Sunshine Review

 Fans were shocked by the release of the music video for South Korean singer IU’s latest single, “Love Wins All”. The video features V of BTS and has piqued the interest of both artists’ respective fanbases, Uaena and Army. Though the title might suggest a soft, sweet music video, what was actually released is not what you'd expect. Yes, there are sweet moments, but there's so much more to it than just that. Many fans have said the video could easily be extended into a movie, and it does indeed have a cinematic quality. The video opens not with music, but with the sound of IU and V running and breathing heavily. The sound is sharp and foreboding against the otherwise quiet background. Right from the start, every tiny detail in “Love Wins All” serves to create a specific feeling. In this scene, it's urgency, tension, and fear. Both characters are in casual clothes which are tattered and dirty, their faces equally dirt-streaked and beat up. V’s right eye is clouded, implying

  Don't we all love a good motivational song about running towards your dreams? I know I do, and NMIXX’s latest album, Fe304: BREAK, offers just that. This album is the first in a new chapter of NMIXX's discography, named after the chemical formula for black iron oxide (Fe3O4). Interestingly, this compound is often used to resist corrosion, which seems to be in contrast to the album’s title: BREAK. It becomes clear throughout the album, however, that NMIXX’s goal is to break down the walls holding them back without becoming corroded themselves.  The first song on the album as well as the title track, “Dash” sounds funky and sassy, as one would expect from NMIXX. The pop song is a bit repetitive throughout the chorus and might be an acquired taste for some, but it's certainly a fun and unique listening experience. This song is about running forward no matter what, ignoring “red lights” and anything else in the way. Difficulties are acknowledged within the lyrics, “Quivering

  Nearly everyone alive has inevitably at some point had something rude or mean spirited said to or about them, directly or indirectly. It's the same for celebrities. Yes, the amount of people saying good things about them is much higher than what ordinary people hear, but with the increased attention comes increased criticism from others. Confidence can be hard for anyone–celebrities or not–especially when everyone else has so much to say. It may be difficult, but not impossible. With their latest album, “Born to Be”, Itzy declares their choice to ignore anything said against them and to continue to be who they are, whether others like it or not. The ten-track album is itself an anthem of self-confidence. The album's first track, “Born to Be”, starts out with intense beats, leading through beautiful high notes into the electronic chorus. The group declares that, no matter what anybody else says, they are, “Born to be wild and free.”  The album's title, “Untouchable”, h

  Can you imagine if you were an artist and one of the members of BTS–the biggest boy band in the world–was recommending your songs on his Instagram? Most people would probably freak out, and they might feel shy messaging the member about it. American singer-songwriter Umi was shy, but she still reached out after V of BTS mentioned her song, and it's a good thing she did, otherwise fans wouldn't have received a collaboration between the two incredibly talented artists, released by Umi on the BTS member’s birthday.  The collaboration, a single called “wherever u r”, really seems like a culmination of both artists’ individual styles, which already aligned quite well. The song is about a past love that's still holding on. The lyrics express regret over this ended love in Umi’s line, “I wish that I called you more/Just to make you feel better”, and the chorus concludes with the promise, “I'ma be wherever you are/Here in your heart.”  Having listened to the past work of bot

On November 17, 2023, Enhypen released “Orange Blood” after teasing the album with special album sleeves during their second world tour: Fate. The sleeves only included part of the album's title: “______Blood.” Fans made guesses about what the first word could be, and “orange” certainly didn’t cross many minds. Still, the strange title is fitting for the 7-track album, which is softer than much of Enhypen’s previous work, but still carries the group’s unique flavor. “Orange Blood” is an aesthetically and musically beautiful ode to love. “Mortal” opens the album with a magical instrumental and Jungwon’s voice, not singing yet, but speaking in a tone that seems to come straight out of a movie trailer. The members trade lines, alternating impressively between Korean, English, and Japanese, until they break into song just under a minute in. The chorus carries the emotionally impactful melody to it’s peak before dying back down into dramatic speech for the second verse. This beautiful