As the summer winds down, we’re updating playlists and curating new vibes. Thankfully, these new K-Pop releases are making this job easier for us. From solo comebacks to long-awaited returns, our August K-Pop Hotspot is the place to be!
Have you followed along with our team this month? We covered comebacks from Stray Kids, Red Velvet, WayV, TXT, BIGBANG, SF9, and JENNIE! If that’s not a stacked list, wait until you see what other K-Pop releases we’ve covered below.
THIS MONTH’S NEWS
Before we get into it, we’ve got a couple new announcements to bring to your attention. MINZY of 2NE1 will be ushering in a new era for her music with a new website, logo, and profile! We’re so close to getting new MINZY music. (Four weeks, to be exact.) Keep your eyes peeled for what’s to come from this 2nd generation icon!
Speaking of icons, TEN of NCT has announced his first-ever solo U.S. showcase tour! He’s preparing to release a new single called OUTWEST on September 4, after which he’ll kick off his showcase the following month in Seattle, Washington. With 14 cities and dates in less than a month, TEN is booked and busy. Now, we’re ready for our August K-Pop Hotspot!
PICHEOLIN
SEVENTEEN’s DINO brings maximum entertainment with his first mini-album as his beloved alter ego, Picheolin! 吉BOARD (GilBOARD) is filled with theatrical trot-pop fusion, vibrant instrumentals, and hilarious charm. We are especially obsessed with ‘ZZAN (짠)’ featuring DINO himself. Because who else could pull off a feature with their own alter ego and make it sound this good? From start to finish, the album delivers nonstop personality and infectious beats that make it impossible not to dance along!
WHIB
Next up on our August K-Pop Hotspot with one of the most criminally underrated groups on this list: WHIB! Their second mini-album, CHERRY PIE, is a well-rounded, no-skips comeback on all accounts. ‘CHERRY PIE’ is a catchy, lighthearted song about a crush that’s as sweet as (you guessed it) cherry pie. Everyone needs to stop sleeping on WHIB and start stanning today!
ARTMS
ARTMS is back with their second EP, <Hyper-Ego>! And their pre-release single, ‘Born Stunner,’ already got us hyped for weeks. ‘Blue Blood’ is a killer title track that we would blast in the club all night long. The beat goes crazy, and we need a music video expeditiously. ARTMS continues to push boundaries with their new music. We simply can’t get enough of their sound!
A.C.E JUNHEE
What a treat we got from JUNHEE and his LOVE METHOD release! ‘LA LA LA LUNE’ has been stuck in our heads since we heard it. And it’s not the only song on that album that has us swaying to the rhythm. Catchy lyrics and tunes, and those beautiful vocals: JUNHEE has a way of getting us hooked on his music so effortlessly. Just press play on LOVE METHOD, and you’ll be falling in love, if you haven’t already! And we absolutely have to make a note of ‘GET OUT,’ which features his fellow A.C.E member, WOW! We simply love when collabs like this happen during solo releases.
UNIS
We heard we’ve been needing some more UNIS content, and we’re here to deliver. UNIS just released the English version of their summer bop, ‘GimmeSummer!’ Even when the weather is overcast and rainy, this song gives us hope for those sunny days to continue. It’s addictive, bubbly, and the perfect earworm as we make it through the final weeks of summer.
KIIIKIII
Our next August K-Pop comeback is KiiiKiii’s third mini-album, WhyKiiiKiii! It’s giving 2010s pop nostalgia, which we’ve been desperately needing in our playlists. The title track, ‘Pop Off Pop Off,’ shows the girls popping off as they should! And whoever edited the music video deserves a standing ovation. We couldn’t pick our favorite track off the EP even if we tried!
SEVENTEEN DxS
Almost like they knew it was missing SEVENTEEN hours, DxS is back with a new Spotify single: ‘One!’ It’s the type of inspirational song that will help you take on the day. We can already see our training montage now. And we know we’re never alone with SEVENTEEN by our side! The vocals are immaculate, though we’d expect nothing less from icons DK and Seungkwan.
OMEGA X
Just before the start of the NO LIMIT U.S. tour, OMEGA X released their digital single, ‘Renegade!’ It’s a heavy EDM track, which is the perfect vibe for their live shows! We know they’ve been lighting up cities across the states these past few weeks. These guys know how to put on a show, and it’s our duty to dance along with them on tour!
