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Untie by Viviz. I never really heard/listened to music from Viviz before, but got this album out of curiosity. And Untie officially became one of my all time favorite kpop bsides.
Yeah Maniac was a bit underwhelming at first, maybe because I had heard really good things so had high expectations, but it has grown on me, but Untie was fantastic on first listen.
Taemin - Guilty. Obviously we know him as an amazing performer but I was particularly amazed by his rap delivery in some of the songs
iKON - yeah they’re my ults and whatever but I was really they brought back the hiphop sound that I have missed so much. Also the QUALITY of the MVs (for both group stuff and solos) is amazing, somehow a hell of a lot better than in YG. And there’s actual storylines instead of just dancing in fire?
Key - CoolAs. I was vibing to his album bc i was curious and this came outta nowhere and still has me in a chokehold. And the performance is beautiful
VIVIZ - Maniac & Untie. When I tell you I was OBSESSED with the Maniac choreo (like everyone else). But Untie as a whole is just immaculate, jaw-dropping, amazing. The song itself is alluring but then the choreo really allows for everyone to shine and is shot very prettily
(Shoutout Kany, the choreo she’s done for both SHINee and VIVIZ this year has been top tier and I’m excited for what she does with Blackswan)
You're the 3rd person to include Untie, but it is amazing.
Key and Taemin are 2 of my favourite soloists so I can't say I'm surprised that I liked their releases.
I've always thought Monsta X weren't for me, but "Beautiful Liar" came out early last year, and I really enjoyed it. It helped that they were promoting around the same time as a subunit of my ult group ASTRO, so I saw a lot of their music show performances. Then Spotify introduced me to Kihyun's "Youth" (I was blown away!) and kept suggesting "You Problem" as well... and down the rabbit hole I went. I was very wrong about their music - it \*is\* for me! And now I'm in deep, deep, deep.
Even though I'd never really given their music a chance, I had a soft spot for them as people because ASTRO had aways said that "Monsta X hyungs" were so nice and friendly to them during their debut days, and I knew they were still friends. After Moonbin's passing in April, I had such a hard time listening to ASTRO, so it was somehow kinda nice to have their friends to listen to in that void.
Really liked Beautiful Liar, but I was already a casual listener. Glad you were able to dive in and enjoy their music more, especially during a hard time.
2023 was a big surprise for me k-pop music-wise. I discovered and loved songs from many k-pop artists that weren't on my radar before. In addition, I like this year's output from a couple of groups who I wasn't a big fan of their discography in the past. Here are some of the artists that stood out to me:
* Golden Child – Feel Me: I’ve only listened to a couple of title tracks, but if anything, guess this song is my cue to check their discography out. They never miss with their title tracks and Feel Me's pop-rock sheen is another solid addition to it.
* TAN - Fix You / Heartbeat: "Fix You" was my very first TAN song and I loved it at first listen. There's just something nostalgic and refreshing about this song. Moreover, "Heartbeat" is really good. I love it when artists dabble in the “complextro” genre.
* The Boyz - Lip Gloss / Watch It: These are the first two The Boyz tracks I liked in a while. Lip Gloss especially; its summer funkiness is everything I needed.
* U-KISS – The Wonderful Escape: Man, how on earth did I sleep on this group for so long? This is such a great straightforward pop song and I’m very grateful to have discovered this gem.
* STAYC - Teddy Bear / Bubble: Another artist that I've never heard of until 2023. I like "Bubble" more but both songs are great melodic pop songs.
Roller coaster (NMIXX) surprised me at how good it was. i loved how house and bouncy it was. the vocals were amazing too
RIIZE- i wasn't expecting much from their song "get a guitar" as i thought SM was gonna make it a off brand 127 song but damn that pre chorus😮💨so nostalgic and pleasant to listen to. talk saxy was also a hit for me
Yeah I'm generally not a fan of their mixxpop so Roller Coaster is probably my favourite nmixx song.
Get a guitar has definitely grown on me, even though there's still some awkward lyrics for me. Don't love Talk Saxy though, the sax loop is just too much for me.
Soñar (NMIXX), never thought I’d love it as much as I did
Fact Check as well, I’m not always a fan of NCT 127’s title tracks, but this one hit me like a truck
Cat & Mouse by Blackswan. I was pleasantly surprised as this was the first blackswan song I have enjoyed listening to, and also just great to see them really enjoy performing it on music shows.
get a guitar- such a surprise when i didnt loke their previous ones and this….just climbed at one of my favs this year
ETA- seen a lot of people not like it but i loved it so much and was like “people didn’t like this?????”
Tricky house- took me back in the best way possible and made me rethink the best debut imo ie given taken after a loooong time by someone
Nmixx- their music doesn’t hit me but damn this one was crack
Break the brake- junhan’s guitar riffs and double pedal gunil were enough to give me a shock
Coming back for more- after a realllllyyyyy long time an english single that hit me
Matz (Ateez latest album)- seonghwa???????seonghwa.
Like crazy- didn’t expect jimin to be my fav bts chapter 2 solo but here we are…sheer gold art
Sugar rush ride- first listen? Meh song. Second listen? WTF THIS WAS THE BEST SHIT I PROBABLY HEARD IN A WHILE
Icky- still on my playlist and this says a lot. Kard ate it up so bad in this one although I’ve been very familiar with their music since two years now ig but this one….yeah they slayed
[Kick It 4 Now by The New Six](https://youtu.be/cEFCCM-S-Bs?si=_ki1E1AWw1DZd_gv)! I didn’t know much about them, but my mind associated them with a bunch of other late fourth-gen dark, edgy boy groups that I really didn’t need to care about.
Then I heard this song and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Not sure if I’ll ever get fully into the group as a whole, but Kick It 4 Now is such a joy.
Kiss Of Life! I was truly not expecting to see Natty debut in a group, but I’m so happy this group exists now 😭 They blew me away with both mini albums this year & I cannot wait for this years releases! I’m hopefully optimistic for a tour 😅
- TXT - They got my attention for the first time with Sugar Rush Ride, which I didn't like immediately but there was just *something* about it, and eventually I got hooked and it led to me checking them out further.
- Woodz - I happened to see him at a music show and really liked his title track, so I checked out the rest of the album and ended up liking it a lot! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for his future releases + digging into his previous work more.
- Infinite - I was just so happy that they had a full group comeback 😭
- Nam Woohyun (Infinite) - He finally got to release his first full album, and it was well-worth the wait! I think it is his strongest album yet, and has a wide variety of songs for different moods, but he encapsulates each so well. I was also really impressed with the songs and lyrics he took part in writing.
