NMIXX continue to prove the meaning behind their name right with every single comeback, yet that might just be truer than ever with Fe3O4: FORWARD. Not only are they what’s “new, now, next” in K-Pop while being committed to mixxing things up, but their latest mini-album champions what has made them K-Pop innovators while flipping their strengths to unveil a whole new level of prowess.
Fe3O4: FORWARD presents everything we already love about NMIXX in a refreshed light, bringing some of the smoothest switch-ups of their discography and some of their most empowering messages to date. Speaking of those smooth switch-ups, most of them are so fluid that it might take you a second to even register them, which is a very intentional narrative choice. As we’ll explain more later, the biggest changes are within – the pre-release ‘High Horse’ and title track ‘KNOW ABOUT ME,’ which the general public are more likely to know, don’t have prominent switches like the b-sides, and the story of the album focuses largely on internal growth.
Lore-wise, this album takes place after one of NMIXX’s voyages toward the dreamy MIXXTOPIA fails. As the group’s engineer, a lot of the blame falls on the allegedly cursed Kyujin… but only from Sullyoon, since the other members don’t seem to realize or remember what truly happened. This era’s story films show most of the girls returning to semi-normal lives while Kyujin racks her brain trying to remake their ship and Sullyoon pressures her to get it right. They’re faced with processing their failure, trying to fit into a world they know they’re meant to stand out from, and picking up the pieces to channel their dream selves again.
Fe3O4: FORWARD follows BREAK and STICK OUT as the last chapter of the Fe3O4 mini-album series! Over the course of NMIXX’s past few mini-albums, they’ve become more confident in themselves and their ability to ‘DASH’ towards their dreams. The digital covers for BREAK and STICK OUT include cars and roads, but the cover of FORWARD shows an airport security check, which we think ties into the story lore. Even if NMIXX’s attempt to get to MIXXTOPIA didn’t work yet, there are still other ways they can try, much like how you can take a plane somewhere if driving is out of the question. And like how there’s no single way to reach your dreams or goals – don’t give up on them just because one path didn’t work out or someone tells you it’s not possible.
Opening track and pre-release single ‘High Horse’ seems to welcome us to Fe:3O4 with a similar idea in mind, with NMIXX ultimately choosing to toss aside doubts that others try to put in their heads. “Their lies ring in my ears, but I hear what’s inside,” they reflect. It’s unlike anything we’ve heard from NMIXX before, mirroring how they’re using their MIXXTOPIA travel setback as fuel to come back stronger than ever, but also unlike anything we’ve heard in K-Pop as a whole. It doesn’t sound like anything the girls have released before while also sounding very authentic with various switches, between Kyujin and Lily’s dreamy choruses, Sullyoon’s bass-driven verse, and the cinematic bridge with gorgeous vocals from Haewon.
Now that NMIXX have taken their power back and chosen to push forward, we arrive at the confident title track, ‘KNOW ABOUT ME!’ It’s a total bop that might be our favorite NMIXX title so far, offering a sleek fusion of R&B and pop that lets NMIXX show off their strong vocals and attitudes. The group won’t let other people’s opinions or judgments hold them back, beckoning, “let me show you that, show you that” as they prepare to prove them wrong. It’s relentlessly catchy and self-assured, and we love that “kill the doubt” might be a little nod to ITZY’s ‘Kill MY Doubt.’
Thinking back on the group’s entire catalog, there’s a solid chance that ‘Slingshot (<★)’ will go down as the most NMIXX NMIXX song ever. There are so many fun elements mixed together, combining alt-pop with elements of hyperpop, electronic, and even some jazz. It brings back the iconic “NMIXX!” chant from songs like ‘O.O’ and ‘Soñar (Breaker)’ for the breakdown, and the 2:22 runtime might even be a reference to their debut on February 22nd, or 2/22. Plus, you know Head K-Pop Swiftie Lily was probably stoked to hear “swift” in an NMIXX lyric!
Much like how you have to pull a slingshot back to shoot it, NMIXX will take their setbacks and turn them into catalysts that help them go further. It reminds us of their debut with ‘O.O’ and how much negative feedback they got from certain corners of the internet. As the girls keep going forward, the stark contrasts in the song’s change-ups make more sense to us than ever. It seems to have been a very intentional choice to really drill the idea of Mixxpop into everyone’s heads – whether you liked the song or not, you knew NMIXX brought a lot of different sounds to the table, and they got to show you two very different sides of what they can do. And as a result, the change-ups since then have felt very smooth, prompting many of the people who hated on ‘O.O’ to celebrate NMIXX’s growth and maturation as they refine their sound.
Speaking of refining their sound, we think Fe3O4: FORWARD is where they’ve stepped into the best versions of themselves as a group. ‘Golden Recipe’ is a prime example of that, reuniting NMIXX with Dem Jointz after working together on ‘TANK’ and ‘SICKUHH.’ The production is especially refreshing in the intro, which brings together a vocal sample and strings, and the girls harmonize with themselves throughout the song. It celebrates the artists they’ve been in the past with a lyrical nod to ‘XOXO’ and the harmonies highlighting their vocal talents, while also flipping that on its head with some unexpected choices like having Lily rap on the chorus.
Between Stray Kids’ ‘God’s Menu,’ ITZY’s ‘CAKE,’ and now NMIXX’s ‘Golden Recipe,’ there’s something so special about 4th Gen JYPE groups and their cooking/baking metaphors! And we’ll eat it up every single time.
‘Papillon’ kicks off with a bang as vocal chops and charged synths combine, unfolding to deliver some of the mini-album’s most beautiful vocals and messages. “Nothing’s gonna change me,” the girls sing as they refuse to let hard times discourage them, tying into the lore plot where their ship is destroyed. There are exhilarating switch-ups throughout the song, bringing a more frantic, grunge-tinged atmosphere for Jiwoo and Kyujin’s rap then shifting back to an R&B energy to set the scene for some of Haewon and Lily’s most stunning harmonies of all time.
It’s here where one of the most touching stories of the album becomes most clear: Fe3O4: FORWARD and the Fe3O4 series as a whole is a celebration of everything that makes us who we are, acknowledging that we’re strongest when we embrace the best and worst things in our life simultaneously. Lore-wise, their eventual arrival to MIXXTOPIA will be much more fulfilling once they make it through mishaps like the issues with their ship. But that message is even more powerful in the real world. Without the negativity that’s been slung their way, NMIXX wouldn’t have been able to prove themselves and their multi-faceted abilities in quite the same manner. It’s definitely made us even more proud of them as NSWERs to see the group rise above and show skeptics just how wrong they were!
The Fe3O4 series comes to a satisfying, mystical close in the form of ‘Ocean,’ a stunning love song that you could interpret as a celebration of the group’s connection amongst themselves and with NSWERs worldwide. “I’m locked in with you, ‘cause I’m drowning in the ocean of your heart,” they promise. The ocean imagery reminds us of their iconic whale symbol that’s included in their fandom lightstick, and even ties into their debut single album title, Ad Mare, which means To The Sea in Latin. We might be closing one chapter of their career, but we’re closer than ever with NMIXX and they’re turning up their signature vocal talents to the max with gorgeous layering that results in a luscious chorus.
Do you think Fe3O4: FORWARD could be NMIXX’s strongest mini-album yet? Which track do you love most? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! You can also buzz on over to our Reddit community to chat with us.
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