Glad 2025! As we transition to a brand new 12 months, 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 12 months’s and final 12 months’s resolutions, despite the fact that I write these earlier than trying again at 2024’s submit.
Readers, be certain to chime in within the feedback. What are your Okay-pop needs for 2025?
1. Heighten the melody
Hmm… this decision appears to be like fairly acquainted. It’s develop into my high want for the previous few years and I’m going to maintain wishing for it till issues start to vary. Sure, I’ll develop into that previous man yelling at a cloud. However I might be yelling with probably the most melodious voice you may think about.
Severely, although… over the previous few years melody in Okay-pop has develop into flat, muted and repetitive — if there’s melody in any respect! This isn’t a private judgement, it’s simply the best way issues are because the trade prioritizes components like dance, visible and persona over virtuosic singing. In comparison with 2023 and 2022, I truly suppose issues are starting to maneuver in the fitting course, 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. In actual fact, heighten every little thing! (and possibly add orchestration)
I don’t need to have to put in writing “beige pop” another time within the new 12 months. Let’s carry 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 together with the muted stuff everybody else is utilizing. Choose one thing distinctive and thrilling. For those who’re going to throw electrical guitar or brass on a observe, go full-bore.
And truthfully, can we get again to orchestral preparations in Okay-pop? Yr-end particular levels usually make use of these components (the orchestral mixture of TWS’s hey! hey! has taken over my life these previous few weeks), however lets put them on the principle model of the tracks. An excellent strings part makes every little thing 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’d love to listen to some hitmakers who forge music that feels customized. 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 observe” of “Write one thing Sabrina Carpenter would possibly sing.” At the moment, it’s straightforward to change between genres as a creator, however I’d like to listen to some composers concentrate on a sound that’s clearly expensive to them — perfecting one type somewhat than copying and pasting no matter genres are widespread or in-demand for the time being.
4. Push previous 2:30 and flesh issues out
You possibly can definitely stuff tons of concepts right into a slim track body, however most of my favourite music of the previous 12 months has gone past two and half minutes to flesh out its imaginative and prescient till it reaches a pure conclusion. An excellent bridge and climax goes a good distance towards promoting a track, and that’s arduous to do when you’re constrained by time. And when you should follow beneath three minutes, add selection to the track construction so it nonetheless looks like we’ve gone on a whole journey.
5. A minimum of one lady group with a brand new (or previous!) sound
I’m actually placing a whole lot of religion in SM’s upcoming lady group as a result of annually I appear to fall additional away from the lady group aspect of Okay-pop. All I ask is for one new (or established) lady group to persistently launch hyper-melodic, super-propulsive pop music. Nobody’s doing it for the time being, and that is the primary era of Okay-pop the place I don’t really feel like I’ve a horse within the race in the case of this large (and massively widespread) aspect of the trade. I’m in search of a brand new SNSD, Kara, T-ara, Sistar, Woman’s Day, AOA, 9 Muses, GFriend, Lovelyz, WJSN or Oh My Woman. That shouldn’t be too arduous to seek out, proper?
6. A fruitful 12 months for my high three of 2024
On the other aspect of the spectrum, I’m very enthused by this new era of boy teams. Particularly, TWS, RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR have my consideration and I’m actually hoping their momentum will proceed into the brand new 12 months. 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 overlook the b-sides (aka: albums are essential, too)
Other than these three acts and some others, I felt like 2024 was a way more singles-oriented 12 months than traditional. Nice albums have been tough to seek out. On the plus aspect, I’m completely satisfied Okay-pop is again to selling its greatest songs as title tracks, however I miss having killer b-sides I develop into 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 nicely. New releases from older acts can go both manner, however I’m hoping that these returns are tremendous stable and characterize the artists doing what they do greatest somewhat than merely replicating present tendencies. And although they’re not as senior throughout the trade, I’m hoping my private favs Golden Baby discover a technique to stick collectively beneath 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 greatest music popping out within the first half of the 12 months. I’d like 2025 to be a bit extra beneficiant with its spacing, delivering persistently nice hits all 12 months 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. Typically, they’re merely textual content and background. The idol trade is visible by nature. We have to put the artists again on their covers with cool, iconic picture shoots.
