Music Evaluation: NouerA – N.I.N (New Is Now)

I watched final summer season’s survival sequence Makemate (and even featured certainly one of their songs on the weblog), nevertheless it left such little impression that I wrestle to recall many particulars about it. Its debuting group NouerA is right here to repair that, arriving with a whopper of an electro-funk monitor that positively leaves its mark.

Ok-pop’s older technology of producers simply hit totally different. N.I.N (New Is Now) is an e.one manufacturing — particularly e.one’s Jung Ho Hyun who’s liable for nice work from GFriend, April and Wanna One (amongst many others). The tune does a pleasant job melding the previous with the brand new, although when it does falter its due to these pesky “new” musical touches. Aside from a clunky, momentum-killing dance break and some pointless slowdowns, N.I.N is an exhilarating debut. The tune is at its finest when leaning into its showstopping vitality. I like the multi-part refrain, festooned with dynamic synth and brassy prospers. The second verse can be a significant spotlight, including handclaps and a perky synthline to the combo.

Most refreshingly, N.I.N sounds like Ok-pop — or at the very least, the Ok-pop that first introduced me into the fandom. It’s arduous to think about this particular sound being pitched in lots of different music markets. The monitor doesn’t really feel focus-grouped to attraction to as many worldwide followers as potential and that permits it to retain a way of individuality. I hope NouerA proceed to stake their declare on this 2nd/Third-gen model as a result of there’s a large gap available in the market they’re clearly able to filling.

Grade: A-