We've reached the halfway point.
In a whirlwind of laughter, tears, joy, melancholy, and of course, great music, six months of 2023 have come and gone. This year has already been quite the adventure with so many new songs, albums, EPs, collaborations, and even music videos to soundtrack all the highs and lows of our days so far.
While narrowing our standout and favourite releases has always been a difficult task for us at Bandwagon, 2023 has proven to be the most challenging year yet. Within only a couple of months, the music scene has been overflowing with an impressive abundance of bops, from regional gems that deserve more attention to glittering pop hits that have found their way into everyone's hearts.
While we wait on the magic and wonder that the latter of half of 2023 will bring, the Bandwagon team have looked back on the last six months to recount our favourite songs, music videos, EPs and albums, and collaborations of the year so far.
Top Songs
'Left Right' - XG
I love this wave of R&B that’s sweeping through Asian pop groups right now and ‘Left Right’ is such a great example of marrying the genre with that signature girl group sheen. The song has a way of crawling in your head and living there for months at a time—and to think this was meant to be a B-side!
XG move in and out of rapping and singing so seamlessly without anything feeling out of place, riding that beat so well. Those little falsetto adlibs during verses and that harmony at the last chorus are so insanely delicious and really speak to what the Japanese girl group can do vocally. I think they really found their footing with this single album and here's hoping there’s more to come.
Not to mention, you really hear Chancellor’s impact on the song, having arranged and composed the track. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Senior Writer
'파이팅 해야지 (Fighting)' – BSS 부석순 (SEVENTEEN) feat. Lee Young Ji 이영지
Just a single listen of BSS’s ‘Fighting’ a day gives me a boost of serotonin (not that it could ever replace psychiatric help). Or I can do what Epik High’s Tablo did: play it on a loop for about 10 times, and it’ll all feel like all's right with the world again.
There’s joy in never taking yourself too seriously, as the SEVENTEEN subunit-slash-4th generation boy group made up of Boo Seungkwan 부승관, DK (Lee Seokmin 이석민), Hoshi (Kwon Soonyoung 권순영) can attest to. Some fans have even dubbed them the successors to Orange Caramel’s legacy, given how much the trio likes to dial up the silly antics. In an industry where cool is the norm, BSS’s upbeat anthem is not only an exhortation to carry on, but an invitation to let go once in a while.
As the follow-up to 2018’s ‘Just Do It (거침없이),’ ‘Fighting’ is a battle cry that promises to break through any sort of monotony. ‘We’ll be there to sing it for you / Gotta keep going, what else can you do? (네 옆에서 불러주겠어 / 힘내야지 뭐 어쩌겠어),’ they sing. Truly, happiness doesn’t come from grades, but BooSeokSoon (행복은 성적순이 아니라 부석순)! - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
'Small Town' - Clara Benin
'Small Town' pushes Clara Benin further away from the folk-pop sound we're accustomed to hearing from her releases. Working on the lyrics with multi-instrumentalist Gabba Santiago, the song plays with layers and complexities in the soundscapes helped shaped by One Click Straight's timothy Run and Sam Marquez.
In a press statement, the Filipino singer-songwriter reveals how the track is about her high school days living in the province, always running into people you know wherever you go. To me, it sounds exactly like driving down a tree-lined suburb nestled within the city. They say everyone's got their own 'Small Town,' and sounds trigger nostalgic memories, where does this song bring you to when you hear it? - Camille Castillo, Editorial Director
'From The Start' - Laufey
Have you ever fallen head over heels for someone who does not reciprocate your feelings for them? If your answer to this question is yes, then you should be able to relate to what Laufey sings of in ‘From The Start’.
Drawing influence from the bossa nova genre, the track moves along at a much faster pace than earlier works from the Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter, such as ‘Valentine’ and ‘Let You Break My Heart Again’. While it might take some getting used to, this particular artistic choice is a clever one that simulates the speed at which a person transitions between feeling frustrated, jealous, and desperate when they are madly in love.
Combine this with memorable lyrics such as “oh, the burning pain / listening to you harp on 'bout some new soulmate” and “unrequited, terrifying lovе is driving me a bit insane” and the end product is a song that will give you heartache and make you feel like dancing at the same time. It’s confusing, I know, but that’s exactly what love is like too sometimes. - Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
'窓の中から (Madononakakara)' - BUMP OF CHICKEN
To me, BUMP OF CHICKEN’s music has always felt larger than life itself. Rather than friends I’d grown up with, they’re more like an omniscient presence that sees you for who you are at your very core and simply exists as a presence you can’t quite hold yet remains a powerful driving force.
