10 K-Pop Releases to Watch on #AllNewRollingStoneÂ

1. EXO’s “Ko Ko Bop”

One of South Korea’s leading boy bands returned last month with a hazy island fever dream from their fourth studio album The War. The nine-member group is known for their fearless experimentation and “Ko Ko Bop” is no exception with its tropical house flavor and Rasta-influenced visuals.

For fans of: Major Lazer, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars

2. Jay Park’s “Yacht” ft. Sik-K

Jay Park is an absolute powerhouse of R&B in the Korean music industry thanks to his smooth vocals and trap-influenced beats. The producer comes through yet again with a fresh, summer-y vibe on his latest single “Yacht” which also doubles-up as an ode to romantic getaways.

For fans of: Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, Jason Derulo

3. DAY6’s “What Can I Do”

As one of the very few and youngest ”˜traditional’ instrument-wielding bands on the scene, DAY6 spoil their fandom with a brand new track each month from their debut studio album Sunrise. “What Can I Do” is surprisingly nostalgic, reminiscent of alt-rock from the early 2000s.

For fans of: Weezer, All-American Rejects, Green Day

4. WINNER’s “Love Me Love Me”

The four-member group explore a much more relaxed avatar on this comeback than their usual crisp suit-and-boot blues. While their other single “Island” steps into the tropical house most groups are currently dabbling with, “Love Me Love Me” stands out with a groovier vibe courtesy a distinctly disco beat.

For fans of: Daft Punk, French Montana, Pharrel

5. Girls Generation’s “All Night”

Girls Generation continue the disco trend on “All Night” and provide a pleasant departure from the almost overwhelming bubble-gum pop of its companion single “Holiday.” The track’s deliciously darker take on pop serves as a true tribute to the group’s decade-long legacy.’

For fans of: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Robyn

6. Hotshot’s “Jelly”

While Hotshot have been in the music scene since 2014, they’ve been fairly under the radar. Their latest single “Jelly” however might just change things thanks to its dark dance-pop sound, smooth choreography and sex-appeal-fuelled video.

For fans of: Calvin Harris, Nick Jonas, Years & Years

7. CLC’s “Where Are You?”

The seven-member group takes a 180 degree turn from the trap-influenced “Hobgoblin” they released in January to explore an Eighties R&B ballad-esque sound on “Where Are You?”. The track also brings in an unusual vaporwave vibe with generous sprinklings of faded synth.

For fans of: Lorde, Selena Gomez, Lomboy

8. Longguo & Shihyun’s “the.the.the”

Although “the.the.the.” is the young duo’s debut track, it is the perfect marriage of crisp production and clean-cut visuals. Sonically built of deep house/synth-pop, the track is an elegant introduction to a promising new act.

For fans of: Disclosure, Capital City, The xx

9. JJ Project’s “Tomorrow, Today”

JB and Jinyoung a.k.a. JJ Project tackle a coming-of-age theme on their long-awaited comeback “Tomorrow, Today.” The heartfelt track dives into indie-rock tones and marks a swift departure from the duo’s hip-hop heavy 2012 debut “Bounce.” The song is also vastly different from their R&B work as part of the seven-member group GOT7.

For fans of: Troye Sivan, Foster The People, Ed Sheeran

10. NCT Taeyong’s “Cure” ft. Yoo Young Jin

Written and performed in collaboration with singer-songwriter Yoo Young Jin, the young leader and rapper of boy group NCT delivers “Cure,” an emotional but uplifting outline of his journey in the music industry. The track also combines hip-hop with soft rock to bring back a trend much favored by  artists in the early 2000s.

For fans of: Blue, Westlife, New Edition