Joyful 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 wanting again at 2024’s publish.
Readers, be sure 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 turn 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 turn into that previous man yelling at a cloud. However I might be yelling with essentially the most melodious voice you’ll be able to think about.
Critically, although… over the previous few years melody in Okay-pop has turn 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 character over virtuosic singing. In comparison with 2023 and 2022, I really suppose issues are starting to maneuver in the proper 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 truth, heighten every little thing! (and perhaps add orchestration)
I don’t need to have to write down “beige pop” yet another time within the new 12 months. Let’s deliver 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. In the event you’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. A very good 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 companies: “Please write an Afrobeats observe” of “Write one thing Sabrina Carpenter would possibly sing.” At the present time, it’s straightforward to change between genres as a creator, however I’d like to listen to some composers specialise in a sound that’s clearly pricey to them — perfecting one fashion reasonably than copying and pasting no matter genres are well-liked or in-demand for the time being.
4. Push previous 2:30 and flesh issues out
You’ll be able to actually stuff tons of concepts right into a slender music 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 incredible bridge and climax goes a good distance towards promoting a music, and that’s laborious to do should you’re constrained by time. And should you should keep on with underneath three minutes, add selection to the music construction so it nonetheless seems like we’ve gone on an entire journey.
5. No less than 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 every year 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 technology of Okay-pop the place I don’t really feel like I’ve a horse within the race with regards to this large (and vastly well-liked) aspect of the trade. I’m in search of 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 laborious to seek out, proper?
6. A fruitful 12 months for my high three of 2024
On the alternative aspect of the spectrum, I’m very enthused by this new technology 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 greater in 2025. I hope we get a lot of nice music from every act.
7. Don’t neglect the b-sides (aka: albums are necessary, too)
Aside from these three acts and some others, I felt like 2024 was a way more singles-oriented 12 months than normal. Nice albums had been troublesome to seek out. On the plus aspect, I’m joyful Okay-pop is again to selling its greatest songs as title tracks, however I miss having killer b-sides I turn 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 effectively. New releases from older acts can go both approach, however I’m hoping that these returns are tremendous stable and symbolize the artists doing what they do greatest reasonably than merely replicating present developments. And although they’re not as senior throughout the trade, I’m hoping my private favs Golden Youngster discover a option to stick collectively underneath a brand new company. They’re too gifted to easily fade away.
9. House 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 units) changing into so boring. Usually, 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.