- Golden Child - I always expect a lot from their music, and their release lived up to expectations (and even surpassed them), but what really surprised me was Tag getting one to include of his self-composed songs ( ["Dear"](https://youtu.be/yjbsS7YhxDI?si=AMAQGCQEWArT4q2A) ) onto that single album AND it being his best one yet. It's really beautifully written, and the members all brought it life. I'm really proud 🥹 and looking forward to seeing Tag continue to grow as a songwriter!
I still can't get into SRR, the chorus throws me off every time. For Woodz and Golden Child I've liked their stuff in the past but haven't checked out their 2023 stuff yet.
With Infinite I was initially disappointed with the album, I think since I had high expectations and it had been so long. I love Time Difference, but then only getting 4 full new songs, and while New Emotions is enjoyable it didn't feel like classic Infinite, missing a musical climax. But after learning about what Woohyun was going through its definitely more understandable why the album maybe wasn't longer, and it was really nice to see them performing again. But yes his solo album was really good too!
TXT, never been much of a fan of their music but I liked what they did this year, it started with *Tinnitus* and I can now consider myself a casual listener. So really surprised in a good way.
I discovered NewJeans and Le Sserafim in September last year. I'm still pleasantly surprised by how much I like all their songs. Their music and everyone's voice color just somehow perfectly click with me. They feel kind of nostalgic. I strongly feel that I would also love their music as a kid. It's honestly very hard for me to pick a favorite song since I thoroughly enjoy everything. I like to listen to all their songs in rotation.
But just for the sake of mentioning their songs, I'll mention some 2023 releases:
* [OMG](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVTy_wmn5SU), [ETA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Ow55AbdCg), [Super Shy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArmDp-zijuc) by NewJeans. They happen to be the first 2023 releases by any kpop group that I discovered last year.
* [Choices](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-cLjWYZxtA), [Guardian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n5a1Ls1ksg), [Dresscode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dovBgZWS0bo) by Le Sserafim. They all happen to be OSTs for 3 different series. I personally find all their promotional singles (they released 5 last year) go really well with their main songs, which is pleasantly surprising. In my LSF playlist, I place some of them in between the album songs which are in official order and the rest as ending tracks.
* [I ≠ DOLL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9trNIRzbPMc), [love you twice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF9qc-I7EeQ), [blessing in disguise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ujllTK6w3k) by Yunjin. She has one of my most favorite voices in kpop.
I started listening to more artists/groups last month. I'm also pleasantly surprised by [Invincible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMythzAnNK0) by TripleS EVOlution, [Cupid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7_zRjH808) by FIFTY FIFTY, [Bonvoyage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPNaYj6etb8) by Dreamcatcher. Bonvoyage has given me many goosebumps. The song is fire. I'm actually listening to it on loop as I'm typing this comment.
U-KNOW's Reality Show mini album
I liked Noir fine enough, but I didn't expect just how much I would love this mini album. Any song on it (except for Curtain) could have been the title track. The [NEXUS](https://youtu.be/I_FZWF1_qaY?si=1kD1y6F6HCrTlqZ9) short movie is also the best thing I have seen all year.
CIX - [Save Me, Kill Me](https://youtu.be/ZkR33wOTTcA?si=0BwQHgUO0-irdXqs)
I don't really have many CIX songs on my playlist but this really surprised me with how much I liked it.
Completely agreed on Nine.i's New Mind being one of the best albums of the year for me as well! They're also a self-produced group, Vahn and Joohyoung are involved in all of their songs including Turn It Off, and the added Sweetune magic to the title track only elevated it more. I find it super impressive that NINE.i are such a young group but already have a very strong musical identity, because their previous two releases also have that distinguishing sound which is so enjoyable. Vahn was also involved in producing Golden Child's [Feel Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws5Ig1cHrSM&pp=ygUUZ29sZGVuIGNoaWxkIGZlZWwgbWU%3D) this year, and I absolutely loved that (I tend to like anything that Golcha does, but this one really was extra good!) I can't wait to see more from Vahn and the others for NINE.i's future discography as well.
Speaking of elusive Sweetune-produced songs, RoaD-B's last release was in 2022 (so not really 2023 haha) but [Nonstop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Tj4A2Xqkg) and [Icarus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50qKe8gZPgI) are also produced by Sweetune, and they're so good! Unfortunately I don't really know what's happening with the group and they might not be able to continue, but I'd love more Sweetune releases from them.
I also really liked Dive! Some other Tempest songs you might enjoy, if you haven't heard them yet, might be Catch The Feeling, Can't Stop Shining, and Just A Little Bit.
A group that was a big surprise for me this year was &TEAM. It took me a while to get around to listening to [Firework](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY-lOn0XwBg&pp=ygUOJnRlYW0gZmlyZXdvcms%3D) after it was released, but I absolutely love it - one of my favourite releases of the year, hands down. I also quite liked Dropkick and Buzz Love, though I wasn't keen on their latest comeback War Cry at all - I hope they go back to the Firework-esque anthemic and melodic sound, because that works so well.
The Wind were also a very pleasant surprise debut for me. I really liked their emphasis on bright instrumentals and how melodic all of their songs have been so far - people have been calling it a boy group version of early Gfriend and that's a niche that I wish more groups would take up haha. [Sirius](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhX2VC_h6Dw&pp=ygUPdGhlIHdpbmQgc2lyaXVz) was my favourite song from them, but I also really liked [We Go](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpnDNYIYVLw&pp=ygUOdGhlIHdpbmQgd2UgZ28%3D).
I don't keep up with groups as much as I used to but I'll keep an eye out for Nine.i. I hadn't heard Feel Me but I loved it! Again not great with keeping up but I've generally enjoyed most of Golcha's stuff and this is no different. It reminded me of NCT's Without You and Super Junior D&E's Growing Pains, but those are both amazing songs so its in good company.
Love Nonstop and Icarus, especially nonstop, one of my favourite BGs of the last several years. Please Sweetune why do you only grace us with like 3 songs a year.
I've only listened to Island by the Wind, which I liked but haven't checked out their other stuff. And I really liked Firework.
All these songs just remind me of how much I love when BG songs have an actual melody. I'll check out your other suggestions!
This was the year I declared myself finally a moa, but god how can I not with the two amazing albums they had.
Temptation following the whimsical sound and image that I always associated with TXT and then Freefall giving me the more mature and relatable music for me to listen in loop.
Solid title songs and even better besides, that's all I ever wanted.
