Just like NewJeans’ soft, lightly experimental sound went on to influence years of girl group releases in their wake, I fear we’re about to see the same with Cortis’s success. Hopefully, this will be more REDRED than Acai, but either way I’m worried this means even less melody/theatricality/singing and shorter songs for K-pop in the coming years. An early indication of this shift may come in the form of new multinational group WAYF BOYS.
The guys have debuted with their take on a sparsely-produced shout-along hip-hop track. Their talent is immediately apparent, especially during the song’s vocally-led moments. In another world, these talents would be used in service of a killer R&B track or a more fleshed-out hip-hop banger with scale and scope. Instead, WAYF BOYS DO places them firmly within Gen-Z trends. We’re talking trap beats, repetitive chant-along hooks and the same damn phrasing seemingly used in every one of these tracks.
To their credit, the guys bring a ton of character to the mix and their English-language lyrics are sure to raise some eyebrows. And refreshingly, their vocals aren’t smothered in tons of unnecessary effects. However — and this is probably my bias talking — this just doesn’t sound like K-pop to me. I worry that, with mainstream music in the toilet right now around the globe, an industry that used to be its own dynamic thing is slowly morphing into mid slop I can already find in the States (among many other places). I hope WAYF BOYS have more musical ambition than that.
Hooks
6
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7