentuating the mellow acapella sounds of the trio.
NCT DOJAEJUNG. – Photo: SM Entertainment
Rookie boy group Tempest is scheduled for a comeback on the same day, and hopes to take the music scene by storm with its fourth mini album, The Calm Before The Storm.
All eyes are on how the rising stars will return with after their five-month break.
Tempest – Photo: Yue Hua Entertainment
Next is K-pop megastar Suga of BTS, with his solo album, D-DAY, slated for April 21.
Suga of BTS. – Photo: Big Hit MusicSuga, who as a soloist uses the name, Agust D, will mark the finale of the trilogy he has continued through his two previous mix tapes: Agust D of 2016 and D-2 OF 2020.
Suga took the helm on the overall production of D-Day, from planning to concept design and building the structure, not to mention composing and penning the lyrics of all the songs, according to Big Hit Music.
Meanwhile, Seventeen's thrilling comeback, with its 10th mini album, FML, is slated for April 24.
Seventeen sold more than two million copies of its new album within only three days with pre-orders, according to YG PLUS.
For the first time since their debut, Seventeen will have two titular tracks for the album, including F*uck My Life and the other title song yet to be unveiled.
Seventeen – Photo: Pledis Entertainment
This comeback comes 9 months after the release of their successful fourth repackaged album, Sector 17, which was released in July last year.
There are other K-pop superstars who are aiming for comebacks this month but have yet to announce specific dates for them.
Stray Kids are known to have finished shooting the music video for their new titular track and Taeyang of BIGBANG will drop a full-length solo album this month, 6 years after his last album, White Night. – By Hong Yoo/The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