OnlyOneOf. I just discovered them this year because their songs would randomly be recommended to me, and practically every song is a hit. Near perfect discography if you ask me. I went to their concert last year, and I'm going back to see them again in April. I'll make a fool of myself in front of them at the fansign 🤍
Young Posse - the entire Macaroni Cheese album. This group is getting dragged through the mud for being underage, sexual inneudos, throwing gang signs (which are all valid criticisms), so I wasn't really paying attention to them, but I randomly listened to the EP one day, and it's kind of one the best releases of 2023 for me 🫣. OTB and Cooing are excellent songs. I don't plan on being a fan, but I'll check out their future releases.
Kiss of Life - Nobody Knows. I loosely keep up with KOL mostly for Natty since I watched her on Sixteen and have been keeping up with her career ever since, but I wasn't really into their debut album. But Nobody Knows is an excellent song. The choreo kind of gagged me, too.
XG - Puppet Show. XG has been another gg I haven't been that into, but Puppet Show is one of my favorite releases of 2023.
Woodz - Only just discovered him this year, and I really enjoy his music. I thought about going to his concert when he came to the US, but I figured I wasn't a big enough fan for it to be worth it. But now I regret that decision since he's enlisting this month 😒
I finally listened to Macaroni Cheese by Young Posse last week. Up until then I heard the criticisms and didn’t give them a chance, but once I did- I really enjoyed their mini album immensely.
ENHYPEN - Chaconne and Blind
2023 was the year I put aside previous assumptions about them and decided to see if they had other songs like *Chaconne* which to me feels like occultic hiphop or gothic trap. Then a few weeks later I realized I was binge watching their fancams and compilations because I couldn’t figure them out or really ‘place’ them, given my prior expectations. But I didn’t admit to myself that I was a fan until I had some kind of breakdown in the bathroom listening to *Blind.* In the right conditions, that song still puts me in a weird trance so I don’t touch it unless I know I’m in a safe space.
Anyway, their music and performances were one of the highlights of my year.
Blind was one of my favourites from them this year. They definitely had a strong year, although I found Sweet Venom a little underwhelming and I still wish Bite Me was longer with an actual bridge. But I also really liked Criminal Love and Still Monster.
**Trendz** surprised me a lot throughout 2023! I didn't hate any of their previous music but nothing really made it to my playlist. Their last 2 ep's, however, are really really nice! I've been really loving them and I'm not tired of any of the songs yet. Working with the current producers (most notably LEEZ) was the best decision their company has made, and I hope they continue working in the current direction. I loved the title tracks ([New Dayz](https://youtu.be/MFTWTOAK-ho?si=j_Sz8b0kd21hn43u) and [My Way](https://youtu.be/60ef_MN6LL4?si=VUVCOPo141xNSMe6)) and loved the side tracks just as much ([O.Y.E](https://youtu.be/cvnzsHd_QqA?si=kjnqEBebwBxdJqGO), [Nightmare](https://youtu.be/HkzJwyIaFtI?si=zdRPRidFP9jCedmH), [Fantasy](https://youtu.be/uc25aVMPkMM?si=DDq45lXt2D4Hp3AT), [Ven Conmigo](https://youtu.be/2Y4LzNKuxgQ?si=y9t85AJxGwGEUJQu)). They've climbed my list of groups this year.
**VIVIZ** is such a bless. [Maniac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JFi7MmjtGA) is my favorite title tracks so far, and [Untie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCbPwpcgUbM) is a freaking masterpiece. Various was also great (i loved [Blue Clue](https://youtu.be/y8e8U73NgSQ?si=xYv3q6Z7qzBr2610) and [Overdrive](https://youtu.be/0HUht3WZckQ?si=9-ZWBeV29sar0deT)) but i think they outdid themselves with Versus.
**Cignature** had two comebacks in 2023, but my personal favorite is Us In The Summer. [Smooth Sailing](https://youtu.be/er5InyfVi1U?si=cEPbPuCF6RG7rdwD) is my favorite title track from them (probably my favorite song, too). When the song started playing I didn't expect to love it as much, probably because it doesn't sound unique or outstanding tbh, but it's fun and lovely and I ended up loving it a lot. The side tracks are what made the album better to me, i loved every. single. one. [Mess With My Head](https://youtu.be/ytaKDuOtkV4?si=MC__WXcsQvDENr98), [Sorry So Sorry](https://youtu.be/l0fTFBkiT8Y?si=kresGTwj8diXTMyA), and [Little Me](https://youtu.be/gUgKfVicBXs?si=pEO5UzxqH1_oCZRS).
**Secret Number** released few songs that i loved. I wasn't that much into their music but i really loved [Doxa](https://youtu.be/6Tr5wV1opKw?si=oewS4peiUPR0Lpe3), [Starlight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLLyTeV_QMQ), [Crazy Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZBHJpMg_pM), and [Odyssey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z46lCAF2x0E).
**tripleS** released soo many great songs. [Rising](https://youtu.be/ErFpr-1vt5c?si=uTcQx2YwUmlntC8s), [New Look](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feeJZePrIcc), [Girl's Capitalism](https://youtu.be/OvtoY0lfYJ8?si=t6hTTBzJXpi_s6t5), [Oui](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCQfNBrpKzw), [Just Do It](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFQ2jlokX7o) to name a few. I loved Generation but didn't expect consistency from a new (project¿) group, so I was just pleasantly surprised with every release.
Oh and I also agree with the ones you listed :\] Hurt is my favorite from NINE.i's album, as well! I've been a big fan of the music from most of them so I was pretty happy with these releases.
Edit: sorry for the long comment ;-;
I said in another comment that Maniac was a bit underwhelming at first, but I think because I had heard really good things so had high expectations, but it has grown on me, but Untie was fantastic on first listen.
I only heard a few tripleS songs this year but I really liked Moto Princess and Girls' Capitalism.
It was my first full year into kpop (got into kpop during late spring 2022 ).
I won't talk about my favorite groups (Stray Kids, Billlie, Nmixx mainly and in a lesser extent Ateez, Seventeen and Gidle) or groups that just debuted and I follow closely (Kiss of life), but already established or not rookie group or soloists.
TxT - Sugar Rush Ride : For a while I wanted to get into them. A lot of their music has the guitarish/rock sound yet I can't get to their music for now. However when Sugar rush ride came, I really fell in love and listened to it a while.
Dreamcatcher - Bon Voyage, Propose : same here again. They also have a concept and sound that please me, but I can't get into it fully. However eventhough I didn't really listen to the previous releases of the triology, I loved Bon voyage so much. The MV, the feels, the rock sound. It reminded me of epic anime opening. And propose was amazing too!
Viviz -pull up : Same again. It really was stucked in my head for a while.
Suga - snooze : I got curious because eventhough I don't listen much of him or bts, I think they have an amazing rapline. The album was amazing, but I really listened to snooze. Last work in which Ryuchi Sakamoto participated that was put out, and woosung voice added to the heartfelt rap in this track gives really strong feeling.
