Joyful 2025! As we transition to a brand new yr, it’s Bias Record custom to unveil some needs I’ve for Okay-pop going ahead. There’s a good quantity of overlap between this yr’s and final yr’s resolutions, regardless that I write these earlier than wanting again at 2024’s put up.
Readers, ensure that to chime in within the feedback. What are your Okay-pop needs for 2025?
1. Heighten the melody
Hmm… this decision seems to be fairly acquainted. It’s grow to be my prime want for the previous few years and I’m going to maintain wishing for it till issues start to alter. Sure, I’ll grow to be that previous man yelling at a cloud. However I will probably be yelling with essentially the most melodious voice you may think about.
Critically, although… over the previous few years melody in Okay-pop has grow to be flat, muted and repetitive — if there’s melody in any respect! This isn’t a private judgement, it’s simply the way in which issues are because the business prioritizes parts like dance, visible and character over virtuosic singing. In comparison with 2023 and 2022, I really assume issues are starting to maneuver in the best route, however in 2025 I’d like songwriters (and particularly, topliners) to problem themselves to craft melodies with vary and drama. I promise there are idols who can deal with this even with their demanding choreo.
2. The truth is, heighten the whole lot! (and perhaps add orchestration)
I don’t need to have to jot down “beige pop” another time within the new yr. Let’s convey theatricality and drama again to the songs themselves… not simply the ideas and imagery that usually take priority over the music. When selecting synths, don’t simply go along with the muted stuff everybody else is utilizing. Choose one thing distinctive and thrilling. Should you’re going to throw electrical guitar or brass on a monitor, go full-bore.
And truthfully, can we get again to orchestral preparations in Okay-pop? 12 months-end particular levels usually make use of these parts (the orchestral mixture of TWS’s hey! hey! has taken over my life these previous few weeks), however lets put them on the primary model of the tracks. A superb strings part makes the whole lot really feel grand and thrilling and compliments the theatricality embedded in most Okay-pop performances.
3. Producers with preferences
I’ve given up on returning to an period of “tremendous producers” with their very own signature sounds, however I might love to listen to some hitmakers who forge music that feels personalised. Too many songwriting groups in Okay-pop really feel as in the event that they’re answering a short from the businesses: “Please write an Afrobeats monitor” of “Write one thing Sabrina Carpenter may sing.” At the present time, it’s straightforward to modify between genres as a creator, however I’d like to listen to some composers focus on a sound that’s clearly expensive to them — perfecting one type relatively than copying and pasting no matter genres are widespread or in-demand in the intervening time.
4. Push previous 2:30 and flesh issues out
You possibly can actually stuff tons of concepts right into a slim music body, however most of my favourite music of the previous yr has gone past two and half minutes to flesh out its imaginative and prescient till it reaches a pure conclusion. An ideal bridge and climax goes a good distance towards promoting a music, and that’s onerous to do if you happen to’re constrained by time. And if you happen to should persist with below three minutes, add selection to the music construction so it nonetheless appears like we’ve gone on a whole journey.
5. Not less than one woman group with a brand new (or previous!) sound
I’m actually placing lots of religion in SM’s upcoming woman group as a result of annually I appear to fall additional away from the woman group facet of Okay-pop. All I ask is for one new (or established) woman group to persistently launch hyper-melodic, super-propulsive pop music. Nobody’s doing it in the intervening time, and that is the primary technology of Okay-pop the place I don’t really feel like I’ve a horse within the race on the subject of this big (and massively widespread) facet of the business. I’m searching for a brand new SNSD, Kara, T-ara, Sistar, Lady’s Day, AOA, 9 Muses, GFriend, Lovelyz, WJSN or Oh My Lady. That shouldn’t be too onerous to seek out, proper?
6. A fruitful yr for my prime three of 2024
On the other facet of the spectrum, I’m very enthused by this new technology of boy teams. Specifically, TWS, RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR have my consideration and I’m actually hoping their momentum will proceed into the brand new yr. All three had stellar 2024s and have the potential to go even increased in 2025. I hope we get plenty of nice music from every act.
7. Don’t neglect the b-sides (aka: albums are vital, too)
Other than these three acts and some others, I felt like 2024 was a way more singles-oriented yr than typical. Nice albums had been troublesome to seek out. On the plus facet, I’m joyful Okay-pop is again to selling its finest songs as title tracks, however I miss having killer b-sides I grow to be equally obsessive about all year long.
8. Highlights from my previous favorites
Infinite and GFriend have already introduced comebacks and G-Dragon’s album appears to be prepared as effectively. New releases from older acts can go both means, however I’m hoping that these returns are tremendous stable and symbolize the artists doing what they do finest relatively than merely replicating present developments. And although they’re not as senior throughout the business, I’m hoping my private favs Golden Baby discover a technique to stick collectively below a brand new company. They’re too proficient to easily fade away.
9. Area out your hits
2024 was extraordinarily lopsided, with virtually all the finest music popping out within the first half of the yr. I’d like 2025 to be a bit extra beneficiant with its spacing, delivering persistently nice hits all yr spherical.
10. Idols on album covers
Bodily variations of idol albums are as cool and artistic as ever, however I’m sick of the digital covers (those we see on our telephones and gadgets) changing into so boring. Usually, they’re merely textual content and background. The idol business is visible by nature. We have to put the artists again on their covers with cool, iconic photograph shoots.