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Tamar Herman

With the heat of August came a fierce battle for the K-pop soundtrack of summer 2021. Many artists released bright, vibrant dance tracks with that seasonal feel.
Here are the must-listen K-pop releases of August, including some welcome returns and comebacks.
Somi Dumb Dumb (August 2)
Sometimes you just want to dance around your bedroom to a bright, peppy dance track, and that’s what soloist Somi served up with her third single, Dumb Dumb. Leaning into the “high-teen” trend taking South Korea by storm this season, Dumb Dumb, inspired by teen romcoms, features a deep house chorus fuelled by a whistle sound and exuberant vocals.


Golden Child Ra Pa Pam (August 2)
Is there anything better than dynamic moombahton-fuelled dance music for the hottest days of summer? Golden Child doesn’t think so, and their take on the genre, from their latest album Game Changer, aims to change things for the band as they continue to carve out their space in K-pop.


The Boyz Thrill Ride (August 9)
When the weather is kind, there’s nothing more fun than going to an amusement park with friends during the summer months, and The Boyz lean into that on their roller coaster of a single, Thrill Ride, which evokes the highs and lows of the most thrilling of rides with its slightly chaotic production full of fun sound effects that propel the members’ delivery of singsong raps and chanting choruses.


Ten Paint Me Naked (August 10)
WayV, SuperM and NCT member Ten has steadily been making a name for himself over the years for his creative side, showing himself to be a pop auteur through music and other creative projects such as his art and design releases. Paint Me Naked, which preceded his fun and festive Low Low with fellow WayV member YangYang, reveals another new, bright side.


Red Velvet Queendom EP (August 16)
The long-awaited return of the girl group, whose last album dropped in late 2019 (a lifetime ago in K-pop), fits neatly into their discography as another example of the quintet’s stalwart vocals and almost camp pop and alt R&B flair.


Tomorrow X Together LO$ER=LO♡ER (August 17)
TXT have been leaning heavily into emo and alt pop lately, and their latest single, LO$ER=LO♡ER, does so as well, asking questions about money , life, love, and the future.


Lucy – Irrelevant Answer (August 20)
This pop-rock crew have really carved out a space for themselves in the South Korean music scene in recent years thanks to their evocative take on bright pop, and on Irrelevant Answer, Lucy perform with their usual flair and exuberance.


Stray Kids Noeasy LP (August 23)
This boy band has been praised and disdained for their “noisy” music, so they set out to turn the stereotype on its head, releasing this Thunderous album to share their own perspective on things.


CL – Spicy (August 24)
The baddest female’s been teasing her upcoming first album for years, ever since her 2NE1 days, and this Spicy release is another prequel of what’s to come, this time fiercely putting her identity as an Asian woman front and centre. Check out the music video for the full experience, plus a surprise appearance from Hollywood actor – and long-time CL fan – John Malkovich.


Jay B Somo:Fume EP (August 26)
This month has seen a lot of returns, and the Got7 leader Jay B’s one of them with the release of his first EP. After the group left long-term label JYP earlier this year, they remain together but separate under different management companies, where each is able to pick his own path as a soloist. Somo:Fume is an intimate intro to this new era of Jay B as an artist.


BTS with Megan Thee Stallion Butter remix (August 27)
BTS’ song of the summer meets the Hot Girl Summer queen on this new remix of the band’s record-making Butter, which features new verses and ad-libs from Megan Thee Stallion that add her unique flair to the hit.


BTOB 4U: Outside EP (August 30)
Though they’re down a few members for the moment, BTOB are always stellar with both their dance tracks and their ballads, and the four-member 4U: Outside sticks to this as a six-track release full of pep and emotions that celebrate being an Outsider.


Key with Taeyeon Hate That (August 30)
Shinee’s Key pairs up with bestie Taeyeon, a popular soloist and Girls’ Generation member, on the atmospheric Hate That. Sonically, it’s a sequel to the style of mid-tempo, introspective pop blending with electronica and R&B that was the focus of his 2018 album Face, and continues his artistic exploration ahead of an upcoming album, set to arrive before the end of the year.




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Best K-pop of August 2021: BTS, CL, Red Velvet, Ten, Stray Kids and more vie for record of the summer with new collaborations and solo releases

Red Velvet join the August K-pop battle for the song of the summer with Queendom. Photo: SM Entertainment 

Remakes and covers are having a moment in K-pop thanks to Joy of Red Velvet, Aespa, MSG Wannabe and ‘Kingdom’ TV band contest

Joy of Red Velvet. Photo: SM Entertainment

K-pop fans are rediscovering old songs through new remakes by groups like Aespa. Photo: SM Entertainment

K-pop in 2021 – what to expect: the return of Red Velvet and Shinee, Aespa’s continued rise, and synergy between Korean pop and video games

Wendy from Red Velvet. Photo: @wendy.redvelvet/Instagram

New girl group Aespa. Credit: SM Entertainment

G-Dragon of BigBang. Credit: YG Entertainment

=== PHOTO CAPTURED ONLINE=== Wendy from Red Velvet. Photo: @ladadiwendy/ Twitter

League of Legends World Championships 2019. Photo: Handout

Girl group (G)I-Idle are among several K-pop acts planning to release new music in January, at the start of what will be another big year for Korean pop music. Photo: Getty Images

BTS are smooth like ‘Butter’ in summery new single, as the stars talk about the future of K-pop and making up for  time lost during Covid-19

BTS have dropped a new single ‘Butter’. IT is their second English language release and they are hopeful of a Grammy award. Photo: Hybe

BTS 'Butter' promotional shot

BTS 'Butter' music video still showing the members spelling at the word "Army", the name of their dedicated fandom.

BTS RM

BTS J-Hope

BTS Suga

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K-pop stars are busy putting out solo and group songs and albums, collaborating with other artists as they look to score the song of the summer
August releases include BTS’ remix of Butter with Megan Thee Stallion, and Key from Shinee and Taeyeon’s Hate That



August saw K-pop releases including BTS’ Butter remix with Megan Thee Stallion, Red Velvet’s return with EP Queendom and Got7 leader Jay B’s Somo:Fume EP.


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