Music Assessment: Kang Daniel – Episode

Of all the previous Wanna One members, Kang Daniel continues to be probably the most musically prolific. Free to do his personal factor, he reliably releases new albums yearly. Sadly, most of this music hasn’t hit me with a lot drive, tending to slip in a single ear and out the opposite. New single Episode boasts a barely extra sprightly vitality than traditional, harnessing the favored Afrobeats development to offer a constant dance sound.

Even so, the manufacturing right here feels fairly muted. Somewhat than paint its personal distinctive musical world, the tone and percussion are boring and useful. And since Ok-pop in 2025 has change into allergic to melodies bearing any vary or coloration, Kang Daniel spends the majority of Episode putting off sing-talk type hooks that evaporate as quickly as they land. Should you’re pitching your self as the newest Ok-pop act to drag from the Afrobeats style and are unwilling to buoy it with compelling songwriting, you need to put all the pieces you might have into crafting an environment so evocative the listener can’t assist however change into absorbed. Episode doesn’t do that, making it a straightforward skip.

Grade: C