You know new K-pop releases are in a terrible state if all I have to write about is a pre-release from one of the industry’s “virtual” groups. SKINZ follow PLAVE as the latest virtual act to attempt a successful launch. They debuted last year and are set to release their first mini album soon. Before that, we’ve got the decidedly uneventful Why U Mad.
Maybe I’m crazy, but I don’t understand the appeal of these virtual bands at all. It seems to me that, freed from the constraints of actual reality, a virtual act could do really creative, impossible things. Yet, these groups function like any other idol group, leaning into the same boring tropes without the flesh-and-blood appeal of a real person presented on screen. I’ve seen them “perform” on music shows and it’s the same dance moves and staging you’d see from any idol. The only difference is that it’s animated. Why on earth would I want to watch that?
This predictability extends to Why U Mad. The song is familiar boy group fare, thumping and swaggering over a guitar-infused beat. It’s an EL CAPITXN co-write, which comes through in both the melodies and production. Thanks to a strong songwriting team, the music is slightly above average when stacked against its many competitors. But without a recognizably human presentation, I find the whole endeavor difficult to connect with.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5