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  • 25 Of Our Favorite K-Pop Comebacks Of 2025

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    We’ll say it… 2025 was one of the best years for K-Pop yet! The continued global explosion of K-Pop was pushed to new levels thanks to K-Pop Demon Hunters, more idols expanding their world tours, and highly anticipated returns from the likes of G-DRAGON, MONSTA X, BLACKPINK, and GOT7. We could talk all day about our favorite K-Pop comebacks, but here (in alphabetical order) are 25 of the best from 2025.

    aespa – Rich Man

    We really didn’t think it was possible for aespa to have a better year than they did in 2024, but in 2025 they levelled up (… ‘Next Level?’). We loved ‘Dirty Work,’ but the Rich Man mini-album is our fave comeback from aespa this year. Each of the six tracks is a masterpiece that showcases aespa’s ever-evolving skillset, but if we had to pick a favorite other than the title track ‘Rich Man,’ then it would have to be the album closer, ‘To The Girls.’

    ALL(H)OURS – Smoke Point

    If hype energy K-Pop comebacks are your thing, then we hope Smoke Point was on your 2025 playlists! The title track, ‘GIMME GIMME,’ is another level of fiery and intense. It’s giving old school MONSTA X! 2025 was ALL (H)OURS’ second year since debut, and the growth they’ve shown in that time is so impressive. We can’t wait to see what happens for ALL (H)OURS next.

    ATEEZ – GOLDEN HOUR: Part 3

    As if the ‘Lemon Drop’ era hadn’t been enough, ATEEZ did not come to play with ‘In Your Fantasy’ and GOLDEN HOUR: Part 3. The album is a true ‘Masterpiece’ (pun somewhat intended), and we couldn’t have been more thrilled to get solo b-sides from each ATEEZ member! Our faves have got to be ‘Slide to me,’ ‘NO1,’ and ‘Sagittarius.’

    BLACKPINK – ‘JUMP’

    The world is always tuned in every time there’s a BLACKPINK comeback! In 2025, the quartet reunited for a world tour and the single, ‘JUMP.’ Naturally, the track is as vivacious and high-energy as anyone would expect from a BLACKPINK release. This time, though, as well as YG’s in-house team, ‘JUMP’ was co-written and co-produced by music juggernaut Diplo. Here’s to more BLACKPINK music in 2026…?

    BOYNEXTDOOR – The Action

    Between No Genre and The Action, it’s been a career-best year for BOYNEXTDOOR. Again and again, the group proves that they’re at the forefront of K-Pop and will continue to pioneer the 5th Generation. The members continue to get more and more hands-on, too, with Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak all contributing to the songwriting of the tracks, which focus on BOYNEXTDOOR’s group aspirations, with a sprinkle of their usual tongue-in-cheek spirit.

    ENHYPEN – DESIRE: UNLEASH

    As ever, in 2025, ENHYPEN took the time out of their hectic world tour schedules to release one of our favorite K-Pop comebacks. DESIRE: UNLEASH was first announced during ENHYPEN’s Coachella set, and that performance was probably a 2025 highlight, too. DESIRE: UNLEASH was stacked with hits, but our favorites have to be ‘Outside’ and ‘Helium!’

    EVNNE – LOVE ANECDOTE(S)

    The Honey POP stans EVNNE big time, and the release of their 5th mini-album, LOVE ANECDOTE(S), was no different! The title track, ‘How Can I Do,’ feels like several songs in one, but in the best way possible. From the R&B moments to the intense chorus, there’s an edge of 3rd Gen sensibilities in this song. The highlight, though, is the bass and drums breakdown underneath the fierce rap verses.

    GOT7 – WINTER HEPTAGON

    We’ll be real, we almost forgot that WINTER HEPTAGON was a 2025 release because it came out so early in the year! Nonetheless, we are always thrilled to have more GOT7 music in our lives. This album, which we had truly been dreaming of, brought all of our wishes to life. As always, GOT7 were hands-on in the creative process, with every member contributing to the writing and production. The lead single, ‘PYTHON,’ was exactly the statement GOT7 needed to make. “I know I’m an icon.” Yes, yes, you are.

    G-DRAGON – Übermensch

    The king of K-Pop finally returned in 2025! With an absolutely top-tier album, Übermensch, G-DRAGON firmly restated that he is not going anywhere, even if he keeps us waiting in between releases! From ‘POWER’ dropping at the end of 2024 to ‘TOO BAD’ to all the bsides, Übermensch is a masterpiece. And if you don’t wanna take our word for it, check out the cameos in the ‘TOO BAD’ MV to see who else is a fan of G-DRAGON, too.

