Sunshine Review

  Why do we listen to music? There are a number of reasons, but it all boils down to this: music makes us feel things. Whether it’s hard rock or bubblegum pop or the saddest ballads, it’s all infused with emotions. Musicians and artists often create music for the same reason we listen to it: to express emotions. The life of a celebrity is a lot different than the average joe on the street, though. How do songwriters and singers balance expressing their own emotions with creating music that the rest of the world can understand and feel? Eric Nam does it perfectly in his latest album, “House on a Hill” released on September 8. "House on a Hill" is the first track on the album bearing its name. This song is about being content in the moment and fighting the instinct to always strive for the next best thing. Eric sings, "What if I had everything I want? What if nothing ever fills me up? What if being happy isn't what I thought? What if more is never enough?" The l...

 I know a lot of kids who think adults are an entirely different species. When I was younger, I always thought that growing up meant becoming a monotone all-business shell with no personality. Maybe that's the case for some people (I hope not), but South Korean soloist Kim Woojin sees things differently. In his newest album, "THE MOMENT: 美成年 BOUNCE", released on August 30, Woojin sings about coming into a lively adulthood. In the description under the album's title track on YouTube, it's explained, "This album expresses the positive and dynamic energy with coming of age, with many different emotions." This much is clear from the music video, which shows colorful and happy scenes of Woojin singing, dancing, and playing various instruments. The title track, "On My Way", opens the album on a bright note, with the lines: "I'm on my way./Gonna run at my pace,/A little clumsy but be ok,/Just as I am now, this moment forever young./Oh yeah I...

  Chasing a dream is a lot of work. Athletes need to build up physical strength, doctors need to study, and writers need to practice. If you want to do something, you have to work for it. Life isn’t in the habit of giving out careers for free. For Stray Kids, the dream was to become musicians. Today, they are a self-produced k-pop group, known across the globe for their strong vocals and powerful choreography. This didn’t come easily, though. The journey is explored in their newest single, “Social Path (feat. LiSA)”, off of the Japanese EP “Social Path (feat. LiSA)/Super Bowl–Japanese Version–”.  The song opens with Felix’s powerful vocals over a strong halting beat: “Gave up my youth/For my future/I just want to/Rise up stronger.” Already the song is mourning over time lost chasing dreams while expressing the desire to make it all worth it in the end. The pre-chorus sings of the loneliness that comes with their path. In the music video, the band members are shown surrounded b...