Home Music Best New Music By ATEEZ, Jimin, NewJeans, CHUU, Afgan, Hyukoh And More

Best New Music By ATEEZ, Jimin, NewJeans, CHUU, Afgan, Hyukoh And More

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Best New Music By ATEEZ, Jimin, NewJeans, CHUU, Afgan, Hyukoh And More


Tired of hearing about “Brat Girl Summer”? Perhaps you’re one of those folks who think the song of the summer is actually dead. Or maybe you don’t care about this pop music debate at all and just want to find some cool new tunes to jam to on your next road trip or vacation.

Regardless, if you’re looking to expand your musical horizons and discover some fresh music by both indie artists and pop superstars, here’s a list of 12 new songs by Asian artists that you’ll definitely want to add to your summer playlist. And who knows? Maybe one of them will become your song of the summer.

Afgan – “Escape” Featuring Jessi

One of Indonesia’s hottest artists, Afgan has collaborated with the likes of Robin Thicke, Jackson Wang and B.I. Now he’s teamed up with K-hip-hop star Jessi for “Escape,” the summery focus track from his second English-language album Sonder. “Living in the public eye for years, I feel the need to escape every once in a while just to maintain my sanity. I also feel everyone can relate to this topic,” said Afgan. “We need some sort of escapism with the right companion just to re-energize, and that’s what this song represents.”

Hyukoh & Sunset Rollercoaster – “Young Man”

Korean indie rock icons Hyukoh are finally back with an original album after four long years, and K-indie fans couldn’t be more thrilled. For their new album AAA, Hyukoh joined forces with celebrated Taiwanese indie dream pop band Sunset Rollercoaster, who also hadn’t released an album in four years. The result is a sonic masterpiece across eight tracks that beautifully blend both bands’ respective styles. In particular, the album’s lead single “Young Man,” which features dark yet hopeful lyrics about death, struggle and resilience set against an uplifting melody, has garnered many positive reactions online.

Chuu – “Strawberry Rush”

This bubbly earworm from Korean singer Chuu is the perfect, feel-good song for the summer. The title track off her second solo album, “Strawberry Rush” has received rave reviews from the Korean media for its refreshing vibe, energetic tempo and bouncy, imaginative lyrics like “Can’t get enough / That strawberry rush” and “Unstable signal / Landing error beep!” that add to the song’s fun, upbeat message.

Since leaving the embattled K-pop girl group Loona in 2022, Chuu has quickly come into her own as a solo artist, with two albums already under her belt. In that sense, “Strawberry Rush” is a joyful anthem that proudly declares that she’s the cosmic heroine in her own story now.

HOA – “I Don’t Know Why”

Take a trip back through time with South Korean indie rock band HOA as they pay homage to one of their greatest influences, The Beatles. Consisting of Lim Jinhwa (lead vocals, bass), Kim Hwi (guitar, vocals), Kim Kyumock (keyboard, guitar, vocals) and Jeong Jongbeom (drums, vocals), the quartet formed back in 2015 but has been recently gaining attention online for their covers of The Beatles and other 60’s rock legends. Since the release of their latest EP I Don’t Know Why, which contains four original tracks written and performed by the band, HOA have been getting calls from American record labels, so it looks like we might be hearing more of them soon.

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SAAY – “DOMINO”

Korean R&B artist SAAY is a one-woman powerhouse who can do it all—she’s written, composed and produced for K-pop stars like TWICE, aespa and THE BOYZ; collaborated with other accomplished artists like Snoop Dogg and Crush (who’s largely known for his contributions to K-drama soundtracks); and manages the entire creative process for her own pieces, from songwriting and production to choreography and artistic direction.

For SAAY, a former member of the now defunct K-pop group EvoL, the single “DOMINO” symbolizes the precariousness of success—and the anxiety that stems from knowing that just one slip can ruin everything one’s built.

Lee Young-ji – “Small Girl” Featuring Doh Kyung-soo (D.O.)

