June just flew by didn’t it!? And with it there were A LOT of good debuts and comebacks in the KPop world.
Hui, Breakers Final
Artist: Hui
Album: Breaks Final
Title Track: Swim Good | Music Video
Label: STONE Entertainment
Release Date: June 1st 2018
Octavia: Hui is an artist that’s slowly been making his way up my bias list. I knew he was talented but he legit blew me away with this performance. You don’t see many sexy performances in KPop so this both shocked and amazed me. And the vocals! I swear I had this on repeat one day and each time he hit that one note (you’ll know the one if you listen) I basically melted.
Shelly: I am obsessed with Hui’s songs for Breakers. I DON’T KNOW WHY HE DIDN’T WIN. If you’re a fan of songs that are amazing and performances that leave you shook, I highly recommend watching the video for it.
Katie, Remember
Artist: Katie
Album Remember – Single
Title Track: Remember | Music Video
Label AXIS
Release Date June 2nd 2018
Octavia Katie is 100% new to me but I’ll listen to her sing the phonebook if she put it on an album. I was a little surprised that the whole track was in English but honestly her vocals are so beautiful she could have been singing in gibberish and it would have been an instant win. I’m excited to see what she puts out in the future and how she’ll grow.
Shelly: I love this song. Like Octavia, I haven’t heard of Katie until now but I utterly love this song.
Wanna One, Undivided
Artist: Wanna One
Album: Undivide
Title Track: Light | Music Video
Label: STONE Entertainment
Release Date: June 4th 2018
Shelly: Wanna One isn’t a group that’s a favourite for me by any stretch of the imagination but I am OBSESSED with the title track. I legitimately couldn’t stop listening to it on repeat for at least 3 days.
Hui, Breakers Final
Artist: Hui
Album: Breakers Final
Title Track: For You | Performance Video
Label: STONE Entertainment
Release Date: June 8th 2018
Octavia:I love him. Boom. End of story. You can all go home now. Swim Good is my favorite Hui song during Breakers but For You gives it a good run for it’s money. Watching him perform it with his members in the audience (one day soon I’ll fall down the Pentagon rabbit hole and learn all their names) and seeing everyone get all emotional? Hearing him get emotional? Yes. Take my money.
Shelly: Hui on Breakers is legit one of the best new things of the year. Like I said above, YOU NEED TO WATCH THESE PERFORMANCES.
SHINee, The Story of Light Pt. 2
Artist: SHINee
Album: The Story of Light Pt. 2.
Title Track: I Want You | Music Video
Label: SM Entertainment
Release Date: June 11th 2018
Octavia: I thought all the love I had for SHINee was in Part 1 but Part 2 completely surpasses that. Every song (yes I know there are only 5) is amazing. Who Waits For Love is my ultimate favorite but each songs has it’s own quality and makes you want to dance and laugh and just have a good time, and I love that.
Shelly: I love the entire Story of Light collection but part 2 is my ultimate favourite. Every single song is amazing and different. I just love music that makes me want to dance around.
BlackPink, Square Up
Artist: BlackPink
Album: Square Up
Title Track: DDU-DU DDU-DU | Music VideoLabel: YG Entertainment
Release Date: June 15th 2018
Octavia: I’m not BlackPink’s biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination but DDU-Du DDU-Du is my JAM! It’s a total ear worm and every time it comes on I have to dance to it. And the video! I know all the BlackPink members are pretty but damn they are down right gorgeous in this! And they exude that whole “I’m the boss bow down” air and I’m here for it. The rest of the album took a while to grow on me and honestly only Forever Young has gotten my approval but I see where BlackPink is going and I’m not mad at it. Let’s see if it takes another year for their next comeback.
Shelly: Like Octavia, I was very skeptical about BlackPink but DDU-Du DDu-Du is SUCH A GOOD SONG. It’s so catchy and the music video is so aesthetically appealing that I love it. The rest of the album is also pretty great, though after the magic of its title track, it may take you a while to appreciate it too.
