K-pop releases for January

By Dong Sun-hwa

A new year is right around the corner and a legion of K-pop acts are gearing up to mark a fresh start with their new music offerings. Included in the star-studded lineup are girl group NewJeans and boy bands Monsta X and SF9.

1. NewJeans (Jan. 2)

NewJeans, one of the most attention-grabbing K-pop acts at the moment, is scheduled to put out a new EP, “OMG,” Jan. 2.

On Dec. 19, it unveiled “Ditto” ― one of the songs to be included on the upcoming EP ― which is currently reigning atop the real-time charts of Korea's major music streaming platforms such as Melon and Genie. Featuring the sound of Baltimore club, “Ditto” conquered the iTunes Top Song charts in seven countries including Thailand and Vietnam upon its release. Baltimore club is a genre originating in the 1990s that blends hip-hop and house.

The first part of the music video for “Ditto” has attracted more than 9.5 million hits on YouTube as of Thursday afternoon, and the second part, 6.2 million.

More information about “OMG” has been kept under wraps, but the quintet's management company ADOR hinted that it will shed light on “NewJeans' winter.” The EP will be fronted by the namesake lead single, in which member Hanni participated in penning the lyrics.

NewJeans received a grand prize at the 2022 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) earlier this month, only about four months after debuting with its self-titled album in August. Its songs “Attention” and “Hype Boy” hit 100 million streams on Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform, and “Cookie” was included on the “Best Songs of 2022” list released by The New York Times, Dec. 7.

2. Monsta X (Jan. 9)

Only one week after NewJeans' “OMG” comes out, boy group Monsta X will roll out its 12th mini-album, “REASON.”

According to Monsta X's record label Starship Entertainment, the EP will be led by “Beautiful Liar” and offer five other tunes including “Daydream,” “Crescendo” and “Deny.”

Monsta X members, who have been actively taking part in the creative processes for their albums, again played crucial roles in producing their new release.

“In the case of Joohoney, who was behind the success of Monsta X's lead singles like 'GAMBLER' (2021), he participated in producing two tracks included in this album: 'Crescendo' and 'It's Okay,'” Starship said in a statement. “I.M and Hyungwon have songwriting credits on the tunes 'Deny' and 'Lone Ranger,' respectively.”

It has taken about nine months for Monsta X to make a comeback since it released “SHAPE of LOVE” in April.

“'Reason' is an EP through which Monsta X members try to find a clear reason for their existence and the meaning of each other,” Starship added.

Monsta X debuted in 2015 with the album “Trespass,” and has since unleashed a series of hits including “Dramarama” (2017).

3. SF9 (Jan. 9)

“THE PIECE OF9,” a new mini-album by boy group SF9, is also set to arrive on the music scene, Jan. 9. Leading the EP is “Puzzle,” according to its agency, FNC Entertainment.

“THE PIECE OF9” will feature a story of SF9 members searching for the missing pieces of their puzzle to become a complete group,” FNC said.

The company floated a teaser on the group's official Twitter account, Dec. 21. In the photo, the SF9 members look like secret agents.

Member Rowoon could not take part in the promotional activities for SF9's previous mini-album, “THE WAVE OF9,” as he was filming a drama, but this time he will join his bandmates ― Jaeyoon, Dawon, Zuho, Yoo Taeyang, Hwiyoung and Chani. Youngbin and Inseong are currently doing their compulsory military service.

After bursting onto the K-pop scene in 2016, SF9 has been expanding its presence by releasing songs like “Good Guy” (2020).

On top of the aforementioned acts, rookie girl group ILY:1 will drop its first EP, “A DREAM OF ILY:1,” on Jan. 5. K-pop bigwig TWICE will also roll out an English single next month, before unleashing its 12th mini-album in March.