‘Madononakakara’ is an encapsulation of that. In roughly seven minutes, the song, which translates to "from inside the window", talks of a person who has always lived within themselves and later starts to realise they're not actually alone in their thoughts, as there are many outside their window in the vast galaxy with similar hopes and struggles. It opens with Motoo Fujiwara's voice saying hello to a deafening quiet and is accompanied by a melody that gradually builds up with more and more instruments and voices which emphasise this newly discovered sense of companionship. At some point, it all goes quiet again as the lone voice reflects on his despair which has allowed him to reach out with a scream and connect with the voices that then overlap with his once more.
This vocal journey which intertwines seamlessly with the metaphors in the lyrics shows how expertly BUMP OF CHICKEN captivates narratives that elevate the ordinary and infuse them with an almost cosmic significance. Fujiwara wrote ‘Madononakakara’ specifically for NHK’s 18fes, where they got to perform it with a thousand eighteen-year-olds from all over Japan. The fact that a decades-old band continues to resonate with generations several times younger than them is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in their music – music which makes you feel alive in the moment and keeps you going long after. - Ginny Palma, Contributing Editor
'Be Authentic' - TRIGGER
During IDOLiSH7's Black or White 2022, many fans supported their favourite unit/s for the New Year's Eve live showdown. Among the idols from the roster, TRIGGER lures fans into a party of their own with 'BE AUTHENTIC,' a track that invites you to dance to your heart's content.
The track begins with a steady rhythm, accompanied by groovy synths and the smooth vocals of Tenn Kujo (CV: Soma Saito), Gaku Yaotome (CV: Wataru Hatano), and Ryunosuke Tsunashi (CV: Takuya Sato). The exchange between their voices turns into a relay from one verse to another, blending and flowing seamlessly. The message is clear: be yourself and the rest of the world will follow your steps. - PB Hermoso, Contributing Writer
'Contact' - Kelela
There aren’t any fillers in the Kelela discography. In ‘Contact,’ a track from her sophomore album, Raven, the American R&B singer takes us on a nostalgic trip back to the dance floor. When I listened to ‘Contact’ for the first time, the song felt familiar but fresh at the same time. The atmosphere and beats remind me of the early 2000s era, although it doesn’t sound exactly like anything else from that time. - Alif Rahmanda, Staff Writer
'Camaraderie' - Yuna
Healing szn is here, and not just because Yuna deems it so.
‘Camaraderie’ encapsulates that bitter pill you have to swallow when a relationship (or you know, camaraderie) that was promised before, never comes to fruition. Maybe they deceived you knowingly, or maybe they left even after assuring you that they won’t. It's like a tight barbed wire around your heart that constricts harder as Yuna sings about how you were made to believe in an impossible dream.
As part of her first full Malay release since 2017, Masih Yuna is a lean collection of songs to accompany you on quiet nights set aside for that self-healing process. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Yuna revealed that the EP itself was written as a dedication to her late cousin whom she lost due to Covid-19 complications. While only four songs long, its effect cannot be understated as the release has got fans jumping in on making their own version of the cover image in the #MasihYunaChallenge on Twitter.
As a closer to the four-track ep, ‘Camaraderie’ hits like a final truck at the end of a chain collision into the heart but that catharsis of letting all that pain in as you belt out “jangan kau senyum, tunjuk gigi (don't you dare grin, showing your teeth)!” in the room alone at night, that’s all part of the healing process too. Healing takes time so in the meantime catch me in the karaoke booth screaming ‘Camaraderie’ into the mic. - Iliyas Juanda, Writer
Top Music Videos
'sunny days' - wave to earth
‘sunny days’ is my favourite song from wave to earth’s album, 0.1 flaws and all and I had hoped for some kind of music video but this was beyond what I could have wished for.
The music video stays true to the song's name, it’s warm, comforting, and homey—and not just because it’s filmed so close to my own home. Shot entirely across the streets of Pampanga, the visual features sights of daily life in the Philippines, from jeeps to tricycles zooming by to stray dogs wandering streets and kids playing basketball. It’s raw and unpolished, characterised by shaky camera stills and motorcycles constantly passing by, and beams with so much beauty and serenity. It encapsulates all that comes to mind when I think of sunny days in the most idyllic way possible and of course, speaks so much to me as a Filipino living in the province. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Senior Writer
'Smoke Sprite' - So!YoOn! Feat. RM
Directed by Leesuho (Boring Studios)
If this was your first time hearing about So!YoON!, 'Smoke Sprite' is the perfect audio-visual introduction to the Korean soloist and SE SO NEON frontwoman.