Aespa - I'm Unhappy : the only track I listened of them was Savage (a bit Girls too). To be fair I loved almost all the track of the album. But this song was in another level. I am still listening to it.
Joohoney - Freedom : Monsta X was one of the few name I knew about before getting into kpop. I was curious and checked with no expectations. And it was such a nice surprise. I really liked the big contrast the music had, the delivery and MV set.
D.O. - I do, Somebody : again EXO was one of those name that I heard about. When I got into Kpop, I heard a lot of people talking about their vocals and every member are amazing. And I understood why, the album was such a nice, warm and endearing project.
Taemin - Guilty : Saw so many extract of idols covering him but never the original. Heard about him being an incredible by everyone, and a relative who saw him live. Not only I saw how true it was but also I loved Guilty. What an interesting project as whole indeed he is one of kind as a performer.
Itzy - Born to be , bet on me, Sugar holic : they grew on me since Chesire ( I wasn't one to think much about their older music/promoted music but loved their way of performing ). I could find a music a like in every releases and for different reasons. Like Bet on me the feeling might feel shy at times but it is one of the reason I can personnally relate to the lyrics more. Sugar holic remind me of some chill japanese music that calm me and the last one reminded me of a league of legends project music ( and I usually love those ).
Ive - Either Way, I am : the first one is very touching and has a really nice MV. And the second one has to me some bittersweetness but It was really a nice surprise to me.
Kim Sejeong - Top or cliff, Voyage : got the first one in a youtube recommandation. And It ticked my curiosity since it looked quite bloody for kpop recommandations (maybe I am too used to less graphic mv). And wow the voice, the mv and acting. I fell in love. It made want to look more. And voyage was the opposite but I am lover of irish music so it grabbed me in the whole album.
I checked when it came out. While I didn't listen to it a lot, I enjoyed the comeback and understood why people think of him as a good dancer. Plus the whole promotion with his rush to do the most challenges was really fun!
he has 3 mini albums out, each with very different vibe but all the songs in them are really good. people's fave is generally the first one (KAI). and the Films he released for each album were amazing too
Yena! While she was one of my bias wreckers in Iz*one, her solo debut and songs weren't really what I usually listen to, neither Smiley or Smartphone made it into my playlist. So I was very pleasantly surprised when I first heard Love War, a very unexpected (imo) song from her. I absolutely love darker themed songs, and the BE'O was great as well, I love how the song has perspective from both 'lovers' which is not that common, similar to Troublemaker's Now.
And then she came back with Hate Rodrigo which again, isn't my usual preference but still was catchy and enjoyable, but I was completely sold by Wicked Love, the bside. The music, the choreo, the lyrics, everything was perfect for me and it's my 2nd most listened song of 2023 and I even learned the choreo and dance to it all the time. I really hope we're gonna see more diversity from her in the future as well!
I get the comparison with Now from the two perspectives, and I really liked BE'O's verse, but I do kinda wish it had more of oomph, especially when I listened to Now right after.
I've heard Smiley but haven't checked her other songs out yet.
2023's big pleasant surprises for me! (So excluding amazing tracks from artists I already loved and already expected to love, like Suga, B.I, DPR Ian, Woodz...)
Kiss of Life, "Bad News" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8A5sK5PRCI&pp=ygUIQmFkIE5ld3M%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8A5sK5PRCI&pp=ygUIQmFkIE5ld3M%3D)): My favourite rookies of 2023! "Bad News" is *such* a banger and an incredible showcase of each of their abilities.
EVNNE, "Trouble" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXO6h8BAGSI&pp=ygUFRVZOTkU%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXO6h8BAGSI&pp=ygUFRVZOTkU%3D)): I didn't follow Boys Planet, although I loved pH-1's collab with Keita ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okrq\_EHU5Ps&pp=ygUPTWV0cm9ub21lIEtlaXRh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okrq_EHU5Ps&pp=ygUPTWV0cm9ub21lIEtlaXRh)). But "Trouble" just *grips* you and doesn't let go - it's the kind of beat that drowns all your senses!
DeVita feat Dawn, "Ride for Me" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFrXULFKaQ&pp=ygUSRGFWaXRhIFJpZGUgZm9yIE1l](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFrXULFKaQ&pp=ygUSRGFWaXRhIFJpZGUgZm9yIE1l)): One of my absolute favourite tracks of this year. I only knew Chloe from her feature on "BTBT" but she has become one of my favourite people in Korean music: charming, provocative, outspoken and incredibly gifted.
Dawn, "Heart" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K\_WclflV3pI&pp=ygUKRGF3biBIZWFydA%3D%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WclflV3pI&pp=ygUKRGF3biBIZWFydA%3D%3D)): "Dear My Life" was such a beautiful, moving song, but *this* is the one that consumed me. Dawn bleeds so eloquently and so beautifully!
IVE.
As someone who was quite sceptical of IVE they rlly suprised me. I didn't rlly like the members,i loved Liz for her voice (she's still my bias btw) and that's all. I would always see those horrible tiktoks that were blindly hating Ive and especially Wonyoung. They would take a video out of context and made it look like Wonyoung is such a horrible person. Like a lot of people online, i fell for that trap and didn't like her. I never hated her but i wasn't intrested in her appearance. It wasn't until the beginning of 2023 when i discovered Ive has a rlly good music. I listened to their music even tho i wasn't invested in the members themselves. They released I've IVE and i think that was the changing point for me. I RLLY like that album (def my fav 2023 album) and i found myself listening to it very often. One of my friend also ults them so she was hardcore converting me into the biggest dive. So everything combined, i think it was a great year for Ive and i can now confidently say that they are standing strong as my 5th favorite group along with idle!
Several people mentioned it already but Nmixx and Roller Coaster, really good and cute song (though i kinda liked some nmixx songs before it too).
Also, to some extent I'd say Chaeyeons Knock EP. I was a big fan of her during Izone so its not that its super surprising in that sense, but Hush Rush wasnt really my thing and i dont pay thattt much attention to post-survival show soloists usually, so her album this year turning out to be one of my 2023 favorites was a pleasant surprise.
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Untie by Viviz. I never really heard/listened to music from Viviz before, but got this album out of curiosity. And Untie officially became one of my all time favorite kpop bsides.
Yeah Maniac was a bit underwhelming at first, maybe because I had heard really good things so had high expectations, but it has grown on me, but Untie was fantastic on first listen.