Kim Dong Han, D-Day
Artist: Kim Dong Han
Album: D-Day
Title Track: Sunset | Music Video
Label: OUI Entertainment
Release Date: June 19th
Octavia: I was a fan of JBJ and when they disbanned I admit I was pretty damn sad. So when I saw that Kim Dong Han’s solo album was out I very obviously went and downloaded it and listened. There are only 5 dongs so it didn’t take long to get through it but seriously….LOOOOOOOVE. Sunset maybe the title track but each song could have easily held that place and been successful, in my very biased opinion.
Shelly: I listened to this album after Octavia’s recommendation and I adored it. A few of the songs have made their way to my playlists and they’re all awesome.
GOT7, The New Era
Artist: GOT7
Album: The New Era – Japanese Release
Title Track: The New Era | Music VideoLabel: JYP Entertainment
Release Date: June 20th 2018
Octavia: So, this album is a Japanese release and as such is unavailable in the US (sucky but hey). BUT! The music video is available for view and that what I’m going to comment on. When I first watched it, SIX WEEKS AGO, I was pissed at JYP For putting it out there only for me to not be able to listen to it all the time. But then I got caught up with ow good JB looks in this whole I’m bad and I play soccer concept and all anger left me. I am a bit sad Jackson doesn’t join the Japanese promos but health comes first so I get it. Shelly and I ordered the album (yeah our thirst is real) and I can’t wait to hear the whole thing.
Shelly: Like Octavia, I WAS SO MAD THAT THEY SHOWED US THE TITLE TRACK SIX WEEKS AGO. JYP, WHY?! Anyway, I am glad that I ordered the album because I am totally here for this new concept and I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the songs.
SHINee, The Story of Light Pt. 3.
Artist: SHINee
Album: The Story of Light Pt. 3
Title Track: Our Page | Music Video
Label: SM Entertainment
Release Date: June 25th 2018
Octavia: I’m new to SHINee but I couldn’t help but cry while watching and reading along to Our Page. I love this album. I love this group. I can’t say enough good things. I just love them.
Shelly: I watched this while on vacation in New Orleans and oh my gosh, THE TEARS. Their tribute to Jonghyun was so touching and sentimental and I just have so many emotions.
NU’EST W, Who, You
Artist: NU’EST W
Album: Who, You
Title Track: Deja Vu | Music Video
Label: Pledis Entertainment
Release Date: June 25th 2018
Octavia: I haven’t listened to NU’EST W since Where You At hit the interwebs and TOOK OVER. So when I realized I missed their comeback I instantly went and watched their new MV. It was trippy and I loved that type of stuff. The song itself took a few listens for me to decide if I liked it, and now It’s on at least 3 playlist. As far as the rest of the album goes I love the growth. W, Here wasn’t an album I was ready to download in it’s entirety. But you can tell how hard they worked and grew from then to know and I appreciate that. If I had to give it a star rating I’d say 3.5 out of 5? But the more I listen the more that could change.
Momoland, Fun to the World
Artist: Momoland
Album: Fun to the World
Title Track: BAAM | Music Video
Label: Double Kick Company
Release Date: June 26th 2018
Shelly:This title track was so fun and the video was GORGEOUS. I really enjoyed it but I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to the rest of the album yet.
Octavia: It took a few listens for BAAM to grow on me but now that it has it’s definitely my jam. I will say I like this album much more than the last one. Only One You is probably my second favorite song, and that’s surprising since it’s so cute.
Day6, Shoot Me: Youth Part 1.
Artist: Day6
Album: Shoot Me: Youth Part 1.
Title Track: Shoot Me | Music Video
Label: JYP Entertainment
Release Date: June 26th 2018
Shelly: The title track reminds me a bit of The Roses’s latest album but I’m not mad at it. It’s not my favourite but I can see it growing on me.
Octavia:I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Shoot Me. I was really skeptical at first but yo this song is amazing. I agree with Shelly in the sense that it reminds me of The Rose a little but I think that’s mostly because they’re both bands, in an industry that isn’t very band focused or friendly. I’ve only listened to the album a few times all the way through but I love the heavy rock feel it has and I can see myself stanning Day6 very soon….my poor wallet.
