Hello, honey bees who have a taste for the best honey, aka K-POP. It is time for another installment of your favorite THP feature – our K-POP HOTSPOT. March marks the beginning of spring and new beginnings! Of course, a lot happened this last month, from debuts to comebacks and more, so this K-POP roundup is packed as per usual! Before we dive in, make sure to check out the comebacks we already covered, such as YUJU, ATEEZ, DRIPPIN, GOLDEN CHILD’s Y, TRENDZ, NMIXX, KEP1ER, TWICE, EXO KAI, GOT7 YOUNGJAE, KANGYPYO, CHERRY BULLET, SHINee ONEW, ERIC NAM, CRAVITY, LOREN, BTS JIMIN, xikers, BILLLIE, BLACKPINK JISOO, GOT7 BAMBAM, and aespa.
But honey bees, before we really get into the juicy stuff let us share two secret releases with you. First of all, we have to support our boys from Omega X, two of their members – Jaehan and Yechan – were starring in a cute BL drama called A Shoulder to Cry On and their fellow members gifted us an amazing OST to go alongside it! You can listen to the songs here, here, and here. Additionally, since we still have to move on from Seulgi‘s solo debut the queen offered us remixes of our favorite bops in the iSCREAM Vol. 22! You can listen and jam out to them here.
Okay, everyone, sit down for this one because one of our fave girl groups of this generation just dropped an amazing announcement on us! IVE have signed an exclusive deal with Columbia Records and The Orchard for international distribution. That means the girls are about to take on America and the world with their amazing music. Well, ‘Kitsch’ was already the first sweet treat of this collaboration and we loved it!
In more exciting news our fave new girl group FIFTY FIFTY made it to the Billboard HOT 100 with ‘Cupid’ and we couldn’t be prouder of the girls, if someone deserves this then them! And EPEX are also gonna surprise us this coming month, as they just announced their new comeback with their fifth mini album, Prelude of Love Chapter 2:‘Growing Pains.’ But they aren’t the only ones… SEVENTEEN finally announced their official comeback date for their tenth mini album on April 24th! We are absolutely full from so much amazing news.
Okay, we are done, promise! Now, let’s get into many more amazing comebacks and debuts from March.
ALICE’s SOHEE
Everyone, wake up! Sohee of ALICE is back with her first solo release in almost five years! Her new single ‘YOYO’ (feat. XINSAYNE) is a bop; it’s such a cute 90s-style vibe, and the chorus is beyond addictive. XINSAYNE’s verse is a fitting addition, and we expected nothing less. We’ve been singing “Yo-yo, yo-yo, yo-yo” to ourselves every day since its release, and we can’t stop!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALICE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
ONLYONEOF
OnlyOneOf is back with their first group comeback of the year! Their new EP, seOul cOllectiOn, has a phenomenal variety of sounds that get better with every listen. The title track, ‘seOul drift,’ is a banger, and it hit us even harder once we read the music video description. (It’s worth the read, trust us!) Our favorite b-sides are definitely the slow jams ‘mirage,’ ‘blueblueseOul,’ and ‘nabi.’ Their releases never disappoint!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONLYONEOF:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | MEMBER TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
SECRET NUMBER
Secret Number have officially made their Japanese debut with their new single ‘Like It Like It!’ And can we just talk about how much we “Like It Like It?” Their charisma and energy are unmatched in the music video! It’s dangerously catchy, and we’ll be replaying this song every day for at least another month! These girls are gearing up for a Japanese EP next month that includes this track, and we’re looking forward to jamming to more of their Japanese songs.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SECRET NUMBER:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TO1
As soon as we pressed play on TO1’s special single, ‘Hug,’ we were hit with the biggest wave of nostalgia. And rightfully so! TO1 just dropped their remake of TVXQ’s ever-iconic debut song, and it is an incredible tribute. Their choreography, vocals, and harmonies are all on point, and we love the rap verse they added! It’s always heartwarming to see newer groups call back to first- and second-generation K-Pop classics like this one!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TO1:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
KARA NICOLE
KARA’s Nicole is back with a new single, and we are LIVING for it! ‘Mysterious’ is groovy, sexy, and a perfect concept for Nicole! The choreography is killer, and Nicole’s confidence is everything. Her stunning vocals and high notes paired with the bassline in the instrumental are a match made in heaven. We’re in love!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NICOLE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
PIXY
PIXY are queens of the dark and edgy concept! Every comeback they release is a work of art, and their latest EP, Chosen Karma, is no exception! The title track, ‘Karma,’ is magical and simply witchy in the best way possible. Their b-sides are solid, as always, and our favorite ones are ‘Falling’ and ‘Whisper.’ And it’s worth mentioning that these girls are starting their US tour in a few short weeks, where they’re performing in 22 shows! PIXY fighting!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PIXY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TAN
Tan surprised us this month with the long-awaited full version of ‘FIX YOU.’ We heard the song for the first time as a short version in order to get us excited for Tan’s debut last year. Finally, in March 2023 we were blessed with the full version of the song and what can we say: it was definitely worth it! ‘FIX YOU’ delivers in its full-length everything we had been hoping for and more, vocals, melody, and talent for days!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAN:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
So!YoON!
