Two major girl groups representing SM Entertainment have once again made a splendid back-to-back entry into the music industry with just a 3-day interval. aespa, transformed from high school movie protagonists to vengeance-fueled assassins, and Red Velvet, who have reinvented their image as mystical and dangerous girls from the ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Psycho’ era, are the main attractions. As SMCU (SM Culture Universe) Season 2, which promises a revolution, is gradually finding its direction, let's directly observe the new future SM envisions through the powerful showdown of these two formidable girl groups.
‘Drama,’ brought by a more relaxed and skilled aespa, showcases their growth.
They are intense. It's an intensity different from the bravado of newcomers like ‘Black Mamba’ and ‘Next Level,’ which burst forth while racing through KWANGYA. It's like an energy condensed and precisely aimed and released in bursts. Every musical instrument is as finely refined as the sharply extending typography. Their latest title song represents the moment when the narrative they have built up within and outside the group finally translates into a display of sensuality and capability.
Menacingly processed high-pitched metallic synths layer the upper range, while dynamic kick and clap samples fill the lower end, distinctly separating their soundscapes to craft a grave and determined mood. A wavering portamento melody, sharp like a knife's edge, slices through the surrounding air. The gaps are seamlessly filled by the members' human voices. Skillful exchanges among the members, who are aware of their roles, take place between the classic hooks of ‘Drama-ma-ma-ma’ and ‘Trauma-ma-ma-ma’.
On this occasion, they have shed all the additional elements of their universe. They demonstrate their readiness to justify their musical endeavors through a unique soundscape, having first met fundamental standards with instinctive melodies and a well-defined narrative arc, in a style that is both ‘Spicy’ and ‘Dramatic’. Echoing the sentiment of the mood sampler's phrase, ‘The end will reveal a new scene,’ this represents aespa's fresh approach, transitioning from KWANGYA to a more grounded reality.
The ‘Chill Kill’ by Red Velvet presents an enticing blend of red and velvet danger
It is in the fusion of beauty with the strange, and the intersection of reality with fantasy, that an eerie sense of alienation is crafted. This is the essence of Red Velvet's strategy to bring a shadowy dimension to the perpetually bright world of K-pop. Their third studio album's title song ‘Chill Kill’ rigorously adheres to this motif. The uniqueness is evident right from their concept art, echoing Eastern thrillers, to their distinct music video.
The standout feature is their music's overpowering distinct mood. A drill-style erratic 808 bass and piercing string sounds set up a foreboding scene, suggesting imminent action. Yet, as the chorus commences, the members switch the mood instantly with brighter lighting and radiant faces, as if the previous ambiance never existed. This delightful disparity exemplifies the seamless blend of ‘red’ and ‘velvet’ they have been crafting since
In the latter part of the song, the transition into a synthwave variation is strikingly elegant, making it hard to divert one's attention from the refined sound. It's remarkable how a ninth-year group with such an extensive career can continue to produce music of such high caliber. The trajectory of Red Velvet's journey serves as a guiding light, cleverly illuminating the path ahead that they are currently navigating.
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