    Hearts2Hearts – FOCUS

    Hearts2Hearts made the list of our favorite K-Pop debuts in 2025, but their first mini-album, FOCUS, was easily one of our fave comebacks, too! There’s something about the title track that makes it one of the most intriguing of the year, and it’s the perfect choice for Hearts2Hearts’ end-of-year stages as they entice more fans. “I cannot focus on anything but you,” is how Hearts2Hearts are making S2U feel!

    ILLIT – ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’

    ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ might be one of the most recent K-Pop comebacks from 2025, but it’s still one of the best! ILLIT is a group that knows their brand perfectly, and they know how to both embrace and expand it, too. ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ is (sorry) super cute, whilst still showing a new side to the girls. We cannot wait to see how ILLIT continue to grow as we go into their third year as a group!

    IVE – IVE EMPATHY

    Doesn’t it feel like IVE has a career-best year, every year? Well, 2025 was no exception! Way back in February, the girls released IVE EMPATHY, which was immediately one of our fave IVE comebacks yet. Thanks to mega-hits ‘ATTITUDE’ and ‘REBEL HEART,’ this album quickly set the stage for IVE to exceed expectations once again.

    JENNIE – Ruby

    “Who wanna rock with JENNIE?” Umm… us please! Ruby was technically JENNIE’s debut solo studio album, but we’re including it as a comeback as she’d had official solo releases before. Having said that, Ruby definitely felt like a brand new start for JENNIE. Having worked with the likes of Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Diplo, and so many more, JENNIE gifted us with a cohesive, theatrical body of work. We waited for this album for so long, and it was so worth the wait!

    j-hope – ‘MONA LISA’

    Not satisfied with wrapping up his solo world tour, j-hope gifted us with a trio of iconic singles. It was so hard to pick just one of them for our top K-Pop comebacks list, but we’ve gone with ‘MONA LISA.‘ This track has been on repeat for us all year, and we reckon it’ll still be that way throughout 2026, too. From the slick choreography to the fun message, we love every part of this song.

    KATSEYE – BEAUTIFUL CHAOS

    KATSEYE spent 2025 “making beats,” and we couldn’t be more grateful to them for it. The girlies had their first comeback this year, the BEAUTIFUL CHAOS EP, led by ‘Gnarly’ and ‘Gabriela.’ Sometimes divisive but always talked about, everything these girls touch seems to turn to gold. Here’s to hoping that KATSEYE never go ‘M.I.A!’

    LE SSERAFIM – ‘SPAGHETTI (feat. j-hope of BTS)’

    Not only was ‘SPAGHETTI‘ one of our favorite K-Pop comebacks of 2025, but it’s maybe our favorite collaboration of the year, too! Every aspect of this release was iconic, from the styling to the TikTok trends to the packaging of the physical albums! The title track from this single album is fiery, mischievous, and tongue-in-cheek, which is basically all we could have wished for from the fimmies.

    MEOVV – ‘BURNING UP’

    MEOVV’s digital single ‘BURNING UP’ saw the girls take a different sonic direction than their previous releases, but this sounds works just as well for them! Still equally fierce, but with a brighter pop edge, ‘BURNING UP,’ as well as just being super fun, showcases how much MEOVV has grown in such a short amount of time.

    MONSTA X – THE X

    Was this the most highly anticipated comeback on this list? Maybe! MONBEBE had to suffer for literally years waiting for a group comeback, thanks to military enlistments, but we finally got it! The members didn’t come to mess around when they finally reunited either; 2025 has been stacked for them. As well as THE X, they celebrated their 10th anniversary, announced a 2026 world tour, and dropped the single ‘Baby Blue.’ We wanna see MONSTA X ‘N the Front’ row next year!

    P1HARMONY – DUH!

    Not only was DUH! one of our fave K-Pop comebacks in 2025, it also gave us one of the very best b-sides we’ve heard in a long time: ‘Pretty Boy.’ We’re not the only ones who think that, either! ‘Pretty Boy’ has actually overtaken the title track’s streams on Spotify! ‘DUH!,’ though, is totally worth celebrating too. Our favorite thing about the title track is its music video. Filled with references to their discography, lore details, and some classic P1H looks, it’s the perfect MV for fans both old and new.

    Stray Kids – KARMA

    There’s no way we couldn’t include Stray Kids on this list when both of the albums they released this year topped the Billboard 200, is there? Our fave 2025 comeback from the megastars has to be KARMA. Even if the music wasn’t incredible (which it is), the very fact it celebrates Stray Kids’ work ethic and all of their success (so far!) would be enough to earn KARMA a place in our hearts, and on this list.

