From BTS’ V to NCT – Here’s a roundup of Korean music releases in August 2023

A monthly roundup of some of the popular K-pop comebacks.

By Nandini Iyengar -

August 30, 2023 - 4:12 PM IST

August 2023 saw the arrival of new music with a gushing speed. We peeked into new music that would grace us in the coming months, and we also got to listen to our favourites once again. BTS’ V became a talk of the town after the news of his solo album was released. He has since teased the fans with singles from the album and garnered immense love for his solo artistry. Musical duo AKMU made a much anticipated comeback with ‘Love Lee’. K-pop female groups like cignature, STAYC, SECRET NUMBER, MAMAMOO+ brought a wave of bubbly pop songs to jam to. Korean male groups were no less! MUSTB, NCT 2023, ONEWE also made a place for themselves in the playlists. Let’s take a look at some of the popular K-pop comebacks from the month of August.

From BTS’ V to NCT – Here’s a roundup of Korean music releases in August 2023

1. AKMU - Love Lee
Trust the Lee siblings to present a quirky idea with every new music. AKMU’s ‘Love Lee’ is a funky track speaking about love and all things romance. AKMU took a long time to make a comeback, and once again the musical sibling duo did not disappoint. After a heartbreak track like ‘Happening’, it is a welcome surprise to hear something that brings joy.

2. BTS’ V – LOVE ME AGAIN & RAINY DAYS
Set to drop his solo album Layover in September 2023, V dropped lead single ‘Love Me Again’ in August which is a captivating R&B track that is based on 1970s soul sound with gospel and jazz elements. V’s low pitch voice enhances a dreamy vibe that lingers long throughout. Meanwhile, the second single ‘Rainy Days’ is an alternative pop R&B track. A perfect mix of vintage percussion and modern drum sounds gives off a unique vibe.

3. ONEWE – SALTY BOY
ONEWE’s ‘Salty Boy’ is a track that you might not have expected. The song sports a throwback to the rock and pop millennial music which we used to find in youth dramas. The rap verse is quite a stunning addition to the track. Overall, ‘Salty Boy’ is a track which will strike a nostalgic chord with its listeners.

4. cignature – SMOOTH SAILING
With their youthful looks and child-like vocals, cignature once again makes a saccharine sweet musical offering. ‘Smooth Sailing’ is a refreshing number from start to finish. There is a tone of hope and faith that the love will come true.

5. SECRET NUMBER – STARLIGHT
SECRET NUMBER’s ‘Starlight’ is a fun pop number. It would make one get their feet tapping with its atmospheric score and upbeat lyrics. The song presents a dream-like feature throughout. The amalgamation of rap and vocals comes out beautifully in the track.

6. NCT 2023 – GOLDEN AGE
It had been a while since there was music from NCT 2023. With their latest comeback track ‘Golden Age’, that gap is now filled. The group created a track which is a mix of soft ballad and rapid rap verses. While the rap might seem oddly fit within the ballad verses, the whole picture somehow does come well together.

7. MUSTB - RUSH
MUSTB makes use of their strength and presents a hard-hitting anthem with ‘RUSH’. The song is alliterated with fast-paced beats that echo the main idea sung in the lyrics. The group also visited India as a part of their promotions for their latest comeback.

8. STAYC – BUBBLE
If you’ve been missing the sonic beats of bubblegum pop mixed with the stretched out beats synonymous with the early 2000s remixes, then STAYC’s ‘Bubble’ is the song for you. The song transports the listener to the disco-pop era. The chorus is quite catchy and rapid percussion beats sprinkled throughout the song are quite the delight.

9. MAMAMOO+ - DANGDANG
Solar and Moonbyul are quite a power duo. Their subunit has always presented a refreshing set of tunes with each comeback and this one is no less. Speaking about love and the mushy feelings it brings along, MAMAMOO+ employs a dreamlike melody in the track ‘dangdang’.