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The K-pop round-up: Jungkook’s solo debut, EXO and IVE make comebacks

Here are some recently released K-pop music picks, from Jungkook's solo debut to EXO's recent comeback with Cream Soda.

Avier Tan

| July 18, 2023

EXO, K-pop — EXO. Photo: SM Entertainment

It’s a busy week for K-pop fans, filled with several highly-anticipated comebacks from veterans like EXO and member of now-defunct quartet 2NE1, Sandara Park.

Talking about debuts, the youngest member of BTS, Jungkook, just released his solo track Seven as well.

HallyuSG brings you through the K-pop round-up for the week as we take a look at the recent releases.

ZEROBASEONE: In Bloom (10 Jul)

Born from Mnet’s reality competition Boys Planet this year, ZEROBASEONE made their debut on 10 Jul (Mon) with their first mini album.

Titled Youth in the Shade, the album contains a total of six tracks, with the title number In Bloom. It features a familiar sound, as the track samples A-ha’s Take On Me (1985). And there’s a sense of nostalgia here as the boys sing to the light beat.

EXO: Cream Soda (10 Jul)

EXO is back, and the K-pop powerhouse is back strong. The veterans dropped their seventh album Exist (2023) on 10 Jul (Monday).

Titled after the drink we’re all familiar with, Cream Soda (2023) does do the members justice by highlighting their vocal prowess. But in hindsight, it doesn’t come off as explosive as the group’s previous title tracks.

Sandara Park: Festival (12 Jul)

A quarter of now-defunct girl group 2NE1 made her glorious comeback last Wednesday (12 Jul).

Read more: Review: Sandara Park introduces her euphoric theme park in latest festival-like release

Sandara Park dances alongside music icon Uhm Jung-hwa in her newest track Festival (2023). It also samples Uhm’s track of the same title, which dropped back in 1999.

IVE X Pepsi: I Want (13 Jul)

K-pop girl group IVE teamed up with Pepsi to drop a refreshing tune last Thursday (13 Jul).

As expected from the girls, they’ve put out a splendid performance once again. And they’ve given the household brand a new and refreshing image.

Jungkook: Seven (14 Jul)

The youngest member of BTS, Jungkook, made his official global solo debut last Friday (14 Jul).

He chants the days of the week, from Monday to Sunday in his addictive love song. The vocalist also joined forces with American rapper Latto for this track.