    TOMORROW X TOGETHER – The Star Chapter: TOGETHER

    We’ll be honest, ‘Love Language,’ nearly made the list as a top K-Pop comeback in 2025, but then we thought: why have one TXT song, when you could have eight? The Star Chapter: TOGETHER was a special era for many reasons, not least because it wrapped up all of TXT’s lore and storyline for the past seven years! It also gifted us solo tracks from each member for the first time, and from the cuteness of ‘Sunday Driver’ to the moodiness of ‘Ghost Girl’ to the sensuality of ‘Dance With You,’ each and every one of these b-sides is a dream come true!

    TWICE – THIS IS FOR

    Like for TXT, we were torn for this pick. We nearly chose TEN: The Story Goes On as our fave TWICE comeback in 2025 because we’re just so thrilled about their tenth anniversary, but ultimately we couldn’t resist THIS IS FOR. The title track was one of the most underrated bops this year, and we will never, ever, stop watching clips of ‘Right Hand Girl’ from the World Tour. Plus, we got brand new unit songs! What’s not to love?

    XLOV – I One

    2025 was the year that we, and the world, fell totally in love with XLOV. Imma Be was one of our favorite debuts this year, and UXLXVE was a top album, so it’s only natural that I One would be one of our fave comebacks! Led by ‘1&Only,’ this era was what truly launched XLOV to the forefront of K-Pop. Even more than that, ‘1&Only’ and ‘BIZNESS’ had some of the best choreography of the year, and we cannot recommend the performance videos enough.

    ZEROBASEONE – NEVER SAY NEVER

    Well, first of all, we have to say that we’re very sorry to ‘BLUE,’ but how could we resist the pull of ‘ICONIK?’ ZB1 told us to “Let the rhythm flow through [y]our body,” after all! In another year filled with hits from this group, we were thrilled about this comeback for many reasons, not least because it was their first full-length album! With the future of ZEROBASEONE still a mystery, we’re glad that we, and ZEROSE, got to enjoy a full body of work from ZB1.

    &TEAM – Back To Life

    One of our favorite global groups finally had their official Korean debut! &TEAM released Back To Life, including the searing rock-inspired title track that earned &TEAM their first Korean music show win. However, the mini-album’s b-sides are what make this comeback so special. We’ll never stop watching performances of ‘Lunatic’ and ‘Mismatch.’

    So there you have it, all of our top 2025 K-Pop comebacks, or at least 25 of them! Which is your favorite comeback? Did your ults make the list? Let us know! You can find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, or by visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.

    Want more K-Pop content? We got you!

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    Anna Marie

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  • 5 Aespa Songs You Need On Your Halloween Playlist

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    We adore Aespa at THP! Always willing to experiment with new sounds, this iconic girl group has taken the K-pop world by storm. Whether they’re crafting futuristic soundscapes or singing gentle melodies, Aespa have never been afraid to get spooky. Here are five standout tracks that you absolutely need on your Halloween playlist!

    ‘Salty & Sweet’

    This catchy track from their EP My World really is haunting! From the metallic, droning sounds of the production to creepy lyrics about poison apples and potions, this track has a dark undertone. It’s Aespa at their best, still futuristic and experimental, but putting a twist on the girl crush vibe. This track is about them taking control, with potentially deadly consequences! The visualiser for this track really feels apt, but watch out, arachnophobes, this one might get a bit too scary!

    ‘Supernova’

    This hyperpop hit is a standout from their first studio album Armageddon. Seriously, what’s scarier than the end of the world? Aespa depict themselves as supernatural beings on this track, capable of immense power. With the highly danceable chorus and beautiful harmonies, it’s easy to forget that Aespa are quite literally calling for cosmic annihilation. The video for this track is hilariously off-the-wall, featuring aliens, superpowers, and a mesmerising dance break. Only these girls could pull off such a strange concept!

    ‘Black Mamba‘

    A venomous debut, this is an action-packed intro to the iconic girl group! The track focuses on a battle with the elusive enemy, ‘Black Mamba.’ With its strong bass and synth sounds, the track is equally catchy and creepy. An essential addition to any Halloween playlist, ‘Black Mamba’ is all about facing a luring sense of evil! The music video adds to this unsettling vibe, with the threat still looming at the end of the sequence.

    ‘I’m Unhappy’

    Another track from My World, ‘I’m Unhappy,’ fits the Halloween vibe perfectly! With its haunting synths and melancholic lyrics, this song is a stark contrast to the typical upbeat hits of the summer. Instead, this track definitely gives fall vibes, as it’s moodier and slower than the typical Aespa track. The isolating music video is certainly a must-watch, with a creepy hallway scene that sets the scene. Throughout the video, the members are transported into a school setting, reflecting on the harsh expectations placed upon them.