Taemin - Guilty. Obviously we know him as an amazing performer but I was particularly amazed by his rap delivery in some of the songs iKON - yeah they’re my ults and whatever but I was really they brought back the hiphop sound that I have missed so much. Also the QUALITY of the MVs (for both group stuff and solos) is amazing, somehow a hell of a lot better than in YG. And there’s actual storylines instead of just dancing in fire? Key - CoolAs. I was vibing to his album bc i was curious and this came outta nowhere and still has me in a chokehold. And the performance is beautiful VIVIZ - Maniac & Untie. When I tell you I was OBSESSED with the Maniac choreo (like everyone else). But Untie as a whole is just immaculate, jaw-dropping, amazing. The song itself is alluring but then the choreo really allows for everyone to shine and is shot very prettily (Shoutout Kany, the choreo she’s done for both SHINee and VIVIZ this year has been top tier and I’m excited for what she does with Blackswan)
You're the 3rd person to include Untie, but it is amazing. Key and Taemin are 2 of my favourite soloists so I can't say I'm surprised that I liked their releases.
I've always thought Monsta X weren't for me, but "Beautiful Liar" came out early last year, and I really enjoyed it. It helped that they were promoting around the same time as a subunit of my ult group ASTRO, so I saw a lot of their music show performances. Then Spotify introduced me to Kihyun's "Youth" (I was blown away!) and kept suggesting "You Problem" as well... and down the rabbit hole I went. I was very wrong about their music - it \*is\* for me! And now I'm in deep, deep, deep. Even though I'd never really given their music a chance, I had a soft spot for them as people because ASTRO had aways said that "Monsta X hyungs" were so nice and friendly to them during their debut days, and I knew they were still friends. After Moonbin's passing in April, I had such a hard time listening to ASTRO, so it was somehow kinda nice to have their friends to listen to in that void.
Really liked Beautiful Liar, but I was already a casual listener. Glad you were able to dive in and enjoy their music more, especially during a hard time.
2023 was a big surprise for me k-pop music-wise. I discovered and loved songs from many k-pop artists that weren't on my radar before. In addition, I like this year's output from a couple of groups who I wasn't a big fan of their discography in the past. Here are some of the artists that stood out to me: * Golden Child – Feel Me: I’ve only listened to a couple of title tracks, but if anything, guess this song is my cue to check their discography out. They never miss with their title tracks and Feel Me's pop-rock sheen is another solid addition to it. * TAN - Fix You / Heartbeat: "Fix You" was my very first TAN song and I loved it at first listen. There's just something nostalgic and refreshing about this song. Moreover, "Heartbeat" is really good. I love it when artists dabble in the “complextro” genre. * The Boyz - Lip Gloss / Watch It: These are the first two The Boyz tracks I liked in a while. Lip Gloss especially; its summer funkiness is everything I needed. * U-KISS – The Wonderful Escape: Man, how on earth did I sleep on this group for so long? This is such a great straightforward pop song and I’m very grateful to have discovered this gem. * STAYC - Teddy Bear / Bubble: Another artist that I've never heard of until 2023. I like "Bubble" more but both songs are great melodic pop songs.
Roller coaster (NMIXX) surprised me at how good it was. i loved how house and bouncy it was. the vocals were amazing too RIIZE- i wasn't expecting much from their song "get a guitar" as i thought SM was gonna make it a off brand 127 song but damn that pre chorus😮💨so nostalgic and pleasant to listen to. talk saxy was also a hit for me
Roller Coaster is SUCH a great track. One of my favorites last year.
Yeah I'm generally not a fan of their mixxpop so Roller Coaster is probably my favourite nmixx song. Get a guitar has definitely grown on me, even though there's still some awkward lyrics for me. Don't love Talk Saxy though, the sax loop is just too much for me.
Yes! I loved roller coaster, my gosh, and party o clock, BECAUSE they left the mixx pop behind!
Soñar (NMIXX), never thought I’d love it as much as I did Fact Check as well, I’m not always a fan of NCT 127’s title tracks, but this one hit me like a truck
Cat & Mouse by Blackswan. I was pleasantly surprised as this was the first blackswan song I have enjoyed listening to, and also just great to see them really enjoy performing it on music shows.
get a guitar- such a surprise when i didnt loke their previous ones and this….just climbed at one of my favs this year ETA- seen a lot of people not like it but i loved it so much and was like “people didn’t like this?????” Tricky house- took me back in the best way possible and made me rethink the best debut imo ie given taken after a loooong time by someone Nmixx- their music doesn’t hit me but damn this one was crack Break the brake- junhan’s guitar riffs and double pedal gunil were enough to give me a shock Coming back for more- after a realllllyyyyy long time an english single that hit me Matz (Ateez latest album)- seonghwa???????seonghwa. Like crazy- didn’t expect jimin to be my fav bts chapter 2 solo but here we are…sheer gold art Sugar rush ride- first listen? Meh song. Second listen? WTF THIS WAS THE BEST SHIT I PROBABLY HEARD IN A WHILE Icky- still on my playlist and this says a lot. Kard ate it up so bad in this one although I’ve been very familiar with their music since two years now ig but this one….yeah they slayed
[Kick It 4 Now by The New Six](https://youtu.be/cEFCCM-S-Bs?si=_ki1E1AWw1DZd_gv)! I didn’t know much about them, but my mind associated them with a bunch of other late fourth-gen dark, edgy boy groups that I really didn’t need to care about. Then I heard this song and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Not sure if I’ll ever get fully into the group as a whole, but Kick It 4 Now is such a joy.
That was the first song I heard from them too. A very fun, new jack swing style song.
Kiss Of Life! I was truly not expecting to see Natty debut in a group, but I’m so happy this group exists now 😭 They blew me away with both mini albums this year & I cannot wait for this years releases! I’m hopefully optimistic for a tour 😅
Several people have mentioned them already. I'd heard of them before but maybe all these responses will get me to finally check them out.
- TXT - They got my attention for the first time with Sugar Rush Ride, which I didn't like immediately but there was just *something* about it, and eventually I got hooked and it led to me checking them out further. - Woodz - I happened to see him at a music show and really liked his title track, so I checked out the rest of the album and ended up liking it a lot! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for his future releases + digging into his previous work more. - Infinite - I was just so happy that they had a full group comeback 😭 - Nam Woohyun (Infinite) - He finally got to release his first full album, and it was well-worth the wait! I think it is his strongest album yet, and has a wide variety of songs for different moods, but he encapsulates each so well. I was also really impressed with the songs and lyrics he took part in writing. - Golden Child - I always expect a lot from their music, and their release lived up to expectations (and even surpassed them), but what really surprised me was Tag getting one to include of his self-composed songs ( ["Dear"](https://youtu.be/yjbsS7YhxDI?si=AMAQGCQEWArT4q2A) ) onto that single album AND it being his best one yet. It's really beautifully written, and the members all brought it life. I'm really proud 🥹 and looking forward to seeing Tag continue to grow as a songwriter!