2PM JUN. K
HOTTEST, we are so back! 2PM’s JUN. K is back with a brand new single, featuring Miss Wendy of Red Velvet, no less! ‘Your Lips’ is the grooviest, most seductive song we’ve heard in a minute. It’s a masterpiece, and we seriously need more collabs from them. Their voices meld together in this R&B track so well. 10/10 duet, and there’s no doubt about it.
ONEWE
No matter what season of life we’re in, we somehow always find our way back to ONEWE! After a series of pre-release singles, our favorite K-Band is back with their third full album, Unknown Atlas! It’s a whopping 17-song track list, and we’re fed from replaying this album all day long. ‘Scenario’ is a high-energy title track carrying the ONEWE spirit from beginning to end. They really spoiled us with the cinematic music video and the high quality of each song.
TIFFANY YOUNG
Tiffany Young has made a triumphant return with her debut solo studio album, Edge of Calm! It’s a beautiful story told entirely by Tiffany. We’re so glad she’s found the creative freedom she’s been working toward. ‘Edge of Calm’ is an emotional and vulnerable title track that touches our hearts and heals it, too. Her voice is perfect for these R&B slow jams, and we’re completely enamored with her artistry.
SEVENTEEN VERNON
Just when we couldn’t get any more emotional about him enlisting in the military, SEVENTEEN’s Vernon hits us with a surprise single! ‘I’ll Be Back’ is enough of a message on its own. And with an adorable cover art like that, how can we not burst into tears? He sings lyrics of hope and patience in this EDM track. We can also dance to ‘I’ll Be Back’ and work out our feelings at the same time. The countdown starts now…
ENHYPEN
It’s no surprise that ENHYPEN’s eighth EP, THE SIN : BLISS, is a masterpiece from start to finish. But we were not expecting just how explosive the title track would be! ‘Bloody Paradise’ has a Brazilian funk feel to it that we can’t stop replaying. We highly recommend listening through the rest of the mini-album while you’re here! ‘Stuck’ and ‘Highlight’ are some of our favorites.
NCT 127
Right after celebrating their 10th anniversary, NCT 127 has released their seventh full-length album: BLINGY! It’s a nine-track record with the group’s signature heavy-hitting, hip-hop sound. ‘BLINGY’ is such an NCT-coded title track with headbanging bass, fire rap verses, and a chorus that will get you up out of your seat. Not only that, but this album also has heartfelt lyrics like in ‘127 Million Miles’ and ‘I mean, it’s about time.’ Their duality deserves to be studied.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE
Next on our roundup of August K-Pop comebacks is ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s second mini-album, UNBREAKABLE : FRAGILE BEAST! The bold title track, ‘BORN DIRE,’ shows the boys embracing their beast-like intensity and tenacity amid the chaos. This EP also highlights ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s versatility, with R&B tracks like ‘Diamond Hour’ and ‘Talk to me.’ But our favorite B-side by far is ‘WELCOME home,’ an inspiring track to conclude the mini-album.
GIRLS’ GENERATION-HRS
Girls’ Generation‘s newest subunit, HRS, is here! Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Sooyoung prove their sound is timeless with their new single album, Skibidi. What started as a joke has turned into our latest club anthem with their title track of the same name. The trio serves face, vocals, body, and choreography in the ‘Skibidi’ music video. We can’t help but be obsessed! And the B-side track ‘Lowkey In Love’ complements ‘Skibidi’ perfectly, with its chill pop vibes.
TAEMIN
Finally, to wrap up our August K-Pop Hotspot is none other than your idol’s idol: Taemin! He just dropped his new studio album, PHASE 1 : Soft Violence, with two title tracks and 10 incredible songs you won’t want to skip. ‘FLOAT’ is an otherworldly love song with an equally ethereal music video. His visuals never disappoint, but we already knew that! ‘Gooey’ is a banger with unmatched choreography and style. If this album is any indication, then Taemin is going to absolutely slay the stages for his upcoming world tour!
We’ve had such a great time this month on THP’s K-Pop team! What was your favorite comeback and/or debut? Which new releases are you most looking forward to in September? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP!
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