    ‘Trick or Trick‘

    Perhaps their most Halloween-coded song, ‘Trick or Trick,’ is a playful track from their hit album Drama. It’s a clever song about playing games with men and tricking them without offering any treats. With a heavy bass and humming synths, the track is both troubling and addictive. Aespa manages to combine a sense of unease with a sense of playfulness. Unfortunately, they never released a video for this track, but we can imagine it’d be truly terrifying!

    ✨ What are your favourite Aespa tracks? Which other tracks would you add to your halloween playlist? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!

    Check out more sweet music recs! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AESPA:
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    Thomas Stanier

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  • K-Pop Hotspot: September 2025 Comebacks & Debuts Roundup

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    Welcome back to one of THP’s most-loved monthly columns: the K-Pop Hotspot! September’s comebacks and debuts did not come to play, and neither did we!

    Have you been listening to all our fave K-Pop comebacks this month? Check out full comeback reviews for MONSTA X, ZEROBASEONE, DAY6, and P1Harmony! You can also keep up with K-Pop tours like LE SSERAFIM’s setlist, KAI’s recent Chicago show, and KEY’s upcoming KEYLAND: Uncanny Valley tour!

    But enough chit-chatting for now! We’ve got a hefty September K-Pop hotspot, so let’s get into all the comebacks and debuts you may have missed.

    NCT WISH

    We’re holding on to the last bit of summer with this September hotspot, and NCT WISH are on the same wavelength! Their new mini-album, COLOR, is a breath of fresh air. The title track ‘COLOR’ is bright and fun, with a chorus that has been stuck in our heads all month! We even got music videos for ‘Surf’ and ‘Baby Blue!’ Don’t sleep on the rest of their b-sides like ‘Videohood’ and ‘WICHU.’  

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NCT WISH:
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    TREASURE

    TREASURE brought us to ‘PARADISE’ with their September K-Pop comeback! Who says summer is over? We’ll be back to those fun days with this funky title track—a star for any party. We fell immediately for this song, and how could we not? It’s so fun and makes us feel like we’ve traveled to a special, magical place. It was the perfect start to the month, and a beautiful way to say goodbye to the hot season while still keeping it alive in our hearts through music. Who else is grooving to the sounds of TREASURE’s new music?

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TREASURE:
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    HYOLYN

    Our K-Pop queen is back to serve and slay! We’re living for HYOLYN’s unapologetic new single, ‘SHOTTY.’ She sings about moving on from a breakup, knowing her ex will grow to regret losing her. The choreography has our jaws on the floor, and we expected nothing less from our fave K-Pop baddie. HYOLYN gave us everything we needed with just one song, and we hope she’ll bless us with more soon!  

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HYOLYN:
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    AESPA

    In the words of the legendary Cher, “I am a rich man.” aespa embodies this self-assured and confident energy in their sixth mini-album, Rich Man. The title track, ‘Rich Man,’ is an explosive track with a cinematic music video masterpiece. aespa inspires us to be the rich man in our lives, beyond having money to sustain our lifestyles. We didn’t skip through any of their b-sides, and our favorites are ‘Angel #48’ and ‘To The Girls.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AESPA:
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    NCT HAECHAN

    We never thought we’d see the day NCT DREAM’s Haechan would release his first-ever solo album! TASTE fully exceeded our expectations, especially the title track ‘CRZY.’ His vocals and rap skills immediately hooked us, and we stayed for the choreography. Haechan proves his all-rounder talents with this album. We especially love the b-sides ‘ADRENALINE’ and ‘WYN?’ with HAON!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NCT DREAM:
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    CIX

    Next on our September K-Pop hotspot is CIX’s new EP, GO Chapter 1: GO Together! They’re entering a new era, and we’re here for it. Whoever edited the ’WONDER YOU’ music video knew exactly what they were doing with the thumbnail. It definitely worked on us, though! The title track is groovy and too catchy to skip. Speaking of skips, this mini-album doesn’t have any! Each b-side is worthy of being the title track, and we don’t say that lightly.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CIX:
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    CHAEYOUNG

    TWICE Chaeyoung’s solo debut is finally here! LIL FANTASY vol. 1 is easily one of our favorite September K-Pop releases. ‘SHOOT (Firecracker)’ is a dreamy title track with such a creative concept and music video. The music video for ‘AVOCADO’ (feat. Gliiico) is so kooky yet so Chaeyoung. She knows her strengths, and we’re in love with the indie and R&B sound of the album. Every song fits her vibe, and we especially love ‘BAND AID’ and ‘BF.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHAEYOUNG:
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    JUNHEE