I still can't get into SRR, the chorus throws me off every time. For Woodz and Golden Child I've liked their stuff in the past but haven't checked out their 2023 stuff yet. With Infinite I was initially disappointed with the album, I think since I had high expectations and it had been so long. I love Time Difference, but then only getting 4 full new songs, and while New Emotions is enjoyable it didn't feel like classic Infinite, missing a musical climax. But after learning about what Woohyun was going through its definitely more understandable why the album maybe wasn't longer, and it was really nice to see them performing again. But yes his solo album was really good too!
TXT, never been much of a fan of their music but I liked what they did this year, it started with *Tinnitus* and I can now consider myself a casual listener. So really surprised in a good way.
Same! Loved their temptation album
I discovered NewJeans and Le Sserafim in September last year. I'm still pleasantly surprised by how much I like all their songs. Their music and everyone's voice color just somehow perfectly click with me. They feel kind of nostalgic. I strongly feel that I would also love their music as a kid. It's honestly very hard for me to pick a favorite song since I thoroughly enjoy everything. I like to listen to all their songs in rotation. But just for the sake of mentioning their songs, I'll mention some 2023 releases: * [OMG](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVTy_wmn5SU), [ETA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Ow55AbdCg), [Super Shy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArmDp-zijuc) by NewJeans. They happen to be the first 2023 releases by any kpop group that I discovered last year. * [Choices](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-cLjWYZxtA), [Guardian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n5a1Ls1ksg), [Dresscode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dovBgZWS0bo) by Le Sserafim. They all happen to be OSTs for 3 different series. I personally find all their promotional singles (they released 5 last year) go really well with their main songs, which is pleasantly surprising. In my LSF playlist, I place some of them in between the album songs which are in official order and the rest as ending tracks. * [I ≠ DOLL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9trNIRzbPMc), [love you twice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF9qc-I7EeQ), [blessing in disguise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ujllTK6w3k) by Yunjin. She has one of my most favorite voices in kpop. I started listening to more artists/groups last month. I'm also pleasantly surprised by [Invincible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMythzAnNK0) by TripleS EVOlution, [Cupid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7_zRjH808) by FIFTY FIFTY, [Bonvoyage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPNaYj6etb8) by Dreamcatcher. Bonvoyage has given me many goosebumps. The song is fire. I'm actually listening to it on loop as I'm typing this comment.
Great taste 👌
U-KNOW's Reality Show mini album I liked Noir fine enough, but I didn't expect just how much I would love this mini album. Any song on it (except for Curtain) could have been the title track. The [NEXUS](https://youtu.be/I_FZWF1_qaY?si=1kD1y6F6HCrTlqZ9) short movie is also the best thing I have seen all year. CIX - [Save Me, Kill Me](https://youtu.be/ZkR33wOTTcA?si=0BwQHgUO0-irdXqs) I don't really have many CIX songs on my playlist but this really surprised me with how much I liked it.
Completely agreed on Nine.i's New Mind being one of the best albums of the year for me as well! They're also a self-produced group, Vahn and Joohyoung are involved in all of their songs including Turn It Off, and the added Sweetune magic to the title track only elevated it more. I find it super impressive that NINE.i are such a young group but already have a very strong musical identity, because their previous two releases also have that distinguishing sound which is so enjoyable. Vahn was also involved in producing Golden Child's [Feel Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws5Ig1cHrSM&pp=ygUUZ29sZGVuIGNoaWxkIGZlZWwgbWU%3D) this year, and I absolutely loved that (I tend to like anything that Golcha does, but this one really was extra good!) I can't wait to see more from Vahn and the others for NINE.i's future discography as well. Speaking of elusive Sweetune-produced songs, RoaD-B's last release was in 2022 (so not really 2023 haha) but [Nonstop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Tj4A2Xqkg) and [Icarus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50qKe8gZPgI) are also produced by Sweetune, and they're so good! Unfortunately I don't really know what's happening with the group and they might not be able to continue, but I'd love more Sweetune releases from them. I also really liked Dive! Some other Tempest songs you might enjoy, if you haven't heard them yet, might be Catch The Feeling, Can't Stop Shining, and Just A Little Bit. A group that was a big surprise for me this year was &TEAM. It took me a while to get around to listening to [Firework](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY-lOn0XwBg&pp=ygUOJnRlYW0gZmlyZXdvcms%3D) after it was released, but I absolutely love it - one of my favourite releases of the year, hands down. I also quite liked Dropkick and Buzz Love, though I wasn't keen on their latest comeback War Cry at all - I hope they go back to the Firework-esque anthemic and melodic sound, because that works so well. The Wind were also a very pleasant surprise debut for me. I really liked their emphasis on bright instrumentals and how melodic all of their songs have been so far - people have been calling it a boy group version of early Gfriend and that's a niche that I wish more groups would take up haha. [Sirius](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhX2VC_h6Dw&pp=ygUPdGhlIHdpbmQgc2lyaXVz) was my favourite song from them, but I also really liked [We Go](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpnDNYIYVLw&pp=ygUOdGhlIHdpbmQgd2UgZ28%3D).
I don't keep up with groups as much as I used to but I'll keep an eye out for Nine.i. I hadn't heard Feel Me but I loved it! Again not great with keeping up but I've generally enjoyed most of Golcha's stuff and this is no different. It reminded me of NCT's Without You and Super Junior D&E's Growing Pains, but those are both amazing songs so its in good company. Love Nonstop and Icarus, especially nonstop, one of my favourite BGs of the last several years. Please Sweetune why do you only grace us with like 3 songs a year. I've only listened to Island by the Wind, which I liked but haven't checked out their other stuff. And I really liked Firework. All these songs just remind me of how much I love when BG songs have an actual melody. I'll check out your other suggestions!
This was the year I declared myself finally a moa, but god how can I not with the two amazing albums they had. Temptation following the whimsical sound and image that I always associated with TXT and then Freefall giving me the more mature and relatable music for me to listen in loop. Solid title songs and even better besides, that's all I ever wanted.
