August is almost over, but K-pop is really just getting started for the summer. This week saw a bevy of releases from many acts so, as usual, our writers picked out some of their favorite songs from the past week. For fans of indie, we have Nell’s first song since setting up a new company, […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Untitled-design-2-2.png7681024KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2016-08-21 21:44:092016-08-21 22:06:30Weekly K-Pop faves: August 15 – 21
NA Entertainment’s five member rookie boyband, INX, debuted on August 1st with “Alright.” Sang Ho, Jun Yong, Bon Kuk, Ji Nam, and Win garnered a lot of attention prior to their official debut via promotional appearances in China, as well as showcasing their slick choreography in a dance cover of BTS’ “Fire,” which was uploaded […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/INX_debut_group_teaser.png10801620Eve Backhousehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngEve Backhouse2016-08-18 23:02:162016-08-21 21:47:19INX’s ‘Alright’ music video & song review
August is almost over, but K-pop is really just getting started for the summer. This week saw a bevy of releases from many acts so, as usual, our writers picked out some of their favorite songs from the past week. For fans of indie, we have Nell’s first song since setting up a new company, […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Untitled-design-2-2.png7681024KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2016-08-21 21:44:092016-08-21 22:06:30Weekly K-Pop faves: August 15 – 21
NA Entertainment’s five member rookie boyband, INX, debuted on August 1st with “Alright.” Sang Ho, Jun Yong, Bon Kuk, Ji Nam, and Win garnered a lot of attention prior to their official debut via promotional appearances in China, as well as showcasing their slick choreography in a dance cover of BTS’ “Fire,” which was uploaded […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/INX_debut_group_teaser.png10801620Eve Backhousehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngEve Backhouse2016-08-18 23:02:162016-08-21 21:47:19INX’s ‘Alright’ music video & song review
August is almost over, but K-pop is really just getting started for the summer. This week saw a bevy of releases from many acts so, as usual, our writers picked out some of their favorite songs from the past week. For fans of indie, we have Nell’s first song since setting up a new company, for fans of “Produce 101” we have I.B.I’s debut, and for fans of the powerhouse Girls’ Generation we have a new song by two members, Yuri and Seohyun. Rounding things out we have some Cosmic Girls for your listening pleasure.
“Secret” by Yuri x Seohyun (Released Aug 18)
Too bad Yuri and Seohyun’s ad for Pantene didn’t come out during Pride Month, because “Secret” is tailor made for the gay club and I absolutely love it. By now, gone are the days of the electro Euro popish sound. So if SM producers have to combine this with EDM to make contemporary bangers, I’ll take it. For lack of a better, more suitable word, Yuri and Seohyun absolutely slay, both vocally and choreography-wise. The concept and song suits Yuri like a glove, and while I would’ve chosen someone else in SHY over Seohyun, she manages to not look super robotic as usual. “Secret” is exactly my type of jam and here’s to hoping for a Yuri solo.
I.B.I is a project group consisting of some finalists from “Produce 101,” the show that launched I.O.I. After being put together as a dream team by fans of the program, the group finally made their debut this week with the adorable “Molae Molae.” Light-hearted, sweet and fun, this song fully showcases the youthful charms of the group, along with their vocal talents. More than that however, the uplifting lyrics reflect the hopes and dreams of these five girls, girls who have faced failure several times in their K-pop journey but are not going to give up anytime soon. It’s a beautiful message and I’m definitely rooting for these underdogs, so here’s to hoping that this group will become a permanent one soon!
–Anna
“Dream Catcher” by Nell (released Aug 18)
As the first single they’ve released in several years and also the first since departing Woollim Entertainment, I was really anticipating Nell’s “Dream Catcher.” Things could either be phenomenal or go horribly wrong. Luckily, Nell is a talented band and my worries were relatively pointless; “Dream Catcher” is a twinkling display of glorious electronic-pop. Nell is one of the most versatile bands in South Korea, able to do anything from ballads to hard rock, and the trance-evoking song is simply wonderful. The colorful, hallucinatory music video combined with the lilting synth notes that create the guiding sound to “Dream Catcher” truly evoke the idea of a fleeting dream. It’s perfect for the summer and, although it’s a bit upbeat, Kim Jong Wan’s vocals and the song’s overall style make me just want to close my eyes and simply dream.