Serving as the title track of her sophomore solo album Episode1: Love, the track features a familiar name and face, RM of BTS. While this marked their first time writing and performing together, the music video was a reunion of sorts with musical artist and music video director, Leesuho. So!YoON! worked with the artist for SE SO NEON's 'Freedom,' and RM collaborated with the visual artist's Balming Tiger mates on 'Sexy Nukim.'
In an interview with Bandwagon earlier year, So!YoON! shares how she wanted this new album to show various sides of herself. The singer-songwriter does just that for this song, a force of nature both sonically and visually. "It's important to understand the music well,' the Boring Studios director shared with us when talking about working on music videos. Leesuho demonstrated that for this visual, translating how So!YoON! envisioned the song to be – taking place between dream and fantastical reality. Under the helm of the visual director, different versions of So!YoON! are seen in fantasy worlds – from running sunburnt across a snow-laden field to floating in a pool with strangers all around her – all while a silver-clad So!YoON! cries out in her "dream" before being joined by RM in her dream. - Camille Castillo, Editorial Director
'I Wish You Roses' - Kali Uchis
Directed by Cho Gi-seok 조기석
Since my first encounter with Cho Gi-seok’s work in photography and fashion, I haven’t looked away since. Kali Uchis, with her latest album, the spellbinding Red Moon in Venus, tapped just the right fellow visionary to come up with the visuals for the single ‘I Wish You Roses.’
Cho conjures equally lush and entrancing images with elaborate makeup, styling, and computer-generated visuals – ultimately, Uchis is the protagonist of this floral fantasia. Some frames are arranged like diptychs, echoing motifs throughout his oeuvre – his Flower Study series, for example. There’s even a nod to the iconic Mena Suvari rose petals scene from American Beauty (1999). - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
'REASON' - Dreamcatcher
In a time when stylish, big-budget music videos have become the norm, Dreamcatcher have proved that simplicity can sometimes be the way to go. In celebration of their sixth anniversary this January, the K-pop girl group gave their fans — called InSomnias — a special single titled ‘REASON’ along with an even more special accompanying music video.
Comprising rehearsal and backstage footage, candid moments from fan meetings, clips from their concerts and tours, and never-before-seen animated sequences (more on these in just a bit), the video is a lovingly stitched-together project that captures the ups and downs of Dreamcatcher’s journey so far. As expressed in the song, their fans are the reason that Dreamcatcher are where they are today, and the music video’s emotional animated sequences do a brilliant job of depicting how JiU, SuA, Siyeon, Handong, Yoohyeon, Dami, and Gahyeon view their InSomnias. In the video’s most moving animated segment, a giant hand, which represents the group’s fanbase, appears to (literally) give the ‘BON VOYAGE’ act’s visibly exhausted members a much-needed lift as they are climbing a never-ending spiral staircase.
For the group’s faithful, this is a love letter sealed with a kiss. For everyone else, this is a preview of what you can expect to experience when you are a part of this beautiful relationship. - Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
'こっから (Kokkara)' - SixTONES
Directed by Nasty Men$ah
I'd been obsessed with the PlayliST performance of ‘人人人’ (Hito hito hito) from the album Koe for a good part of the first half of this year and was already thinking of how to include it in this roundup as early as January. Then SixTONES released ‘Kokkara’, a funky disco tune with a dash of pop rock that serves as one of the theme songs for the drama Passion for Punchlines starring the group’s own Shintaro Morimoto and King & Prince’s Kaito Takahashi.
‘Kokkara’ is its own song but something about it feels like a natural follow-up to the former (both were written and composed by SAEKI YouthK), taking key aspects that made ‘人人人’ so cool and refreshing, and turning them up into a fuller production. With vibrant colours emanating from their loud fashion, the various sights around a retro neighbourhood, and a flashy dance hall where even their backing band gets to put on the glitz, the music video is a visual treat that serves as the perfect playground for SixTONES to go all out with their rapid-fire rap, infectious dance moves (choreographed by Saya Yamamaru), and the goofy antics they inject in between.
