From BTS, Stray Kids, SHINee to ATEEZ to NCT’s Taeyong, ENHYPEN – here’s a round-up of Korean music releases in June 2023

A list of some of the most popular K-pop music releases in the month of June.

By Nandini Iyengar -

June 30, 2023 - 3:47 PM IST

The month of June presented a plethora of new music from the Korean music industry. Stray Kids and ATEEZ made much-anticipated comebacks. We also saw the rise of NCT’s Taeyong and iKon’s Jay as soloists. Hyphen once again released a catchy track which took over social media. SHINee also made their much-teased comeback with a full-length album. One of the big highlights was the news of EXO’s comeback as a group. To whet the appetites of the fans, a pre-release single ‘Let Me In’ was also released. BTS also surprised their fans with a soothing ‘Take Two’ released as a part of their recent Festa celebrations. Let’s take a closer look at the K-pop releases in June 2023.

From BTS, Stray Kids, SHINee to ATEEZ to NCT’s Taeyong, ENHYPEN – here’s a round-up of Korean music releases in June 2023

B.I. – DIE FOR LOVE (ft Jessi)
Since going solo, B.I. has delivered one banger track after another and his latest ‘Die For Love’ (ft Jessi) is no less. ‘Die For Love’ is an anthem through and through. B.I.’s breathy vocals paired with foot stomping beats is a celebration and proclamation of love.

BTS – TAKE TWO
BTS unveiled their new digital single ‘Take Two’ in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their debut. The title of the song, ‘Take Two’, suggests BTS’ moving onto their second chapter after the first one of a decade-long journey as artists. The single is an ode to their fans, ARMY, showing the septet’s gratitude to them. ‘Take Two’ is an acoustic pop genre song. Each member’s sweet voice and eloquent rapping sitting on tender acoustic sound amplify the septet’s sensibility. SUGA participated in the overall production of the track with RM and j-hope participating in the songwriting.

STRAY KIDS – S-CLASS
After a stunning proclamation of calling themselves “five star Michelin”, Stray Kids are back with another earworm track where they called themselves the odd star, the special star. Jammed with stretched-out hip-hop, trap and pop beats, ‘S-Class’ is yet another classic Stray Kids musical offering. Before you know it, you will be singing the chorus.

NCT’s TAEYONG – SHALALA
NCT 127 as a group is known for their experimental music. It was only natural that a member of that group would also indulge in some experiments when it comes to their solo music. NCT Taeyong’s much awaited solo comeback track ‘Shalala’ is a testament to the artist’s versatility. He employs all tools in his musical arsenal, channeling the best of hip-hop and trap paired with a spunky visual story.

ENHYPEN - BITE ME
In line with the group’s vampire-themed webtoon ‘Dark Moon: Blood Altar’, ENHYPEN’s latest comeback EP is titled ‘Dark Moon’. The title track ‘Bite Me’ became one of the most popular releases of June 2023. Engene or not, each K-pop fan was hooked to this catchy vampire-themed track. The choir-like elements clubbed with funky modern beats bring out an ethereal feel.

P1Harmony – JUMP
P1Harmony’s latest track is all sorts of fun combined in one. There are small gothic music elements, there are some trap beats, then there are also disco-like beats - all these are packed into one party number ‘Jump’.

SHINee – HARD
SHINee is back and how. The group which has had a group comeback after a while is back with their 8th studio album ‘Hard’. The title track is also called ‘Hard’ and it reflects each member’s personal style. Onew’s retro mullet look serves as a nod to their early days. The track also mirrors some of the latest trends in music and presents a groovy tune for the listeners.

iKon’s JAY – PARADISE
Jay is the latest iKon member to go solo. His solo music reflects his style. Jay resorts to groovy RnB beats which accentuate his soft vocals. The whistles in the chorus are simply too good to miss! Will it be too cheeky to call Jay’s solo comeback ‘iconic’?

WEi - OVERDRIVE
WEi just delivered a fun, foot-tapping number with their latest comeback. The track ‘Overdrive’ is an upbeat summery track where the members are prancing around the poolside, heading to beaches in the van, and simply enjoying their moments. The track is peppy and cheerful which will uplift your mood during gloomy rainy days.

Special Mention: EXO ‘Let Me In’, BTS ‘Take Two’, VAV ‘Designer’, NCT Dream ‘Broken Melodies’, I.M ‘Overdrive’, Ateez ‘Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)

Which of these tracks are your favourites?

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