    After getting a taste of JUNHEE‘s solo music with the pre-release of ‘Supernova,’ we’ve been so eager to hear more. And now we’re hooked on the whole The First Day & Night mini-album. Ever felt spoiled by a music release, because this is how we feel. Not only did the album give us double title tracks in ‘Umbrella (10:00)’ and ‘Too Bad (15:00),’ but it also fed our CHOICE hearts. We yelled after seeing the B-side ‘Tattoo (12:30)’ featuring all of the A.C.E members, instantly knowing it would be one of our favorites on the album. We also find it interesting and quite a fun choice to match each song with a time of day, emphasizing the title of the release, The First Day & Night. Now we have a JUNHEE song to listen to throughout the day, yes, even at 2 AM.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUNHEE:
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    TAEMIN

    Are we ever ok when TAEMIN releases new music? The answer is a definite no. ‘Veil’ has us in its clutches, and it’s not letting us go any time soon (not like we’re even trying to escape, anyways). The song draws us with its dark atmosphere, creating an alluring charm. TAEMIN’s artistry always leaves us in awe, with jaws dropped and words lost. This special digital single captured our hearts with all three of its tracks, which also include the absolutely enchanting ‘FINALE,’ and the equally captivating Japanese version of ‘Veil.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAEMIN:
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    PLAVE

    PLAVE blessed us with the Korean version of ‘Hide and Seek,’ and we couldn’t be happier! This version feels like the bittersweet feelings that come at the end of summer. We’re sad to see it go, but we’re hopeful of the promise that it will return. ‘Hide and Seek’ is such a beautiful and uplifting song about finally finding the one and announcing it to the whole world.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PLAVE:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    IDID

    New boy group alert! IDID finally dropped their official debut, and we’re too busy dancing to their title piece, ‘CHAN-RAN.’ It gives off a refreshing feel and spreads so much positivity that we can’t help but love this for the boys’ entry into the K-Pop music scene. It matches them extremely well, and honestly, we can never have too many songs with a message of hope. We highly recommend checking out their B-sides as well. We have a feeling you’d like the variety they prepared for this special start of their idol careers.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IDID:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    BADVILLAIN

    September is full of new K-Pop singles! BADVILLAIN came back with ‘THRILLER,’ a self-empowerment anthem that’ll get you hyped! If you ever need some morning motivation, this is the song you need. These girls eat up every concept they get, and we need to see them on our playlists more often!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BADVILLAIN:
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    YUQI

    YUQI is back with a new solo single album, Motivation! Her title track, ‘M.O.,’ is giving us old school hip-hop vibes. The instrumental is absolutely a banger, and YUQI’s voice and rap pair with it so well. No one’s doing it like her! On the flip side, she also blessed us with Korean and Chinese versions of ‘Gone,’ a pop-rock track we can blast in the car with all the windows down!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YUQI:
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    LUN8

    Is anyone else a fan of the dark and mysterious vibes? LUN8‘s ‘Lost’ gave us exactly that through this latest focus track and its music video. And after listening once, we have to say we are ABSOLUTELY obsessed! The boys did it again with a new concept that slayed and showed a more mature side to them, which took our hearts with its dreamy sound. The boys also made sure to include only bangers in the single album, so you’d better be all over ‘Bad Girl’ and ‘Nauty’ already! LUN8 outdid themselves, making this one of our top releases from them so far.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LUN8:
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    EXO SUHO

    EXO’s solo comebacks this year are healing all of us. Next is SUHO with his fourth EP, Who Are You. The title track is a rock masterpiece about moving on from an ex after a breakup. He also gave us the English version, which we’re hoping is a hint at a future solo tour. We absolutely adore SUHO’s classic sound, and his discography has only been getting better and better. Our favorite b-sides are ‘Birthday’ and ‘Fadeout.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUHO:
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    KICKFLIP

    KickFlip has just dropped their third mini-album, My First Flip! These boys are booked and busy this year. We’ve been obsessed with the title track, ‘My First Love Song.’ It carries a freeing energy that comes with being a teenager in love. We really hope to see KickFlip perform this song live one day. Their b-sides deserve all the love, and we recommend listening to them all!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KICKFLIP:
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    THE KINGDOM

    Did you also scream a little (or a lot) after hearing the news of The KingDom‘s special album? And then did the realization that we’re going back to their iconic sound and roots make you lose your minds as well? Yes, we can fully relate! With ‘Last Flower’ first making an appearance a couple of years back, we’re absolutely rejoicing that the song finally got its long-awaited official release. We’ll be playing this track, along with the rest of the B-sides on the album, and crying a little from how happy we are over them.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KINGDOM:
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    YERIN