"I don’t have natural talent, but I can’t seem to stop myself / I’m like a fool or an idiot / I want to see a blazing future from here," goes the lyrics, and the sentiment is accentuated by the guys in seemingly precarious situations – lazing about an old laundromat, surrounded by pinball machines, unable to decide what to order at a diner beyond a pair of drinks – but having a grand time of it. The carefree attitude coupled with the determined passion to make things work despite the odds is central to the drama's themes, but it also reflects SixTONES’ own fearless approach to every phase of their journey.
“It’s important for you to share a mutual love with your dreams,” another part of the song proclaims. I'm certainly loving the direction SixTONES are currently in and seeing how much fun they have with it. And as the video ends with Morimoto throwing a ball towards bowling pins that remain offscreen, while the rest cheer him on, it’s clear they take all of these to heart; at the end of the day, they’re just a bunch of guys who simply enjoy what they do and enjoy doing it with each other, and are more than happy to keep seeing things through from where they are. - Ginny Palma, Contributing Editor
'Done (Let’s Get It)' - Yaeji
Directed by Yaeji
“Isn’t it so weird how we learn to pass down what we didn't want to do.”
For a video where Yaeji and her grandfather dress up in cute and matching bunny-dog onesies, the message is potent, and the storytelling? Succinct and hits home.
The second single from her debut studio album, With a Hammer, sees Yaeji take directorial reins for the video and it’s no surprise why. The highly personal and up-close video is layered with fuzzy cuteness as bunny-dog-Yaeji and bunny-dog-grandpa walk through Bunnydog Hill (shot in Seoul) and deal with a month-long winter at one point. Of course, tempers flare sooner or later but the incident only helps the duo grow closer. The scene of her berating her dog to eat faster was inspired by real-life events and was what led to the creation of the song.
As somebody who lives under the same roof as their own grandmother for most of their whole life, that dynamic between grandparent and grandchild sinks right in and Yaeji hits the nail on the head for the depiction. It’s never easy navigating these relationships, especially if you forget that your parents and grandparents are human beings with their own trauma locked away too.
The time we spend together is finite, and will one day become memories captured in photographs unless we get something done now. Catchy, meaningful and simple — Yaeji really hammered it in with this one. - Iliyas Juanda, Writer
'Kizuna no Kiseki' - MAN WITH A MISSION×milet
Directed by Yasuhiro Arafune (EPOCH)
Japanese rock band MAN WITH A MISSION has teamed up with singer milet for ‘Kizuna no Kiseki’. It serves as the opening song for the third season of the highly popular anime series Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc, and marks the first collaboration between the two musical acts.
Director Yasuhiro Arafune gives us his signature style in the music video with stunning visuals and camera work. Starting with the Tokyo night landscape, the band plays on the top of Tokyo Tower with the entire city and full moon in view. Snippets of milet break up the cityscape's monotony as she is accompanied by a massive LED screen with vibrant and trippy visuals. - Alif Rahmanda, Staff Writer
'あんさんぶるスターズ！！ オルタード「Twilight Pentagram (Game Edit)」
As a big fan of concepts inspired by astrology, the details behind Twilight Pentagram had me at the edge of my seat. The track is heavily influenced by jazz and the iconic style of Switch, reflecting a side of The Five Eccentrics in a different light.
What I find particularly charming is how the track is centred around Natsume Sakasaki (CV: Kenji Nojima)'s voice and style. It's as if they painted the galaxy to create stunning outfits, captivating background design, and choreography that transitions smoothly from one setting to another. - PB Hermoso, Contributing Writer
'OMG' - NewJeans
Directed by Wooseok Shin 신우석 (DOLPHINERS FILM)
It’s been years since I caught Park Chan-wook’s cult classic flick, I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Okay, at a film festival. It’s such an indelible memory to me that I immediately clocked it as the inspiration for phenomenal rookies NewJeans’ ‘OMG’ music video. In it, Hanni believes she’s actually Siri – much like the character Young-goon (Im Soo-jung) in the 2006 movie (also starring Rain). “I’m starting to get confused between ‘what others say about me’ and the ‘real me’,” Hanni’s character says. “I was actually an iPhone.”
On top of the early aughts nostalgia owing to this reference, it's a clever and incredibly bonkers way of conveying an enduring message of being true to oneself. Helmed by Wooseok Shin of DOLPHINERS FILM, best known for their acclaimed commercial work, the irresistible tune’s accompanying visuals tell a tale with sentimentality and whimsy in equal measure. - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
Top Albums/EPs
D-DAY - Agust D
D-DAY is the long-awaited follow-up to SUGA’s, aka Agust D’s album trilogy, following 2016’s Agust D and 2020’s D-2. The story began with anger, so much of it in fact that the rapper-producer’s entire alter ego was defined by rage and gloom, but in this heartfelt conclusion, he radiates with triumph and freedom.