This delightful, groovy duet that paired rapping prodigy Lee Young-ji with actor and singer Doh Kyung-soo (a.k.a. D.O. of the famous K-pop boy band EXO) topped various South Korean music charts shortly after its release. Lee Young-ji shows a softer side of her musical persona, crooning “Know you got a small girl fantasy / Baby, would you still love me? / Though I got a big laugh, big voice and big personality” in warm, husky tones while D.O. answers in his signature soulful voice.

Kun – “Afterglow”

As a recently named Global Ambassador for Versace, Chinese singer-songwriter and music producer KUN collaborated with the luxury brand on his latest single “Afterglow,” a haunting piece that seamlessly melds electronic instrumentals with KUN’s rock-infused vocals. The C-pop star composed the experimental number by drawing on his strong interest in fashion, telling Billboard, “I approached this song from what I learned in fashion culture — this piece truly reflects my journey as a musician and performing artist. Over the last two years, I have explored and experimented with many different genres, blending old-school with new-school elements, and incorporating my personal taste into modern music. ‘Afterglow’ is born from all this process.”

AleXa – “Distraction”

K-pop star AleXa is officially in her pop-punk era. After releasing the critically acclaimed singles “i’m okay” and “sick” earlier this year, the half-Korean Oklahoma native delivered yet another English-language rock banger with “distraction.” The song “is about recognizing your worth and not allowing yourself to be anyone’s second choice,” said AleXa. “It’s a reminder to everyone that love is a two-way street, and you deserve someone who respects and cherishes you.” Since debuting in 2019 with her electrifying, Billboard-charting dance hit “Bomb,” AleXa has won NBC’s American Song Contest and become the first woman of Korean descent to present at the Billboard Music Awards.

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NewJeans – “Supernatural”

NewJeans have unfortunately been caught in the crosshairs of a bitter internal feud between their label ADOR and its parent company HYBE, but that hasn’t stopped this powerhouse K-pop girl group from churning out hit after hit and earning praise and respect from their adoring global fanbase. Their retro bop “Supernatural”—a classic throwback to 90’s K-pop—marks their first single for the Japanese market. Steeped in New Jack Swing, the funky track features smooth vocals and a reinterpreted sample of the 2009 single “Back of My Mind” produced by Pharrell Williams. Two music videos were released for “Supernatural,” with Part 1 sung in Korean, English and Japanese and Part 2 containing only Korean and English lyrics.

Jimin – “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” Featuring Loco

The second single to be released from Jimin’s upcoming album Muse, “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” saw the superstar partnering with Korean rapper Loco, who recently thanked the BTS member for helping him land his first entry in the Billboard Hot 100 (it debuted at No. 88). “Smeraldo,” which means “emerald” in Italian, refers to a fictional flower in the BTS universe that represents “the truth untold.” The song also references June 12th, the date when BTS held their debut performance back in 2013. Anchored by driving drum beats, an upbeat chorus and Jimin’s sweet vocals, the song also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart and landed in the top 10 on other Billboard charts—a testament to Jimin’s enduring popularity despite currently serving in the military.

BE:FIRST X ATEEZ – “Hush-Hush”

This epic trilingual collaboration brought together one of Japan’s hottest boy bands with one of the most popular K-pop groups in the world. BE:FIRST debuted in 2021 with their J-pop single “Gifted,” which topped Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart as well as Billboard Japan’s Hot 100 chart. Their concert film BE:FIRST LIVE in DOME 2024 is currently available to view on Prime Video in the US. Leading K-pop act ATEEZ, who are currently on a world tour, became the first K-pop boy band to play Coachella earlier this year (the first major all-male Korean group to perform at the festival was Epik High in 2016).

Lee Chae-yeon – “Don’t”

K-pop phenom Lee Chae-yeon, dubbed a “performance queen” by the Korean media for her mesmerizing live performances, is as well-rounded as they come in the industry: she sings, raps, dances and is involved in crafting her songs and choreography. Fans saw her range of talent on full display in the music video for “Don’t,” a catchy dance pop number that explores the conflicting emotions typically experienced after a breakup. Heard throughout the chorus is the name “Charlie,” which Lee explained is a dark and lonely side of her that she doesn’t want to reveal.

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