    Everyone, wake up! Stop sleeping on Yerin because she has released her first digital single, Awake, and we couldn’t be more obsessed! It’s a pop-rock track that motivates us to chase our dreams. ‘Awake’ is the type of freeing song we’d play running through a field of flowers, slowing down and stopping for no one! Yerin brings out this side of us with every new release.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YERIN:
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    WOODZ

    MOODZ, we’re so back! Our favorite rockstar is finally here and releasing his absolutely captivating music again, and we couldn’t be happier. WOODZ has us locking onto his latest two-piece release, and if you’re not joining us, you’re already missing out on so much. ‘I’ll Never Love Again’ hits so hard; it reminds us why we love everything WOODZ drops our way. From the deep meaning to the calmer yet gradually building verses of the song, to how it explodes during the chorus. We’re absolutely lost in the music!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WOODZ:
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    EXO CHEN

    We are living for the rock vibes in so many EXO members’ solo comebacks! Chen has just released his fifth EP, Arcadia, and we find it to be refreshing yet uniquely him. The title track, ‘Arcadia,’ is a breakup anthem for when you finally feel ready to move on from your ex. While Chen opted for a simpler music video setup, we can feel his rocker energy straight from the screen. His talent never ceases to amaze us, and we can’t get enough of his B-side tracks! Trust us when we say you won’t want to skip through any of them.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHEN:
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    SEVENTEEN CxM

    The latest unit by SEVENTEEN is here! S.COUPS and MINGYU brought us quite the title track.  ‘5, 4, 3 (Pretty woman) (feat. Lay Bankz)’ inserts the instantly recognizable hit ‘Oh, Pretty Woman,’ infusing it into the duo’s song and sound, bringing forth a different yet still funky appeal while also making it their own. The song is already ruling our playlists. But that’s not all we love from CxM (SEVENTEEN). We’ve been excited for this unit, and you can easily tell why through their sound. We’re having a ‘Fiesta’ with the entirety of the HYPE VIBES album, and yes, we’re having trouble picking a fave track. They’re all just THAT good.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SEVENTEEN:
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    POW

    POW continue to explore their musical colors, and their new single, ‘Wall Flowers,’ shows us a different side of the boys yet again. The song has a smooth and captivating sound that keeps our attention glued. We love when idols experiment and test out new styles and sounds, and we’re already giving ‘Wall Flowers’ much love. We can’t wait to see what’s next on their release plan.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POW:
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    IZNA

    izna brought out their powerful presence with ‘Mamma Mia’ and gave us a confidence-boosting end of September. Not Just Pretty is a comeback we encourage everyone to take a listen to. And if you loved their single ‘SIGN,’ which dropped earlier this year, then you’d be happy to hear that this album comes with its remix version! A new way to enjoy one of our favorite releases from the girls. And because we love giving suggestions, make sure you check out the B-side ‘Racecar.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IZNA:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    That’s all for our newest K-Pop hotspot! What was your favorite September K-Pop comeback and debut? Which comebacks are you most looking forward to in October? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @TheHoneyPOP!

    Need more K-POP content? Don’t worry; we got you!

    Authors: Julie Dam, Marty.

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    Julie Dam

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  • Styling Each Song On aespa’s Whiplash Mini-Album

    Styling Each Song On aespa’s Whiplash Mini-Album

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    After taking over our playlists with their debut full-length album, Armageddon, earlier this year, aespa are back with their latest EP! Whiplash is a masterclass in creating the perfect mini-album, drawing from aespa’s greatest strengths and taking them a step further to remind us all why they’re already titans of the K-Pop industry. It brings their signature “aespacore” sound and aesthetic into a new, polished dimension full of possibility and intrigue. The girls know their power and are sharp as whips in executing every detail! 

    Let’s take a look at the songs on the Whiplash mini-album and style outfits inspired by each track! You can interpret it as being outfits we’d choose for aespa performances or imagining each song as a person (or ae) with its own unique fashion sense. 

    Image Source: SM Entertainment

    ‘Whiplash’

    It’s safe to say that aespa have officially locked in their signature sound, and we’re so here for it! ‘Whiplash’ is a bold, confident track with an addictive bassline and lines like Giselle’s “day one, know I been bad” that we know will go viral. It feels like a crossover between ‘Supernova’ and ‘Savage,’ notably two of their most beloved title tracks, with some fun dance elements that bring it to a new corner of the aespa multiverse. aespa know their power and impact, and the only way is up as they stay true to themselves and their unique concept!

    The styling for the ‘Whiplash’ music video and teasers is already pretty perfect, so we’d go in a similar direction with cool silhouettes and a mainly black and silver color palette. Inspired by its similarities to ‘Supernova’ and the electrifying house influence, we would add some colorful, metallic accessories for a little extra fun. 