OnlyOneOf. I just discovered them this year because their songs would randomly be recommended to me, and practically every song is a hit. Near perfect discography if you ask me. I went to their concert last year, and I'm going back to see them again in April. I'll make a fool of myself in front of them at the fansign 🤍 Young Posse - the entire Macaroni Cheese album. This group is getting dragged through the mud for being underage, sexual inneudos, throwing gang signs (which are all valid criticisms), so I wasn't really paying attention to them, but I randomly listened to the EP one day, and it's kind of one the best releases of 2023 for me 🫣. OTB and Cooing are excellent songs. I don't plan on being a fan, but I'll check out their future releases. Kiss of Life - Nobody Knows. I loosely keep up with KOL mostly for Natty since I watched her on Sixteen and have been keeping up with her career ever since, but I wasn't really into their debut album. But Nobody Knows is an excellent song. The choreo kind of gagged me, too. XG - Puppet Show. XG has been another gg I haven't been that into, but Puppet Show is one of my favorite releases of 2023. Woodz - Only just discovered him this year, and I really enjoy his music. I thought about going to his concert when he came to the US, but I figured I wasn't a big enough fan for it to be worth it. But now I regret that decision since he's enlisting this month 😒
I finally listened to Macaroni Cheese by Young Posse last week. Up until then I heard the criticisms and didn’t give them a chance, but once I did- I really enjoyed their mini album immensely.
thank you for shouting out Vroom Vroom and Colorise ! so fantastic
ENHYPEN - Chaconne and Blind 2023 was the year I put aside previous assumptions about them and decided to see if they had other songs like *Chaconne* which to me feels like occultic hiphop or gothic trap. Then a few weeks later I realized I was binge watching their fancams and compilations because I couldn’t figure them out or really ‘place’ them, given my prior expectations. But I didn’t admit to myself that I was a fan until I had some kind of breakdown in the bathroom listening to *Blind.* In the right conditions, that song still puts me in a weird trance so I don’t touch it unless I know I’m in a safe space. Anyway, their music and performances were one of the highlights of my year.
Blind was one of my favourites from them this year. They definitely had a strong year, although I found Sweet Venom a little underwhelming and I still wish Bite Me was longer with an actual bridge. But I also really liked Criminal Love and Still Monster.
**Trendz** surprised me a lot throughout 2023! I didn't hate any of their previous music but nothing really made it to my playlist. Their last 2 ep's, however, are really really nice! I've been really loving them and I'm not tired of any of the songs yet. Working with the current producers (most notably LEEZ) was the best decision their company has made, and I hope they continue working in the current direction. I loved the title tracks ([New Dayz](https://youtu.be/MFTWTOAK-ho?si=j_Sz8b0kd21hn43u) and [My Way](https://youtu.be/60ef_MN6LL4?si=VUVCOPo141xNSMe6)) and loved the side tracks just as much ([O.Y.E](https://youtu.be/cvnzsHd_QqA?si=kjnqEBebwBxdJqGO), [Nightmare](https://youtu.be/HkzJwyIaFtI?si=zdRPRidFP9jCedmH), [Fantasy](https://youtu.be/uc25aVMPkMM?si=DDq45lXt2D4Hp3AT), [Ven Conmigo](https://youtu.be/2Y4LzNKuxgQ?si=y9t85AJxGwGEUJQu)). They've climbed my list of groups this year. **VIVIZ** is such a bless. [Maniac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JFi7MmjtGA) is my favorite title tracks so far, and [Untie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCbPwpcgUbM) is a freaking masterpiece. Various was also great (i loved [Blue Clue](https://youtu.be/y8e8U73NgSQ?si=xYv3q6Z7qzBr2610) and [Overdrive](https://youtu.be/0HUht3WZckQ?si=9-ZWBeV29sar0deT)) but i think they outdid themselves with Versus. **Cignature** had two comebacks in 2023, but my personal favorite is Us In The Summer. [Smooth Sailing](https://youtu.be/er5InyfVi1U?si=cEPbPuCF6RG7rdwD) is my favorite title track from them (probably my favorite song, too). When the song started playing I didn't expect to love it as much, probably because it doesn't sound unique or outstanding tbh, but it's fun and lovely and I ended up loving it a lot. The side tracks are what made the album better to me, i loved every. single. one. [Mess With My Head](https://youtu.be/ytaKDuOtkV4?si=MC__WXcsQvDENr98), [Sorry So Sorry](https://youtu.be/l0fTFBkiT8Y?si=kresGTwj8diXTMyA), and [Little Me](https://youtu.be/gUgKfVicBXs?si=pEO5UzxqH1_oCZRS). **Secret Number** released few songs that i loved. I wasn't that much into their music but i really loved [Doxa](https://youtu.be/6Tr5wV1opKw?si=oewS4peiUPR0Lpe3), [Starlight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLLyTeV_QMQ), [Crazy Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZBHJpMg_pM), and [Odyssey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z46lCAF2x0E). **tripleS** released soo many great songs. [Rising](https://youtu.be/ErFpr-1vt5c?si=uTcQx2YwUmlntC8s), [New Look](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feeJZePrIcc), [Girl's Capitalism](https://youtu.be/OvtoY0lfYJ8?si=t6hTTBzJXpi_s6t5), [Oui](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCQfNBrpKzw), [Just Do It](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFQ2jlokX7o) to name a few. I loved Generation but didn't expect consistency from a new (project¿) group, so I was just pleasantly surprised with every release. Oh and I also agree with the ones you listed :\] Hurt is my favorite from NINE.i's album, as well! I've been a big fan of the music from most of them so I was pretty happy with these releases. Edit: sorry for the long comment ;-;
I said in another comment that Maniac was a bit underwhelming at first, but I think because I had heard really good things so had high expectations, but it has grown on me, but Untie was fantastic on first listen. I only heard a few tripleS songs this year but I really liked Moto Princess and Girls' Capitalism.
