Soloist Lee Chaeyeon has developed a quirky discography, taking advantage of her skills as a dancer to find upbeat rhythms that lodge themselves in your brain. Though most of her material has been solid, I wouldn’t say it’s had a consistent sound or energy. New single Don’t flips things once again, offering her take on a few trendy Y2K influences.
Rather than go straight down a garage or drum-and-bass route like many of her peers, Chaeyeon borrows elements from those genres and ties them to a track that sounds more current. The percussion borders on trap sometimes, structured in a lighter, bouncier way. I prefer when the production forgoes the tinnier end of the spectrum and embraces a bass-heavy sound. This doesn’t happen often, but offers a glimpse of how Don’t might sound if given a sonic makeover.
Melodically, Don’t takes a few nice turns but mostly circles around the same few ideas. These hooks sound quite satisfying during the first chorus. The challenge is making sure Don’t remains compelling all the way through. With this in mind, I find myself wishing for some sort of structural counterpoint. It feels like we’re spending too much time “don’t don’t don’t-ing,” and this particular melodic flourish acts more as an endpoint than a bridge to more exciting refrains.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.75