    “Wherever I am can’t stop me, I’m the coldest
    I’m the only game changer bringing the new era…”

    ‘Kill It’

    ‘Kill It’ is right alongside ‘Illusion’ as one of the most aespacore songs to ever aespacore, and we already know it’s gonna absolutely dominate our Spotify Wrapped stats. If ‘Whiplash’ is ‘Supernova,’ then ‘Kill It’ is the assured, effortlessly confident ‘Armageddon,’ complementing its powerful theme while standing in a league of its own as a sci-fi-ready, edgy pop track that fills listeners with adrenaline. Meanwhile, Winter’s gorgeous airy vocals in the first verse highlight aespa’s versatility and duality, never confining themselves to the box people want to pack them into. It’s the aespa song that MYs everywhere have been craving! 

    We highkey wish ‘Kill It’ could be a double title track with ‘Whiplash,’ but fingers crossed that they’ll still promote it! We could definitely see it having some kind of action-filled music video that sees aespa on a high-stakes mission like in ‘Girls,’ so our styling would definitely have action movie vibes. Think moto jackets, sleek pleather, and fingerless gloves, and maybe even some battle-ready accessories that tie into their Rocket Puncher, Armamenter, Xenoglossy, and Hacker powers. 

    “Break the wall, ruin all the boundaries that confine me
    I’ll show you a wider world, my area will grow…” 

    ‘Flights, Not Feelings’

    ‘Flights, Not Feelings’ is even more stunning than we could have expected! It’s a dreamy, yet trippy, song that feels like waking up from an in-flight nap only to realize your plane has finally arrived in paradise. Between the distorted harp sample and hazy drums, we feel a SZA influence that really lets Ningning’s soulful vocals shine and shows us a new side of aespa that will definitely soundtrack our future travels. There’s truly nothing like R&B aespa, between this ethereal song and the fan-favorite ‘Lucid Dream.’ 

    Throughout the song, aespa choose to catch flights rather than catching feelings for someone who might hurt them, choosing their personal growth and discovery instead of making room for heartbreak. Given the vacation vibes, we’d style this song with a cute halter top and wrap skirt in a rich orange color, like an eye-catching sunset you’d see on the beach. Add some floral or leaf patterns, pretty gold sandals, and a hibiscus flower hairpin for the perfect vacay fit!

    “I want to be honest with my heart
    I wanna get out, I wanna try, I wanna escape…” 

    ‘Pink Hoodie’

    If you loved Karina and Winter in GOT The Beat, there’s a good chance that the buzzy ‘Pink Hoodie’ will be your favorite song on Whiplash. Maybe it’s about the aes finally getting new clothes? We’re joking… kind of. aespa make a fun statement on being confident in your own skin as they toss aside the idea that glamorous clothes are what make you stand out. They shrug off little black dresses and more conventionally “pretty” clothes in favor of their favorite hoodie, not caring what others might think of them in the process.

    Of course, the outfit for this song would have to center around a pink hoodie for obvious reasons. We’d choose an oversized one for maximum comfort, and pair it with baggy jeans inspired by the lyrics! You could even dress it up a bit by clipping chains to the jeans, adding rhinestones to the hoodie, and layering necklaces. 

    “Full of confidence, maybe unbalanced in the eyes of others
    Going aye, aye, aye, aye, don’t worry…”

    ‘Flowers’

    ‘Flowers’ is definitely a standout track on Whiplash, and in aespa’s discography as a whole, from the moment that distorted string sample starts in the intro. Karina’s voice sounds like honey that draws us in even more, and the member’s harmonies absolutely steal our hearts throughout the song. Words can’t describe how ethereal this song is! It compares love to a garden as the girls beckon, “show me your flowers.” 

    It feels like a siren song from an evil garden fairy, so we’d go with a beautifully sinister aesthetic for this look. We’re envisioning a floor-length gown with layers of black tulle and maybe even some pale green. There would be deep purple flowers all over the dress, while twisting vines create some sort of sleeves. Eerily powerful while still feeling pretty and feminine! Bonus detail: some dark lipstick and dramatic eyeliner, paired with contrasting white eyeshadow. Can you tell we’re obsessed with this song and can’t stop thinking about it?

    “​​You’re my dahlia, tulips, and daisies
    A slowly-spreading fragrance
    Violet sunset, it seems like it doesn’t exist in this world…”

    ‘Just Another Girl’

    We like to think that ‘Just Another Girl’ is another song by the girl band version of aespa that created ‘Live My Life!’ It’s a post-breakup anthem where the girls admit they’re not doing well, but know their worth and won’t change their view of themselves based on what their ex thinks. We all need a reminder not to let others’ opinions affect our view of ourselves sometimes! This track feels like it’d fit perfectly on a nostalgic 2000s playlist next to Avril Lavigne on some cool indie girl’s old iPod. 