It’s the ending of years’ worth of searching and healing wrapped in a neat package of traditional Korean instrumentals, rock-inspired riffs, and high-intensity rap. Each track contributes to the intricate tapestry of SUGA’s journey, peeling back the curtains of the usually enigmatic rapper. We’re let into the most vulnerable parts of his life, sharing emotions and experiences he’s kept in the shadows for so long—not because he seeks sympathy but rather to prove (to himself, maybe) that these moments of pain and darkness no longer define him.
D-DAY is complex and precise in both message and sound, reflecting so much of who SUGA is as an artist. It’s a record he could have only made and one we’re all glad he did. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Senior Writer
Desire, I Want to Turn Into You – Caroline Polachek
Sometime in 2020, Caroline Polachek took a trip to Italy and settled at the base of Mount Etna with magma gurgling miles underground — “vital undying heat,” in Polachek’s own words. “Inexplicable, wordless, faceless, tectonic, chaotic energy coming up from below,” not unlike the desire that Desire, I Want to Turn Into You alludes to.
It’s difficult to capture. Grappling with the idea is like embarking on a perilous but electrifying odyssey that you never quite know exactly what you’re getting into. Just one listen of Desire sounds like you’re flitting from one place to another like an ‘Orinoco Flow’. Alongside co-producer Danny L Harle (formerly of PC Music), Polachek makes use of flamenco guitar, sitar, tablas, bagpipes, breakbeats, a children’s choir, and more — all held together by her versatile, bel canto opera-trained voice.
If you’ve ever seen the opening titles to The White Lotus season 2, listening to the whole record feels quite like that, too: an exquisite renaissance fresco that tries to engulf you but refuses to let your eyes rest on any one scenery. There’s a raw, unadulterated soul in it, without the need for an overarching cinematic story. As Polachek herself says in an interview, it refuses narrative unlike its predecessor, Pang: “It’s closer to collage, poetry, or montage.” - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
MY WORLD - The 3rd Mini Album - aespa
While I really enjoyed 2021’s Savage and last year’s Girls, MY WORLD, the third mini-album from aespa is hands down my favourite release from the K-pop outfit to date. For those who are not familiar with aespa’s lore, MY WORLD follows the more “ordinary” adventures of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning after their vanquishment of the villainous Black Mamba in the Kwangya.
Having hung up their weapons and battle gear, the quartet are, according to The Korea Times, now settling back into their own reality by doing things such as being students. The change of setting is a refreshing one, considering we’ve been in the Kwangya for quite some time, and it is used by the SM Entertainment act to show that when it comes to aespa, even normal can be fun. As someone who constantly yearns to go back to my more carefree younger days, I find myself grinning with delight whenever I listen to tracks such as ‘Spicy’, ‘’I’m Unhappy’, and ‘Thirsty’, which are injected with an overdose of youthful energy by the group. ‘Thirsty’, in particular, has been a reliable pick-me-up for me since its release thanks to its bright instrumentals and the honeyed vocals of a lovestruck aespa.
A mini-album that is a, as Giselle raps, “a 10 out of 10, honestly”, is going to be difficult to top, but given what they’ve already shown they are capable of, I do not doubt that aespa will be able to surprise us yet again. - Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
Malaka - ALI
Indonesian supergroup ALI released their debut album Malaka last April. The band consists of Arswandaru on vocals and bass, John Paul Patton of Kelompok Penerbang Roket on drums, Absar Lebeh of Mooner on guitars, and Ayla Adjie on bongo. The Indonesian psychedelic quartet plays unique North African and Middle Eastern, Anatolian scale Hamam House-inspired sounds and '70s Indonesian rock. Malaka is from the word Malacca Strait, a trading route from the Middle East to South East Asia.
Malaka has lyrics in Arabic such as ‘Dance, Habibi’, ‘Equator’, ‘Crystal Sand’ and instrumentals with ‘Malaka’, ‘Shoreline Transit’, and ‘South East’. The record shows the cultural assimilation between the Middle Eastern and Indonesian cultures.