Chills. Literal chills. That’s what we feel whenever we listen to So!YoON!’s second studio album, Episode1: Love. She collabed with RM of BTS on the title track, ‘Smoke Sprite,’ which is our absolute favorite song from the album! The guitar instrumental goes crazy, and we’ve officially fallen in love with So!YoON!’s soulful, raspy voice. Our favorite b-sides are ‘bad’ and ‘EXIT,’ both of which show off her wide range as a musician.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONF:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE
KIM JAEHWAN
We don’t know about everyone else, but we can’t get enough of spring-themed songs every time the season rolls around and the weather becomes warmer. Kim Jaehwan’s newest single, ‘Spring Breeze,’ has the exact vibes we’ve been looking for! And it might be our new favorite song by Jaehwan! His vocals are beautiful and so comforting. The melody makes us want to spend time outside and enjoy nature, which we honestly need to do more often.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIM JAEHWAN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
YEEUN
It’s happening! Yeeun is set to make her solo debut next month, and she just dropped her new pre-release single, ‘Strange Way To Love!’ While Yeeun’s well known for her powerful rapping, we were pleasantly surprised and super impressed with her lovely vocals in this track. ‘Strange Way To Love’ is a soft song about the confusing and uncontrollable feelings that come with a new love. We’re beyond excited to see Yeeun show us more sides and colors with her music!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YEEUN:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK
iKON BOBBY
Even though it’s been over two years since BOBBY’s last solo comeback, we’re more than happy to wait for his return. And now he’s back and better than ever! Exhibit A: the vocals and choreography. Exhibit B: the styling and cameos. Literally, everything about iKON’s BOBBY’s solo single album, S.i.R, is incredible. And he even blessed us with music videos for both the title track, ‘Drowning,’ and the b-side track, ‘Cherry Blossom!’ Everyone needs to thank BOBBY for these masterpieces.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IKON:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
MAMAMOO+
MAMAMOO’s Solar and Moonbyul somehow render us speechless with everything they do! And their subunit’s pre-release track, ‘Chico Malo,’ has us in a chokehold. (As we expected.) The song is a break-up banger about leaving those good-for-nothing guys who keep lying and cheating. We’re in love with the storyline and their traditional outfits. And we can’t forget to mention how good the traditional instruments sound in the melody. No one is doing it like MAMAMOO+!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAMAMOO:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
PURPLE KISS
Only one month after their comeback with Cabin Fever, Purple Kiss just released their debut Japanese mini-album, Dear Violet. And this EP is a 10/10 across the board! These girls sing Japanese versions of popular tracks like ‘Zombie,’ ‘memeM,’ and ‘Sweet Juice.’ They really kill these songs in any language! And just when we thought Dear Violet couldn’t get any better, we listened to their original Japanese track, ‘Tonari (トナリ).’ It’s a dreamy slow jam with solid, soothing vocals and the ultimate spring feels! You won’t regret adding any of these songs to your playlists!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PURPLE KISS:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
VERIVERY
In VERIVERY we trust to get us a nice surprise mid-month! The boys came back with the Japanese version of their well-beloved single ‘Tap Tap.’ This version really reaffirmed to us why we loved the song to begin with. The fun upbeat verses, and that catchy chorus, it has it all. Now… all we need is a Korean comeback!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VERIVERY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
QI.X
You honey bees know we love all things K-POP! Especially if we get some extra representation with it! QI.X is an upcoming group and their USP is that all of them identify as either non-binary or trans. We. Are. In. Love. With. Them. But not only that makes the group so unique but they also finally released their banger debut single digitally! We get everything on this one, old K-pop vibes, vocals, and amazing raps. What is there not to stan?!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT QI.X:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
HORI7ON
HORI7ON are set to debut in June 2023. They were formed through MLD’s survival show Dream Maker Project and we were hyped to see what the members would have in store for us! ‘DASH’ is the group’s pre-debut single and it offers us a first glimpse into the guys’ future. What we are seeing? Potential and bops!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HORI7ON:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
ICHILLIN’
We know a good whistle sample when we hear one! And ICHILLIN’s ‘Alarm’ joins the ranks with Teen Top’s ‘What’s Problem’ and Dreamcatcher’s ‘Piri’ for using this banger sample. We would have loved ‘Alarm’ either way as that chorus is just irresistible and melodic, however, the whistle elevates the song to new heights and the girls sound more than amazing!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ICHILLIN’:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