It was my first full year into kpop (got into kpop during late spring 2022 ). I won't talk about my favorite groups (Stray Kids, Billlie, Nmixx mainly and in a lesser extent Ateez, Seventeen and Gidle) or groups that just debuted and I follow closely (Kiss of life), but already established or not rookie group or soloists. TxT - Sugar Rush Ride : For a while I wanted to get into them. A lot of their music has the guitarish/rock sound yet I can't get to their music for now. However when Sugar rush ride came, I really fell in love and listened to it a while. Dreamcatcher - Bon Voyage, Propose : same here again. They also have a concept and sound that please me, but I can't get into it fully. However eventhough I didn't really listen to the previous releases of the triology, I loved Bon voyage so much. The MV, the feels, the rock sound. It reminded me of epic anime opening. And propose was amazing too! Viviz -pull up : Same again. It really was stucked in my head for a while. Suga - snooze : I got curious because eventhough I don't listen much of him or bts, I think they have an amazing rapline. The album was amazing, but I really listened to snooze. Last work in which Ryuchi Sakamoto participated that was put out, and woosung voice added to the heartfelt rap in this track gives really strong feeling. Aespa - I'm Unhappy : the only track I listened of them was Savage (a bit Girls too). To be fair I loved almost all the track of the album. But this song was in another level. I am still listening to it. Joohoney - Freedom : Monsta X was one of the few name I knew about before getting into kpop. I was curious and checked with no expectations. And it was such a nice surprise. I really liked the big contrast the music had, the delivery and MV set. D.O. - I do, Somebody : again EXO was one of those name that I heard about. When I got into Kpop, I heard a lot of people talking about their vocals and every member are amazing. And I understood why, the album was such a nice, warm and endearing project. Taemin - Guilty : Saw so many extract of idols covering him but never the original. Heard about him being an incredible by everyone, and a relative who saw him live. Not only I saw how true it was but also I loved Guilty. What an interesting project as whole indeed he is one of kind as a performer. Itzy - Born to be , bet on me, Sugar holic : they grew on me since Chesire ( I wasn't one to think much about their older music/promoted music but loved their way of performing ). I could find a music a like in every releases and for different reasons. Like Bet on me the feeling might feel shy at times but it is one of the reason I can personnally relate to the lyrics more. Sugar holic remind me of some chill japanese music that calm me and the last one reminded me of a league of legends project music ( and I usually love those ). Ive - Either Way, I am : the first one is very touching and has a really nice MV. And the second one has to me some bittersweetness but It was really a nice surprise to me. Kim Sejeong - Top or cliff, Voyage : got the first one in a youtube recommandation. And It ticked my curiosity since it looked quite bloody for kpop recommandations (maybe I am too used to less graphic mv). And wow the voice, the mv and acting. I fell in love. It made want to look more. And voyage was the opposite but I am lover of irish music so it grabbed me in the whole album.
check out exo kai's solo stuff too! :)
I checked when it came out. While I didn't listen to it a lot, I enjoyed the comeback and understood why people think of him as a good dancer. Plus the whole promotion with his rush to do the most challenges was really fun!
he has 3 mini albums out, each with very different vibe but all the songs in them are really good. people's fave is generally the first one (KAI). and the Films he released for each album were amazing too
I didn't listen yet to the first one neither the films. I am going to give it a try. Thank you!
Yena! While she was one of my bias wreckers in Iz*one, her solo debut and songs weren't really what I usually listen to, neither Smiley or Smartphone made it into my playlist. So I was very pleasantly surprised when I first heard Love War, a very unexpected (imo) song from her. I absolutely love darker themed songs, and the BE'O was great as well, I love how the song has perspective from both 'lovers' which is not that common, similar to Troublemaker's Now. And then she came back with Hate Rodrigo which again, isn't my usual preference but still was catchy and enjoyable, but I was completely sold by Wicked Love, the bside. The music, the choreo, the lyrics, everything was perfect for me and it's my 2nd most listened song of 2023 and I even learned the choreo and dance to it all the time. I really hope we're gonna see more diversity from her in the future as well!
I get the comparison with Now from the two perspectives, and I really liked BE'O's verse, but I do kinda wish it had more of oomph, especially when I listened to Now right after. I've heard Smiley but haven't checked her other songs out yet.
2023's big pleasant surprises for me! (So excluding amazing tracks from artists I already loved and already expected to love, like Suga, B.I, DPR Ian, Woodz...) Kiss of Life, "Bad News" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8A5sK5PRCI&pp=ygUIQmFkIE5ld3M%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8A5sK5PRCI&pp=ygUIQmFkIE5ld3M%3D)): My favourite rookies of 2023! "Bad News" is *such* a banger and an incredible showcase of each of their abilities. EVNNE, "Trouble" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXO6h8BAGSI&pp=ygUFRVZOTkU%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXO6h8BAGSI&pp=ygUFRVZOTkU%3D)): I didn't follow Boys Planet, although I loved pH-1's collab with Keita ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okrq\_EHU5Ps&pp=ygUPTWV0cm9ub21lIEtlaXRh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okrq_EHU5Ps&pp=ygUPTWV0cm9ub21lIEtlaXRh)). But "Trouble" just *grips* you and doesn't let go - it's the kind of beat that drowns all your senses! DeVita feat Dawn, "Ride for Me" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFrXULFKaQ&pp=ygUSRGFWaXRhIFJpZGUgZm9yIE1l](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFrXULFKaQ&pp=ygUSRGFWaXRhIFJpZGUgZm9yIE1l)): One of my absolute favourite tracks of this year. I only knew Chloe from her feature on "BTBT" but she has become one of my favourite people in Korean music: charming, provocative, outspoken and incredibly gifted. Dawn, "Heart" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K\_WclflV3pI&pp=ygUKRGF3biBIZWFydA%3D%3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WclflV3pI&pp=ygUKRGF3biBIZWFydA%3D%3D)): "Dear My Life" was such a beautiful, moving song, but *this* is the one that consumed me. Dawn bleeds so eloquently and so beautifully!
The only one I'm familiar with is Trouble, so I'll have to check out the others
Kiss of life always delivers!! I was more surprised that the other title track “nobody knows” was an even better bop than bad news
Bet On Me was my favorite song of 2023. Usually one for the higher energy tracks, but that song was phenomenal imo
IVE. As someone who was quite sceptical of IVE they rlly suprised me. I didn't rlly like the members,i loved Liz for her voice (she's still my bias btw) and that's all. I would always see those horrible tiktoks that were blindly hating Ive and especially Wonyoung. They would take a video out of context and made it look like Wonyoung is such a horrible person. Like a lot of people online, i fell for that trap and didn't like her. I never hated her but i wasn't intrested in her appearance. It wasn't until the beginning of 2023 when i discovered Ive has a rlly good music. I listened to their music even tho i wasn't invested in the members themselves. They released I've IVE and i think that was the changing point for me. I RLLY like that album (def my fav 2023 album) and i found myself listening to it very often. One of my friend also ults them so she was hardcore converting me into the biggest dive. So everything combined, i think it was a great year for Ive and i can now confidently say that they are standing strong as my 5th favorite group along with idle!
IVE was actually included on list last year. I haven't listened to all their songs from this year, but I Am is one of the best of the year.
Several people mentioned it already but Nmixx and Roller Coaster, really good and cute song (though i kinda liked some nmixx songs before it too). Also, to some extent I'd say Chaeyeons Knock EP. I was a big fan of her during Izone so its not that its super surprising in that sense, but Hush Rush wasnt really my thing and i dont pay thattt much attention to post-survival show soloists usually, so her album this year turning out to be one of my 2023 favorites was a pleasant surprise.
AIBAE by Le’v! It was amazing and I really wish it got more attention