When I first saw them playing at Joyland Bali, I was blown away by their performance and the DJ set afterparty with the Middle Eastern setlist. With their unique and refreshing mix of Middle Eastern and South East Asian sounds, ALI are proving to be one of the most exciting acts from Indonesia right now. - Alif Rahmanda, Staff Writer
Honeymoon - TALA
I was late for TALA's listening party. By the time I arrived at NoKal, the young singer-songwriter had wrapped up her set, and miguel jesus was on the decks. I ended up just watching snippets of her performance on friends' Instagram stories, so I made sure to listen to Honeymoon as soon as the EP dropped. It's been on my daily rotation ever since.
I was surprised to learn that this wasn't exactly her first foray into music. In fact, she released her debut single six years ago under a major record label, after garnering attention with covers on YouTube. This time, TALA showcases her growth and gives us a peek at what more she can do with her latest offering and first release under independent label, Pool Records. In a world of single drops and playlists, track order might be an afterthought to some artists these days, but opening with 'nothing i won't do' sets the pace and provides the build-up for the standout track 'again and again,' before wrapping up nicely with 'honesty (i'll find you)'. Produced by crwn, the three-track EP is a short and sweet musical journey that tells you where TALA is now, and what we can look forward to from the young Filipino singer-songwriter. - Camille Castillo, Editorial Director
After the Magic - Parannoul
Parannoul has been making a name for himself and for good reason. After the Magic is just so listenable, start to finish, and seems to get better each time, even though it starts on the right, nah, perfect foot.
The third full-length album by the mostly-mysterious musician sees the shoegaze act in an impressive and hard-hitting 10-track effort. Frequently being mentioned in the same breath as his shoegaze contemporaries, the album sees Parannoul collaborating with peers Della Zyr and Asian Glow among many others. Opening track ‘Polaris’ perfectly sets the stage for what to expect for the entire album, with a melodic chorus of ooh-ooh-ooh’s. It’s the grand and intense way that Parannoul maximises his sound that takes you on an auditory adventure. It feels like he’s flooding your headspace with fuzz and feel-good chemicals song after song. It makes me want to sprint, fly if I could, into the city skyline and relish every step and every beat.
In such an invincible-sounding album, ‘Arrival’ is my personal favourite. It builds crescendo upon crescendo, letting my brain fill up with a thousand different things at once but still remaining coherent. Meanwhile the sore and rough vocals in ‘Blossom’ shows tinges of emo brilliance. In ‘Sketchbook’, after bursting at the seams, Parannoul keeps you in suspense before slowly picking back up the pieces gradually and letting them all clash harmonically together for a satisfying collision of a final.
Each time I listen to After the Magic feels like a journey and an indulgence, and like I said at the start, it just keeps getting better. - Iliyas Juanda, Writer
Unlock My World – fromis_9
Unlock My World is fromis_9’s first full-length album since officially debuting in 2018, and this is a crucial point – after the high bar that Midnight Guest has set, I’d argue. “I think the sense of responsibility to showcase improved musicality has helped our members become more hands-on about this album with a beginner’s mindset,” member Seo Yeon said in a Bandwagon interview.
fromis_9 likes to say that at the heart of this record is their message of self-discovery and authenticity: “being true to oneself.” Catchphrases like these could be ubiquitous to a fault in the world of K-Pop, but I’d have to hold back until I hear their own take on such lofty ideals.
If the first playthrough is any indication, Unlock My World’s dancefloor-ready, sleek and taut production – while making full use of the members’ vocal strengths – leaves quite the impression. The record fizzes and grooves all throughout its 10 tracks – no fillers, just brimming with house-driven dance-pop gems and the occasional downtempo jam.
“It took us some time for the unique and vivid colours of personality to come together, but I think we have built a strong universe called fromis_9 that is stronger than ever, full of glittering and diverse characters,” Sae Rom told us. - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
OO-LI - WOODZ
When WOODZ decided on the two versions of this album, his first since signing with a new label in late 2022, he said he’d gone with "Freedom" and "Control" because of how they represented the balance he sought as he approached a new chapter in his adulthood and his values start to change. What better way is there to present that than through a solid rock EP that showcases WOODZ’s courageous approach to every subgenre, employing elements which defy expectations but ones that could be pulled off by those with an already deep understanding and appreciation, and his lyrical mastery, expressed through clear and captivatingly rich vocals, that encapsulates the rush and intensity of discovering the depths of yourself.
OO-LI is all about his past, present, and future selves, as well as those who choose to listen to his story. It’s a powerful album, and something about how it still leaves room for improvement – almost every song is a masterpiece in its own right but as a whole not quite perfectly polished – makes it so indicative of who WOODZ is now and where he's heading as a person and an artist. I’ve been a fan for years and this makes me feel secure in my determination to follow his work wherever he plans to take it. - Ginny Palma, Contributing Editor
劇場版アイドリッシュセブン LIVE 4bit Compilation Album "BEYOND THE PERiOD" (Day 1 and 2) - IDOLiSH7, TRIGGER, Re:vale, ŹOOĻ
With the successful premiere of BEYOND THE PERiOD, IDOLiSH7 released a stellar compilation album which includes new and crowd-favourite tracks from over the past 7 years. It gives fans a glimpse of the movie through IDOLiSH7, TRIGGER, Re:vale, and ŹOOĻ's discography. In a way, it celebrates their music and allows everyone to anticipate their future. It feels like a whole buffet, and I've been looping 'Beautiful Prayer,' 'Tomorrow Evidence,' and 'Incomplete Ruler' to my heart's content. - PB Hermoso, Contributing Writer
Top Collaborations
'Glue Song' - beabadoobee feat. Clairo
I’ve loved every iteration of this song that's been released since it dropped in full early this year. The first with Bea’s quiet musings against the idyllic backdrop of her family’s hometown in Iloilo and then the incredibly sweet performance with the kids’ choir gave its message an undeniable universality, showing the different happy ways our relationships stick with us. But there's something so special about it being sung as a duet and especially with Clairo, whom she considers a good friend and like her is considered something of a queer icon among their generation.
Clairo not only provides a new layer of vocals to ‘Glue Song’, but also brings her own spin to the second verse, deepening its narrative and enhancing the journey depicted. Where beabadoobee croons about never knowing someone like the other nor imagining ever finding them before, she sings back that she’s always known she’d find this person who’s been hiding in plain sight all along and adds that she wants years together. Through this collaboration, both singers beautifully illustrate the intertwining paths that lead two individuals to each other, and the song’s romantic nature is emphasised as it transforms from a declaration to a mutual promise. - Ginny Palma, Contributing Editor
'ICHIGO MIRUKU' - Tomggg & ena mori
"We got the best song!" That's what Tomggg wrote to Bandwagon as we asked him about working with Ena Mori for 'ICHIGO MIRUKU'. He was right.
Tapping into her Japanese side, Ena pushes herself out of her comfort zone for this collaboration, writing "a lot" of Japanese lyrics for the first time. In her first-ever collaboration, Ena sings in a mix of English and Japanese about getting on a train and getting lost in Tokyo to Tomgg's trademark Harajuku candy pop production, a style she hasn't tried before. 'ICHIGO MIRUKU' is a definite earworm (which has also spawned a number of remixes on the internet) that has stayed in the Top 10 of my Apple Music Replay 2023 since its release last April. - Camille Castillo, Editorial Director
'Lambing' - KINDRED ft. Kiyo
Simply speaking, ‘Lambing’ is a great song. It begins with sparkles and a quaint drop that feels almost exactly like seeing your crush for the first time. It’s adorable and dreamy—aren’t the lyrics: ‘Di na ko nagdarasal, pero pagdating sayo damang dama ang langit’ the absolute cutest? I’m also particularly happy that our favourite Filipino boyband finally released a song in Tagalog.
The marriage of KINDRED’s mosaic of styles and Kiyo’s smooth raps bring their wishful and lover boy-fueled lyrics to life, igniting so much kilig. And of course, in peak boyband fashion, the song also comes with its own choreography when KINDRED perform ‘Lambing’ live and it’s that cherry on top of an already filling sundae. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Senior Writer
'忘了睡不著的夜晚 (Wang Le Shui Bu Zhao De Ye Wan)' - JARVIS, Ruth Kueo
This team-up between JARVIS and Ruth Kueo would have flown under my radar had I not chanced upon it while browsing through playlists from the Lion City, and I sure am glad this did not happen.
In ‘忘了睡不著的夜晚’, the Singaporean singer-songwriters take on the roles of friends who want to remind us that we are “not alone” and to “remember to breathe” even though we may have fallen into pits that seem impossible to escape from. When I first experienced the song, I found myself deeply moved by the sensitivity of its lyrics, which were clearly written by someone who is able to empathise with those who are suffering. Instead of trying to offer solutions or forcefully extract listeners from the pits they are in, the song, akin to a big, warm hug, assures them that there is someone who cares and is rooting for them.