CRAXY
‘Nugudom’ is a word all of us K-poppies know and want our faves to escape! CRAXY decided to own the term and make a heartfelt song about it that bangs, from heavy-hitting beats to sounds that remind us of 2NE1 days. ‘Nugudom’ delivers and we really hope the song and the entire mini album will finally make CRAXY able to escape the status and become widely known. We are rooting for you girls!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CRAXY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
KINGDOM
KINGDOM are the kings of concepts. There we said it. But honestly?! No one has a concept as cool as theirs on the scene currently. This album focuses on member Mujin and ‘Dystopia’ is our new favorite title track by the group so far! We love everything about ‘Dystopia;’ the traditional instrumental, that sword move in the choreo, and, of course, that catchy chorus. Everything about this comeback is fantastic and if you have time to check out the album then ‘Love is Pain’ is the one to go!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KINGDOM:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
SHINHWA WDJ
The trio sub-unit of the longest active K-Pop group treated us to a surprise release! ‘BamBiNun’ made us nostalgic and emotional. ‘BamBiNun’ feels like a fan song and the music video including concert clips really transfers this feeling even more – especially those shirtless scenes. We will always take a new release by these men even if it makes us cry – their vocals are worth it!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SHINHWA:
TWITTER | WEBSITE
IVE
Before IVE comeback again and steal our hearts with their first full album this coming month, the girls teased us with a new pre-release single. ‘Kitsch’ is a throwback to the 90s and we love it! The verses are as sweet as sugar while the chorus showed a new side of IVE to us! The girls never sounded this bad a**! We are obsessed and the fact that this is to celebrate the girls going global makes it even better!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IVE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | JAPAN TWITTER | YOUTUBE
ROCKING DOLL’s AHRI
Now that’s a release we didn’t expect to hear this month! Rocking doll know how to get us rocking out to their music usually but member Ahri showed us they can do poppy pop too! ‘Eyes On Me’ is a super cute and fun song and we are obsessed with it, from now on this is our happy time anthem.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROCKING DOLL:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
CSR
In CSR we trust to give us more of their upbeat and light sound for the spring season. ‘Shining Bright’ is everything we had hoped for. The girls sound amazing on the vocals, the track starts off dreamy and then includes some light and fun rock moments here and there. CSR feel like fresh air every time we listen to them and we can only recommend them to you, the album is another fantastic one.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CSR:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
MAMAMOO+
MAMAMOO+ really are a gift that keeps on giving! The duo brings us back to lighter and earlier days in the MAMAMOO discography with ‘GGBB.’ Back is the old-school sound for these vocal queens, who can do nothing but slay the game in our opinion. Especially that out-of-nowhere switch-up during the bridge of ‘GGBB’ had us surprised but also absolutely make us love this song even more. MAMAMOO+ you are everything.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAMAMOO:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
HOLLAND
Fellow Holland fans we had to wait a minute to hear from this legend again ( 3? 4? Years?!),but may we say it was worth the wait!? ‘Number Boy’ has us hyped and addicted with how low-key and catchy it is. The music video is also an absolute stellar this time around. Hello? Glittery Holland? Sign us up! for more. We will never not cheer for Holland especially not if he keeps going with the synth pop!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOLLAND:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
MARK TUAN
It’s been less than a year since GOT7’s Mark released his first album as a soloist, but he’s already back with a new single. ‘Carry Me Out’ marks the beginning of a new era and a new sound for Mark. In this new single he taps on the pop-rock sound and it has a brighter and more energetic vibe than his previous work. His songwriting style and his voice fit this genre so well and we absolutely love this new direction for Mark.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARK TUAN:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
How did we make it through this month of bangers without collapsing, right? Are we ready for April’s comebacks to come at us in full force? Of course! What was your favorite comeback of March? Which one are you most excited about in April? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @TheHoneyPOP!
Need more K-POP content? Don’t worry; we got you! You can also find more on our K-Pop playlist:
