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Tamar Herman

October 2021 saw several high-profile K-pop releases, including the long-awaited first album from CL, Aespa’s first EP, and Twice’s English-language The Feels.
Popular boy bands, including NCT 127, Enhypen and Seventeen, all made an impact with addictive new music.
Here are some of the must-listen releases.
Twice – The Feels (October 1)
Since their debut in 2015, Twice have regularly brightened up the K-pop and the J-pop scenes. But with The Feels, they’ve looked towards the West, releasing a prom-themed all-English song that is effusively upbeat and sweet in a way that feels classically Twice.
They sing “you have stolen my heart”, and as they prepare for the release of their upcoming November album Formula of Love: O+T=<3, clearly they have all of our hearts.


Aespa – Savage EP (October 5)
As the latest girl group from K-pop power player SM Entertainment, it’s unsurprising that Aespa’s found love with listeners since their debut last year with the single Black Mamba, but the success of May’s Next Level brought the quartet to … well, the next level.
Following it up with their first album, the six-track Savage, Aespa continue to explore their distinct creative concept, which incorporates a fictional storyline and virtual members, while displaying their dynamic performance style. Brief and experimental, it offers a taste of the potential they have to offer, with each track showing a new facet of Aespa.


Woodz – Only Lovers Left EP (October 5)
Singer-producer Woodz, who you may also know as a member of UNIQ with popular Chinese actor Wang Yibo, as well as part of the short-lived group X1, has been steadily gaining a presence in recent years for his smooth take on alt R&B.
He’s released three EPs since June 2020, and Only Lovers Left builds on his career, with a bluesy, rockish vibe as he bounces between smooth verses and groovy choruses.


Enhypen – Dimension: Dilemma EP (October 12)
Born on a television show, co-produced by the company behind BTS, Enhypen have had a lot of attention, and with their first LP, following two earlier EPs, they went from being freshmen on the scene to being true sophomores: the album is themed around the odyssey of growing up and making one’s way in the world, and brings a bright, summery take on the idea with their funky Tamed-Dashed single.


Chancellor – Chancellor (October 13)
The singer-songwriter has been making a name for himself in South Korea’s music industry for several years as one of the most interesting collaborators and producers, with a distinct soul style that he brings into dance-pop and R&B.
This album arrives five years after its predecessor My Full Name, and evokes the feel of yesteryear with his dedication to groove and funk. It’s full of soft moments and exciting collaborations, and demands listening to over and over again.


IU – Strawberry Moon (October 19)
Sometimes you just want a song that’s easy to listen to, and full of saccharine classic pop vibes, and IU’s latest does just that with its romcom-like dreaminess and fluffy romantic feel, bolstered by the singer’s dulcet vocals.


Nam Woo Hyun – With EP (October 19)
The Infinite member finished his South Korean military service in August and got straight to work on his fourth EP, a mature, jazzy take on his usual smooth crooning.
Fronted by the single Calm & Passion, With proves to be just that, as its five other tracks are immensely soothing in their mid-tempo contemporary pop.


CL – Alpha LP (October 20)
The Baddest Female of K-pop’s long-awaited first album has finally arrived, nearly a decade after her first solo song by that name in 2013, and it’s everything CL has ever promised.
The fierce rapper-singer, who rose to prominence as a member of girl group 2NE1 and is now doing her things on her own terms, spends the whole album, from the first track, Spicy, declaring why she is not only the Alpha, but the whole package as she explores her career, her identity, and more.


Seventeen – Attacca EP (October 22)
The boys of Seventeen want to Rock With You in their latest single, and bring a breezy, upbeat feel to the song that resonates throughout the rest of their ninth EP.
Seventeen have made a name for themselves as a self-producing K-pop group, and Attacca especially feels like it harks back to their early, slightly impish days, and levels up by trying out new things while remaining so very Seventeen.


NCT 127 – Favorite LP (October 25)
September’s Sticker album was reissued with this extended edition, Favorite, and it brings together the whole package in a dramatic way. While the titular first single Sticker was eccentric with its off-kilter production that focused their charismatic stage presence as a dance-focused track, Favorite is more straightforward and classic, emphasising NCT 127’s harmonious vocals, while still playing around with the sort of experimental style the group is known for.
The other new additions, the dance-floor ready Love on the Floor and the romantic escapism of Pilot, help bring the album to a more complete place than last month’s original, already great edition.


Epik High with Giriboy, Sik-K and Justhis- Face ID (October 25)
In their latest release, hip-hop crew Epik High and their collaborators rally against the environment that we exist in online, with social spaces full of negativity and stress for public figures.
The groovy raps and alt-rock instrumentals blend to create a track that is full of angst and rebellion in the best of ways.
Jeon Somi - XOXO LP (October 29)
Jeon Somi spends the length of her long-awaited first album XOXO, sometimes playful, sometimes angsty, singing about romance and who she is. It feels refreshing in the way it presents her as a whole package, and showcases her upbeat brand of dance-pop with bright flare.




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K-pop idols

Best K-pop releases of October 2021: NCT 127’s Favorite, Aespa’s Savage, CL’s Alpha, IU’s Strawberry Moon, and more

K-pop group Enhypen have released a new EP, Dimension : Dilemma. Photo: Belift Lab

Aespa have just dropped their EP Savage, one of many K-pop releases this October. Photo: SM Entertainment

Rising stars of K-pop – ONF talk about art, new album ONF: My Name, their single Beautiful Beautiful, the creative process and coffee

K-pop boy band ONF. Photo: WM Entertainment.

K-pop boy band ONF have just released their debut album, ONF: My Name. Photo: WM Entertainment.

Eric Nam’s There and Back Again album reflects journey to K-pop and back to the US, and arrives as he aims to make a difference for Asian-Americans and diversity in media

K-pop singer Eric Nam is back in the US and about to drop an English-only music album. Photo: Kigon Kwak

Nam was invited to join a South Korean talent search programme in 2012. Photo: Kigon Kwak

Nam says he sees this project as a way to challenge himself to be more expressive musically. Photo: Kigon Kwak

Nam was born in the US state of Georgia and raised in Atlanta. Photo: Kigon Kwak

Nam on stage in Madrid, Spain. in 2019. Photo: Redferns

BTS’s Permission to Dance on Stage online concert packed full of fan faves as the K-pop stars voice desire to be with Army again soon

BTS performing Boy with Luv on a giant yellow sofa at their online Permission to Dance on Stage concert in Seoul. Photo: Bighit Music

BTS performing at their Permission to Dance on Stage Concert. Photo: Bighit Music

BTS continuously upped the visual stakes throughout the show. Photo: Bighit Music

On the night, the members spoke frankly about how eager they are to be with their fans again. Photo: Bighit Music

Lifestyle

K-Pop

Bands

Culture

Music

Entertainment

 Artists & celebrities

October 2021 saw some big-name releases, including Aespa’s first EP, CL’s first album and the ninth EP from Seventeen
Nam Woo Hyun, who recently finished his mandatory South Korean military service, is back with a new, soothing EP, while NCT 127 put out the LP Favorite


October 2021 saw releases from NCT 127, Twice, Aespa, Seventeen and Enhypen among others. Infinite’s Nam Woo Hyun returned from military service in South Korea with his new EP, With.


K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

South Korea

Seventeen

Aespa

Best K-pop releases of October 2021: NCT 127’s Favorite, Aespa’s Savage, CL’s Alpha, IU’s Strawberry Moon, and more

October 2021 saw some big-name releases, including Aespa’s first EP, CL’s first album and the ninth EP from Seventeen Nam Woo Hyun, who recently finished his mandatory South Korean military service, is back with a new, soothing EP, while NCT 127 put out the LP Favorite

October 2021 saw some big-name releases, including Aespa’s first EP, CL’s first album and the ninth EP from Seventeen

Nam Woo Hyun, who recently finished his mandatory South Korean military service, is back with a new, soothing EP, while NCT 127 put out the LP Favorite