The Mandopop number’s lyrics are elevated by the comforting harmonies of JARVIS and Kueo as well as soaring electric guitar riffs that remind us that there is always hope to be found, even when our circumstances seem bleak. A release that serves as proof of music’s ability to heal, ‘忘了睡不著的夜晚’ is one song that you should definitely be adding to your playlists. - Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
'Aio Shiori' - Galileo Galilei ft. Ai Kayano
After a 6–year hiatus, Galileo Galilei went to THE FIRST TAKE studio for the first time. The Japanese indie rock outfit performed ‘Aoi Shiori’, a song from the popular anime series Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. They performed together with Ai Kayano, the voice actress for the main character Menma in the series. As Ai Kayano said “you found me”, indicating Menma is not haunting her friends anymore and already resting peacefully. Nostalgia feels rushed as Yuuki Ozaki’s vocal kicks in and still remains the same as the original back in 2011 and Ai Kayano joined up with them on the chorus. - Alif Rahmanda, Staff Writer
'Snooze' - Agust D (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto 坂本龍一 and WOOSUNG of The Rose)
It all began at a Daegu cinema, which was screening a rerun of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor. “That was when I first experienced the feeling of being awed by music” (그 때 음악에 압도 되었다는 느낌을 처음 [받았습니다]), said Min Yoon-gi, recounting how the late master musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto became a sort of guide in his formative years – before becoming BTS’s Suga or his alter-ego Agust D.
Around 17 years later, as preserved in the Road to D-DAY documentary, the long-time pupil meets his 선생님 (sonsaengnim) or teacher – who, even if frail and gaunt from what would be a final bout with cancer, shares invaluable lessons and ignites something in Suga. He also lets the trailblazing maestro listen to an early version of what would become ‘Snooze,’ a track that he describes to be inspired by Sakamoto’s music itself. More importantly, he shares that it’s a vehicle for a message he wants to impart.
“There are so many kids out there who are losing sleep, skipping meals, and devoting themselves to music,” the 30-year-old musician explains to Sakamoto in the documentary. “Sometimes, some of those kids, who finally become musicians, they say to us, ‘I dreamed of being a musician because of you guys [hyung’s music].’” (특히 어린 나이에 정말 잠도 못 자고 밥도 못 먹고 일을 하고 있는 친구들이 너무 많아서. 또 가끔씩 그런 친구들이 이제 '저를 보고 또 우리 팀을 보고 꿈을 꿨어요'라든지, 가끔씩 '형 음악 듣고 음악을 시작했어요.')
He adds, “I wanted this song to give them some strength. Like, ‘I know it’s hard, but it’s all gonna be okay.” (이 음악을 듣고 좀 힘을 좀 냈으면 좋겠다. 싶어가지고 '이 힘들겠지만 다 괜찮아질 거고.’)
In between the choruses with The Rose’s WOOSUNG fervently crooning, Suga gets as intimate and candid as he can be with razor-sharp bars like “Why did you choose this painful and lonely road / Never, ever forget the reason behind it.” (이 괴롭고 외로운 길을 넌 왜 선택했을까 / 그 이유를 시간이 지나도 절대 잊지 마)
‘Snooze’ is a true gem, made even more poignant by Sakamoto’s passing this year. Surpassing whatever ideas you have of collaboration, it’s bursting with soul – a letter from teacher to student, whose turn has come to be a teacher as well, to many more who dare to dream. - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
'Si Me Voy' - Cuco and The Marías
I was first introduced to this song when a friend played it in the car during a night ride. It’s a song where even if you don't understand the words, you can hear the longing in the duo’s voice. The kind of infectious longing that makes you want to call someone special just to hear their voice, talking about everything but nothing in particular.
‘Si Me Voy’ is a collaboration between Cuco and The Marías, featuring frontwoman María Zardoya’s sublime vocals along with the indie-pop sensibilities of the two acts. Zardoya and Cuco’s vocals play off each other well, complementing one another against a backdrop of warm guitar twangs that remind you of everlasting sunsets, warm light and hard candy from my distant childhood. And like something borne by nostalgia, Zardoya sings “Although you are far don’t forget me”. Oh, that sweet sticky sentiment.
But all candy eventually dissolves completely, coming to a sad gradual end, like the soft crooning of “Voy, voy, voy, voy” in the outro. A true sappy indie duet for days. - Iliyas Juanda, Writer
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