“Secret” by Cosmic Girls (WSJN) (released August 17)
Since I haven’t paid too much attention to new artists from this year, this release caught me completely off-guard. But after hearing the news of I.O.I’s Yeonjung being added to the group (which I originally thought was a horrible idea), I decided to give their new song a chance and I’m thoroughly impressed. Among the massive 13 members, I’m glad to hear some great vocals singing along with Yeonjung (who was one of two members of the group that I was actually acquainted with before listening to this song, the other being EXY). The song is catchy, but transcends the typical K-pop mold with a more ethereal sound and aesthetic. The music video is absolutely beautiful, and the song has a light/airy quality that accentuates the “cosmic” quality of the group itself. While their debut didn’t really leave me with a strong impression, Cosmic Girls shows a lot of potential for a strong future in K-pop with this release.
–Kushal
What’s your favorite song from last week? Did it make our playlist? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Untitled-design-2-2.png7681024KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2016-08-21 21:44:092016-08-21 22:06:30Weekly K-Pop faves: August 15 – 21
NA Entertainment’s five member rookie boyband, INX, debuted on August 1st with “Alright.” Sang Ho, Jun Yong, Bon Kuk, Ji Nam, and Win garnered a lot of attention prior to their official debut via promotional appearances in China, as well as showcasing their slick choreography in a dance cover of BTS’ “Fire,” which was uploaded to YouTube.
Song
K-pop fans who enjoy tracks with an old school late 1990s to early 2000s vibe are really in for a treat with this offering from INX, thanks to the pulsating rhythm and electro-pop sound. “Alright” starts in typical K-pop ballad style, but soon picks up the pace with the introduction of some strong and well integrated rapping. Rock guitars and a synthesized techno dance beat then kick in for the catchy and memorable chorus, after which “Alright” goes through several more changes in tempo and style before the song concludes. The members of INX are between 16 and 21-years-old, yet they display extremely mature and combined powerful vocals far beyond their years and it will be great to see where they go from here. The rappers also have an edgy flow and complement the vocalists perfectly, but Jun Yong is clearly the group’s standout performer. The lyrics of the song talk about the struggle to move on from memories of a past girlfriend and the boys interpret the song’s emotion in a heart wrenching manner.
With a debut song, it is always good to see an accompanying top-notch video, and the one for “Alright” is not only technically and visually stunning, but it also interprets the song’s melancholic lyrics on the theme of heartbreak perfectly via lots of symbolic imagery. The intro depicts all five members blindfolded and chained to chairs, demonstrating how imprisoned they are by their angst. The lighting mostly has a pink and blue colour palette, especially when the members are shown surrounded by roses in several different rooms, clearly lamenting a lost love. But this changes to a yellowish hue during the dance scenes to express a more defiant mood. Towards the video’s conclusion, INX break free of their constraints and smash a vase of flowers to show they have turned a corner and started to move on with their lives.
Styling
INX’s style is classic boyband, with white suits, casual clothes, and black suits high on the agenda. The smart ensembles are mostly worn in the scenes during which the members are restrained or performing choreography, while the casual outfits are reserved for times when INX are looking appropriately distressed. With the white suits only one of the members wears shorts instead of trousers, though they all sport casual white trainers. By way of contrast, the black outfits are worn with eye-catching embroidered shirts, cut off trousers and formal shoes. The simple but stylish way in which they are dressed will no doubt garner the attention of numerous young female fans worldwide.
Overall Thoughts INX demonstrate real promise and potential with “Alright.” On first listen, it sounds like a mismatch of several genres, but because of the members strong vocal talents, the song works surprisingly well. Moreover, “Alright” does a good job at not only bringing the sounds together but providing each member a chance to shine. It will be a lot of fun to keep watching INX, since several of the member’s have truly phenomenal vocals and it will be intriguing to see what they try next. The accompanying music video is shot in a tasteful and artistic way with high production values, while the members’ good looks will go a long way in helping them reach their target audience of teenagers and young women. This impressive debut is well worth a listen!
INX 'Alright'
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https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/INX_debut_group_teaser.png10801620Eve Backhousehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngEve Backhouse2016-08-18 23:02:162016-08-21 21:47:19INX’s ‘Alright’ music video & song review
