It’s BTS week, which implies new releases aside from that album have been fairly rare. Nonetheless, one other world-conquering Okay-pop group has a deal with of their very own. Stray Children’ Hyunjin launched solo monitor Lover on his birthday alongside a lo-fi music video. For an act with as a lot cachet as they’ve, most of Stray Children’ work hasn’t ventured previous full group materials. It’s fascinating to listen to a member sort out a music all their very own.

So as to add to the attraction, Hyunjin composed Lover‘s lyrics and co-composed the music itself. If you consider self-producers throughout the group, he’s not the identify that instantly stands proud. His sonic perspective on this music owes lots to present developments. Male popstars of our period appear to like this sludgy trap-infused sound. I’ve discovered it fairly claustrophobic and uninteresting from the start, however now that this particular musical salad has develop into the default for a lot 2020s music it barely elicits a response in any respect.

Hyunjin croons in the next pitch than anticipated, giving his vocals a tough, unpolished aptitude. His efficiency has a equally warped, slurred impact because the instrumental, making Lover sound tortured. The melodies are largely repetitions of the identical phrasing again and again, including to the monotony of the music. It’s clear that that is the aesthetic Hyunjin was aiming for and I’m glad he received to flex his abilities. Nonetheless, the music shouldn’t be for me in any respect.

Grade: D+