By Avree Noelle Linne | 31 May, 2024
April was hard to beat, with tracks like “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Never Have I Ever” by Casey Baer ft. Caleb Hearn helping set the tone for spring. But, with classes ending and warm weather right around the corner, artists are releasing songs left and right to land on that playlist you’ll be bopping to all season long. Check out these May releases to see if any of them are your Song of the Summer!
D.O via Rolling Stone India
Known for his work as a member of the K-pop group PENTAGON which produced the massive hit “Shine”, Kino started off this incredible month of music by releasing “Broke My Heart” with Lay Bankz. Maybe it’s the clever use of autotune or the infectious energy of the singers, but ever since this track came out I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. If you want to know how fun this track is, look no further than the opening lyrics which read, “Why you broke my heart? / Hope you go break your phone and your bone / Why you broke my heart? / Just la-di-di-da-da, yeah, la-di-di-da-da”. I still think that this is one of the most underrated tracks on this list, so make sure to check it out if you want your summer to be 100% more fun.
Cris Cab is Pharrell’s protege that is now coming back after years out of the game with this track. His last major hit, “Liar Liar,” which was written and produced by Pharrell, came out in 2014 and even became #1 on the UK charts. In the past he has collaborated with J Balvin, Farruko, and more, and that style is apparent in this track. Anyone looking for something to blast on their island vacation relaxing on the beach, this is your track.
Lovers of a more indie sound need to look no further than Doh Kyung Soo (better known by his stage name D.O.) and 3rd mini album Blossom. The EXO main vocalist and former SM Entertainment idol has no shortage of accolades, and is one of the best vocalists to come out of the K-pop industry. My favorite track is definitely the lead single “Mars”, as his more soulful vocals shine through backed by a catchy beat and a playful music video. This song is a great representation of the Korean indie scene right now; if you like this track and are interested in what other fantastic artists are emerging from this genre, keep an eye out for an article next month I am releasing highlighting all of my favorite Korean indie musicians.
You might know Senses with their recent viral TikTok hit “Sleepwalking”. You may also know them from their past tours with Boys Like Girls, Leah Kate, or their most recent tour with Charlotte Sands. But what you should know them for is their most recent track “No Fun”. This is a track reminiscent of mid-2000s pop punk. Madison Taylor definitely gives Hayley Williams vibes with a modern fresh twist. This is one I will be blasting in my car with the windows down all summer long.
After being formed on the majorly popular show “Boys Planet”, ZEROBASEONE has found major popularity in the K-pop space. As K-pop begins to lean in the EDM and experimental phase, their happy and bright concepts are a breath of fresh air. “Feel the Pop” is no different, with its upbeat instrumental, flowery vocals, and bright music video. One of my favorite aspects of the music video is the Western aesthetics that are present throughout, which as someone born and raised in the southwest will always be endearing to me. This song can be the perfect background to any pool-side endeavors, or you can learn the choreography and dance all night long!
It is unlikely that anyone would not know Greyson Chance, an ex-Sony/Arista singer/songwriter with 200 million streams under his belt. He originally came to the public eye on the Ellen Degeneres show in 2010 belting “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga. His style now couldn’t be more different, with this track being a slow heart-wrenching ballad. His vocals have never disappointed, but those who haven’t kept up with the artist would be pleasantly surprised listening to the pure artistry in this song. For anyone who recently went through a breakup and needs a good cry song, check out this track for the ultimate cathartic experience.
Ever since NewJeans came on the scene, K-pop fans and non K-pop fans alike have been endeared to their image. They mix the fun bright visual concepts that people expect of K-pop with a more relaxed indie-pop sound. In just a few days, “How Sweet” has quickly become one of my favorite tracks by the group. The instrumental sounding like a retro video game, it is no wonder that the group has been so closely associated with the Powerpuff Girls. Their honey-like vocals make listening to the track easy no matter what you’re doing, and it lands on all of my playlists as my personal Song of the Summer.
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