    Speaking of nostalgia, this outfit would totally be a throwback moment to the golden days of alt fashion! We’d start with one of those baseball-style shirts with a white torso and black sleeves, then add a dark plaid skirt and matching necktie. Fishnet tights, a studded belt, and chunky black boots would finish it off perfectly. A little chaotic, but didn’t we all dream of dressing like that during our emo phases?

    “​​In the end, you’ll be a loser and regret it
    Make me crazy, just another girl?
    Stop, I’ll warn you, go away…”

    Which of these looks would you ​​wear? Which track on Whiplash is your favorite, if you can pick one yet? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

    Check out more sweet aespa content! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AESPA:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

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    Madison Murray

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  • How aespa’s ‘Hot Mess’ Connects To The Rest Of Their Discography

    How aespa’s ‘Hot Mess’ Connects To The Rest Of Their Discography

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    It’s been almost four years since aespa (and their aes) started lighting up our lives, yet they’re still finding innovative new ways to show us new sides of their art while also building on the worlds they’ve already created. Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning’s debut Japanese single, ‘Hot Mess,’ is such a fun addition to their catalog that includes throwbacks to many of their past songs! Whether you’re a new MY or a longtime fan and just want to make sure you’ve caught everything, here’s our breakdown of the references you can keep an ear (and eye) out for.

    “A hot mess…”

    From pretty much the beginning of aespa, MYs have had a joke that Giselle is the resident Hot Girl of K-Pop because of her talent and the fact that her high school yearbook quote was Paris Hilton’s “that’s hot” catchphrase. Since then, it’s made its way into their music in the form of Giselle’s ‘2HOT4U’ solo, as well as the OT4 songs ‘Next Level,’ ‘Spicy,’ and ‘Supernova.’ 

    Giselle is the only Japanese member of aespa, so it’s cute that aespa made the name of their Japanese debut tie into one of her inside jokes!

    The first of a few different references to aespa’s Drama mini-album and era! The girls remind us not to blink and miss something important after warning someone not to let their guard down on ‘Don’t Blink.’ 

    “If you likе it, I can take you to MY WORLD…”

    Face it, everyone loved it when aespa took us to their world on the MY WORLD mini-album last year! With songs like ‘Spicy’ and ‘Thirsty,’ it really was one of the most iconic eras of the girls’ career so far. Another iconic aespa song notably references MY WORLD, but we’ll get to that shortly…

    “Hidden ænergy, dream designer…”

    From the first time we heard ‘ænergy’ on aespa’s 2021 Savage mini-album, we know it’d go down in history as one of the best opening tracks in K-Pop history! It set the scene for a powerful EP that let aespa show off their fierce personalities, and the title describes their strengths and charms. Here, they’re flaunting how those strengths and charms have let them design the life of their dreams.  

    “Drama has begun, this is not fiction…”

    We think the strongest ties ‘Hot Mess’ has with any past aespa song are with ‘Drama!’ Not only is there this name-drop, but both songs reference MY WORLD and there are a whole lot of connections in the ‘Hot Mess’ music video. Let’s break them down!

    During the first chorus of the ‘Hot Mess’ video, one shot shows Winter through a car backup camera that says, “Check surroundings for your safety.” It kind of reminded us of the ominous message we got in the beginning of the ‘Drama’ music video: “Please follow [these] rules while watching the Drama. Look back immediately when you feel a presence in the dark. If your reflection in the mirror tries to shake your hand, do not let it.” 

    Winter winds up freefalling off a building during the bridge of ‘Hot Mess,’ much like she does in the ‘Drama’ music video after Ningning seems to drop her. Later in the ‘Drama’ video, Winter refuses to let Karina fall the same way, and keeps a tight grip on her wrist.

    Finally, the last chorus of ‘Hot Mess’ shows aespa as giants in a modern city. Yup, you know where we’re heading with this: it almost definitely connects to the Giant teasers from the Drama era! We think this is the most clear confirmation that ‘Hot Mess’ and ‘Drama’ belong in the same universe.

    The animated characters in the ‘Hot Mess’ music video also reminded us of the ones we see in the ‘Savage’ video, and ‘Drama’ mentions ‘Savage’ in its chorus! Could this be another connection? Maybe each of these three songs take place in the same section of aespa’s multiverse, and these animated characters are their versions of aes…

    Which track on aespa’s Hot Mess single album is your favorite? Did you notice all of these references on your own? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! 

    Check out more sweet aespa content! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AESPA:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

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    Madison Murray

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