JAY B Revisits His Alternative Roots as DEF. on ‘Love’
Led by the single ‘Sunsets With You,’ the EP re-introduces listeners to the vocalist’s alternative sonic persona
Following the commercial success of his debut solo EP SOMO: FUME, South Korean singer-songwriter and GOT7’s leader JAY B revisits his alternative roots in his latest single “Sunset With You.” Released under his moniker DEF., the single leads the vocalist’s EP Love.
Conceptualized during his tenure at JYP Entertainment, DEF. periodically released indie, alternative music alongside his crew, Offshore, on the music platform SoundCloud. With five mixtapes and a remixed version of his sophomore project to this moniker, the vocalist takes his artistry to major DSPs, opting to release Love as his first EP.
Written and produced by DEF., “Sunset With You” features fellow crew members Royal Dive, Mirror Boy and Saimon composing and arranging the track alongside the vocalist. With a dreamy string and sensual synth arrangement, DEF. grounds the track with an ambiance similar to what you’d find in a jazz lounge.
Flirting with a low-tempo approach, DEF. delivers a mellow and breathy vocal performance, on-beat with the single’s R&B soundscape. Further supported by soft percussion echoing in the background, “Sunset With You” is fresh yet familiar, instilling a sense of nostalgia for anyone who has followed his work on SoundCloud.
The single follows the story of a couple entranced by the beautiful bond they share, which opens with DEF. describing a romantic date by the beach; “Travelling with you in a leisurely time/ The warm sunshine shines on us/ Our names are engraved on the sand, filled with each other’s hearts/ Promise me forever when the sun goes down, yeah.” In a broader perspective, the track expresses the desire to immortalize a relationship, jotting down the memories the relationship has birthed; “Let’s put our stories to paper and talk about our memories.”
The music video embodies the track’s serenity with DEF. taking a quick trip to the beach. Soaking in the glorious hues of the sunset, the vocalist takes a relaxed stroll and pens down his thoughts in a small black journal.
DEF.’s first EP Love boasts six tracks including the lead single “Sunset With You” and two collaborative singles “Again” and “Like A Fool” featuring South Korean rapper Leon and Korean-Canadian singer-songwriter JUNNY respectively. The remaining tracks include “Why?,” “I Just Wanna Know,” “Want U” which follow a similar R&B soundscape.
