Pleased 2025! As we transition to a brand new 12 months, it’s Bias Checklist custom to unveil some needs I’ve for Ok-pop going ahead. There’s a good quantity of overlap between this 12 months’s and final 12 months’s resolutions, although I write these earlier than trying again at 2024’s publish.
Readers, be sure to chime in within the feedback. What are your Ok-pop needs for 2025?
1. Heighten the melody
Hmm… this decision appears to be like fairly acquainted. It’s turn out to be my prime want for the previous few years and I’m going to maintain wishing for it till issues start to vary. Sure, I’ll turn out to be that outdated man yelling at a cloud. However I can be yelling with probably the most melodious voice you possibly can think about.
Critically, although… over the previous few years melody in Ok-pop has turn out to be flat, muted and repetitive — if there’s melody in any respect! This isn’t a private judgement, it’s simply the best way issues are because the trade prioritizes components like dance, visible and character over virtuosic singing. In comparison with 2023 and 2022, I truly assume issues are starting to maneuver in the best route, however in 2025 I’d like songwriters (and particularly, topliners) to problem themselves to craft melodies with vary and drama. I promise there are idols who can deal with this even with their demanding choreo.
2. In reality, heighten all the things! (and possibly add orchestration)
I don’t wish to have to put in writing “beige pop” yet one more time within the new 12 months. Let’s carry theatricality and drama again to the songs themselves… not simply the ideas and imagery that always take priority over the music. When selecting synths, don’t simply go together with the muted stuff everybody else is utilizing. Decide one thing distinctive and thrilling. When you’re going to throw electrical guitar or brass on a observe, go full-bore.
And truthfully, can we get again to orchestral preparations in Ok-pop? Yr-end particular levels usually make use of these components (the orchestral mixture of TWS’s hey! hey! has taken over my life these previous few weeks), however lets put them on the primary model of the tracks. A superb strings part makes all the things really feel grand and thrilling and compliments the theatricality embedded in most Ok-pop performances.
3. Producers with preferences
I’ve given up on returning to an period of “tremendous producers” with their very own signature sounds, however I’d love to listen to some hitmakers who forge music that feels customized. Too many songwriting groups in Ok-pop really feel as in the event that they’re answering a short from the businesses: “Please write an Afrobeats observe” of “Write one thing Sabrina Carpenter would possibly sing.” These days, it’s straightforward to change between genres as a creator, however I’d like to listen to some composers specialise in a sound that’s clearly pricey to them — perfecting one type moderately than copying and pasting no matter genres are well-liked or in-demand in the intervening time.
4. Push previous 2:30 and flesh issues out
You may definitely stuff tons of concepts right into a slim tune body, however most of my favourite music of the previous 12 months has gone past two and half minutes to flesh out its imaginative and prescient till it reaches a pure conclusion. An ideal bridge and climax goes a great distance towards promoting a tune, and that’s exhausting to do if you happen to’re constrained by time. And if you happen to should stick with beneath three minutes, add selection to the tune construction so it nonetheless appears like we’ve gone on an entire journey.
5. A minimum of one woman group with a brand new (or outdated!) sound
I’m actually placing numerous religion in SM’s upcoming woman group as a result of every year I appear to fall additional away from the woman group facet of Ok-pop. All I ask is for one new (or established) woman group to constantly launch hyper-melodic, super-propulsive pop music. Nobody’s doing it in the intervening time, and that is the primary era of Ok-pop the place I don’t really feel like I’ve a horse within the race in relation to this big (and massively well-liked) facet of the trade. I’m searching for a brand new SNSD, Kara, T-ara, Sistar, Woman’s Day, AOA, 9 Muses, GFriend, Lovelyz, WJSN or Oh My Woman. That shouldn’t be too exhausting to seek out, proper?
6. A fruitful 12 months for my prime three of 2024
On the alternative facet of the spectrum, I’m very enthused by this new era of boy teams. Specifically, TWS, RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR have my consideration and I’m actually hoping their momentum will proceed into the brand new 12 months. All three had stellar 2024s and have the potential to go even greater in 2025. I hope we get a number of nice music from every act.
7. Don’t neglect the b-sides (aka: albums are vital, too)
Aside from these three acts and some others, I felt like 2024 was a way more singles-oriented 12 months than ordinary. Nice albums had been tough to seek out. On the plus facet, I’m pleased Ok-pop is again to selling its greatest songs as title tracks, however I miss having killer b-sides I turn out to be equally obsessive about all year long.
8. Highlights from my outdated favorites
Infinite and GFriend have already introduced comebacks and G-Dragon’s album appears to be prepared as nicely. New releases from older acts can go both approach, however I’m hoping that these returns are tremendous stable and characterize the artists doing what they do greatest moderately than merely replicating present traits. And although they’re not as senior inside the trade, I’m hoping my private favs Golden Baby discover a method to stick collectively beneath a brand new company. They’re too gifted to easily fade away.
9. House out your hits
2024 was extraordinarily lopsided, with nearly the entire greatest music popping out within the first half of the 12 months. I’d like 2025 to be a bit extra beneficiant with its spacing, delivering constantly nice hits all 12 months spherical.
10. Idols on album covers
Bodily variations of idol albums are as cool and inventive as ever, however I’m sick of the digital covers (those we see on our telephones and units) turning into so boring. Typically, they’re merely textual content and background. The idol trade is visible by nature. We have to put the artists again on their covers with cool, iconic photograph shoots.