Let’s ‘Dive’ Into ASTRO Yoon Sanha’s Solo Debut

It seemed like it was only a matter of time before we got to see ASTRO‘s Yoon Sanha debut as a soloist. And our days of waiting are finally behind us! Sanha just debuted as a soloist with ‘Dive’ and his first mini-album DUSK, giving us everything we expected, everything we wanted, and so much more. DUSK is personal, vulnerable, intense, and a perfect encapsulation of how far Sanha’s talent can go as an artist, singer, and idol.

‘Dive’

‘Dive’ feels different and refreshing right from the beginning. It starts all stripped down with only a guitar and Sanha‘s distinctive voice, and it’s enough to establish a vibe and so many different emotions. ‘Dive’ has one of the most satisfactory builds up: the chorus is absolute pop excellence with the way it explodes and explores the push and pull of emotions between love and hate. ‘Dive’ truly has so many layers to it and ends up hitting in the perfect way. All this gloomy, angsty energy is perfectly translated into the music video as we see Sanha walk down the streets of London, seemingly lost and directionless. The aesthetic really made ‘Dive’ go even harder. It’s dark, angsty, infectious, and a song we can’t see ourselves getting tired of any time soon.

DUSK

While ‘Dive’ is a definite highlight of this release, Sanha truly put all of him in DUSK. And we simply cannot talk about this amazing title track without talking about its b-sides. DUSK opens with probably the most important song in the album. Opening the album with a ballad might feel strange, but this had to be the opening song. ‘Yeowoobyul’ is just a guitar, some drums, Sanha‘s soft voice, and some of the most gorgeous and heartfelt lyrics he wrote for his members, specifically Moonbin. It sets Sanha’s mini-album as something personal, vulnerable, and extremely real to him. This vulnerability is also shown through other b-sides, like ‘Losing My Mind,’ a beautiful piano ballad that showcases even more of the power and emotion in Sanha’s voice.

More B-Sides

‘BITTERSWEET MISTAKE’ switches the tone of DUSK with its R&B vibe, but it remains equally vulnerable through a more mysterious and dark sound. It builds right into ‘Dive’ and the track ‘BLEEDING’ keeps that intensity and energy. If you love some of the most iconic songs from Moonbin and Sanha‘s sub-unit like ‘WHO,’ then ‘BLEEDING’ will be the one for you. It’s dark, enticing, and addictive – truly a highlight in DUSK. Meanwhile, the closing track, ‘Rain Down On Me,’ brings something entirely new for the album. The vibey, slowed-down, sexy R&B style is not something we’ve seen Sanha do before, but it’s excellent proof that he’s always open to new things and can fit everything.

DUSK shows us not only what we already knew Sanha was all about, but it’s also about him exploring new things and putting himself out there. And it paid off because DUSK is already an unforgettable mini-album and solo debut.

Was Sanha’s solo debut what you expected? What’s your favorite song in DUSK? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.

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