10 K-Pop Releases From 2021 That Prove The Sound Of The Year Is Rock
K-Pop as a genre is based on a fusion of tons of different genres, whether it’s rock, R&B, funk, or rap. Last year the trend was retro — or “newtro,” as it’s called in South Korea. This year, the rock influence seems stronger than ever! Here’s a list of 10 songs released this year that have some kind of rock inspiration.
10. JEON SOYEON – “BEAM BEAM”
Even though many K-Pop fans associate Soyeon with rap and hip hop, the idol totally nailed this powerful chorus with punk rock elements in “BEAM BEAM.”
9. Dreamcatcher – “Odd Eye”
Dreamcatcher are not at all new to the rock side of K-Pop; they’ve been delivering amazing rock-based releases since their debut. Their single “Odd Eye” is a nu metal song that combines heavy metal and hip hop.
8. Chungha – “X”
Chungha slowed it down in her heartfelt rock ballad “X” off of her album QUERENCIA. It’s such a departure from her lead single “Bicycle” and shows off her artistic range.
7. YUQI – “Bonnie & Clyde”
Yuqi’s “Bonnie & Clyde” is a unique mix of trance, a style of electronic dance music, and rock. This dance rock song fits Yuqi’s powerful voice so well!
6. PENTAGON – “Do Or Not”
Pentagon released their pop rock masterpiece “Do Or Not” earlier this year! It’s a much brighter display of rock than their alternative rock song “Daisy” from last November, and they pull it off perfectly.
5. Jessi – “What Type Of X”
Though Jessi is most known for her history as a rapper, her single “What Type Of X” features some seriously heavy guitar riffs that move this song into pop rock territory!
4. Joy – “Hello”
Joy made her solo debut with a cover of Park Hye Kyung‘s modern rock song “Hello!” It’s so different from Joy’s R&B and pop releases with Red Velvet, but her bright vocals feel so natural in this track.
3. Rosé – “On The Ground”
BLACKPINK‘s indie queen Rosé truly delivered something special with her solo debut “On The Ground.” The prominent guitar in the verses and the pop-powered chorus embody Rosé as an artist so well.
2. Ten – “Paint Me Naked”
Ten’s solo song “Paint Me Naked” was described by SM Entertainment as a pop rock track with “attractive guitar riffs,” and they were totally right! It’s that perfect pop rock mix of refreshing, familiar, and super energetic.
1. TXT – “0X1=LOVESONG”
TXT have been diving deeper and deeper into their rock influence with their recent releases. “0X1=LOVESONG” is a stand-out pop rock song that perfectly captures their angsty concept.
Bonus: TXT – “LOSER=LOVER”
TXT’s repack teaser for The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT or ESCAPE revealed that the band will be continuing their rock genre adventures, and we couldn’t be more excited! The album will include an emo-core remix of “0X1=LOVESONG” as well as the pop rock title track, “LOSER=LOVER.”
