Ushering in your debut with a self-titled track has become a bit trendy these days, with Izna the latest to cement their status this way. The group was formed on season two of I-LAND — the same series that created ENHYPEN in 2020. That’s where the similarities end, as Izna are under the production hand of Teddy Park, the veteran creator responsible for so many well-known hits for acts like 2NE1 and BLACKPINK. His pen has been less reliable of late, but he certainly knows his way around a catchy hook.
Rather than hit us right out of the gate with a brash banger, IZNA sends the group back a few years, favoring the kind of DJ Mustard style beat that was popular in the late 2010’s. This style of production can be fun, but the song needs more oomph behind it. The instrumental remains strangely laidback throughout, and without compelling melodies it tends to fizzle more than it flourishes.
IZNA‘s chorus feels very familiar and this serves the track well. It pulses with nostalgia. The problem is, the song never goes beyond this nostalgia. At the same time, nothing about it matches the success of the sounds it’s referencing. We end up in a weird middle-ground with a song that feels underdeveloped. I hear hints of potential here and there, but the whole thing is too flat to take advantage of its strengths. Whatever happened to debuting with your strongest musical punch? This is more like a gentle tap.
Hooks
8
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75