On The Rise: 11 K-Pop Acts To Watch In 2024
Successive generations of musicians from the Korean Peninsula have re-written the pop playbook. Storming across the globe, the likes of BTS and BLACKPINK have shattered records, and profoundly influenced the pop landscape.
Korean music remains a thrill – profoundly eclectic, each wave of music draws on pop, R&B, EDM, and beyond, with the results proving to be incredibly multi-faceted. With a New Year upon us, Clash assembled some K-Pop specialists to predict who will make waves in the coming weeks and months.
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BÉBE YANA
The ethereal musical stylings and pen of BÉBE YANA truly has what it takes to become a breakout Korean artist in 2024. If the idyllic R&B soul soundscapes in her discography don’t lure you in, her luscious vocals will.
BÉBE YANA was previously part of the K-pop girl group EvoL (who disbanded in 2015) before her solo debut in 2017 — but going solo has only made it easier for her to showcase her addictive musicality. Releasing singles in 2023 like ‘VROOM VROOM’, ‘Chemistry’, and ‘Vision Getting Blurred’ left me in awe of discovering her undeniable artistry. With an overwhelming demand for more K-Indie artists, we hope BÉBE YANA gets the flowers and recognition she deserves in 2024. (Sofia Gomez)
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Loossemble
With a new legacy to build, five-piece girl group Loossemble are a K-pop female act everyone should have on their radar in 2024. Loona members Hyunjin, Vivi, Yeojin, Gowon, and Hyeju signed with CTDENM in hopes of exploring new heights. And that they did; the five-member ensemble released their self-titled debut mini-album in September 2023 — their first chance to reintroduce themselves to the world and spotlight their voices.
Embracing their roots, the quintet’s voices shine in genres like synth-pop, alternative R&B, and dance-pop on their EP. But their lead track ‘Sensitive’ sets an optimistic tone – marking an ambitious and desirable start to their next chapter as Loossemble. Rest assured, the quintet’s sparkling essence has our attention. (Sofia Gomez)
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ZEROBASEONE
Despite competing with boy groups aplenty in the K-pop sphere, ZEROBASEONE’s (ZB1) sublime effervescence made them an instant hit with their debut EP ‘YOUTH IN THE SHADE’. A project boy group created by Mnet’s survival program BOYS PLANET, the nine-piece group had become a hot topic in online communities once the final lineup was announced — featuring members Kim Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook and Han Yujin.
ZB1’s suave charms and comforting vocals in their lead track “In Bloom” had a gravitational pull on any and all K-pop enthusiasts — especially ones not used to indulging in the talents boy groups have to offer. It truly left me intrigued and wanting so much more, but until then, there’s a glimmer of hope that they’ll be a dominating rookie male act in K-pop. (Sofia Gomez)
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Kingdom
With the flourish of a sword, GF Entertainment’s Kingdom entered the K-pop world in February of 2021. Since then, their ‘History Of Kingdom’ album series has set the scene for their one of a kind conceptual universe, each member representing a different king originating from legend or history. Within their albums, you’ll find striking title tracks fit for royalty, accompanied by intricate choreography and B-Sides to match every colour of the rainbow.
As midnight struck on January 1st, the septet dropped an elegant teaser, cracking open the door to the next chapter of their ever more intriguing journey. (Ciara Glagola)
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RIIZE
RIIZE’s debut last September marked them as the first new SM Entertainment boy group in seven years outside of their hugely successful NCT project. It’s still early days; excluding two tracks for the animation series Sealook, they’ve only four songs – the pop-funk of ‘Get A Guitar’ and ‘Talk Sexy’, ‘Memories’ with its emotional soar of a chorus, and new single, the noisy ballad ‘Love 119’.
But they’re stacked in terms of presence and performance and, in navigating towards a signature sound, it’s safe to assume there will be numerous ambitious strategic and artistic shifts for RIIZE in 2024 to add to their already inked Louis Vuitton and RCA deals, propelling them to the forefront of fifth generation K-Pop. (Taylor Glasby)
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Xikers
Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter and Yechan, members of the KQ Entertainment group, made their debut in March 2023 with the song ‘Tricky House’, a track from the mini-album ‘House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing’, rated as one of the strongest of the fourth generation, according to Genius Korea.
Xikers’ debut showed the members’ talent in both singing and rapping, as well as their incredible synchronization in all the choreography. In August, they made their comeback with the mini-album ‘House of Tricky: How To Play’, just as electrifying as the first, but still with the youthful and lively essence that defines the group. (Isadora Wandermurem)
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Kiss Of Life
S2 Entertainment’s K-pop girl group, made up of members Julie Han, Natty, Belle and Haneu, debuted in July 2023 with the song ‘Shhh’, from their self-titled mini-album. The girls exude experience and sophistication through their vocals and choreography, showing the group’s full potential.
In November, they made their comeback with their second mini-album, ‘Born To Be XX’, whose lead track ‘Bad News’ proved to be just as great as ‘Shhh’. Kiss Of Life has become one of the most promising female groups in K-pop and were recently nominated for the Rookie Of The Year award and the Artist Of The Year award at the MAMA Awards 2023. (Isadora Wandermurem)
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BOYNEXTDOOR
The brainchild of one of South Korea’s most successful rappers (and former idol), ZICO, BoyNextDoor fuse chirpy youthfulness with a Korean indie-pop sound that while not new to the K-pop landscape is certainly less utilised by idol groups.
So not only have their two EP’s – Who! And Why.. – yielded four endearing, effervescent singles (the standout being ‘But I Like You’) but they’ve been the perfect vehicles for the band’s six members to showcase their equally breezy stage presence. They have an effortlessness in their performances of a group much further into their career and a charm that’s very hard not to fall for. May 2024 be theirs for the taking. (Taylor Glasby)
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BABYMONSTER
The seas have been rough for YG Entertainment’s newgen girl group. The member’s ages (four of the six are minors) have rankled the international K-pop community since the group’s announcement. A litany of delays, a member leaving before their eventual debut last September and an audience-dividing, Blackpink-esque first single, ‘Batter Up’, seemed to stack the odds against them. But they’re undeniably talented and, undoubtedly, hungry to succeed. And YG Entertainment, though tarnished by multiple scandals, remains one of the wiliest in the K-pop marketing game.
Write off BABYMONSTER – who, with only one song, already have four million Spotify monthly listeners – at your own peril. (Taylor Glasby)
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ROCKY
ROCKY is ready to show the world what he’s capable of. All-rounder, commander of the stage, former Astro member, Park Min-hyuk is blooming into two new roles: one as a solo artist, and one as a CEO of his own company, ONE FINE DAY. His first mini album ‘ROCKYST’, released in November, displays just how versatile an artist he is. Cheeky, jazzy single ‘Lucky Rocky’ is the ultimate greeting to ROCKY, the shining soloist. (Ciara Glagola)
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KINO
Moving forward into his own spotlight, Pentagon’s KINO entered the new year as the head of his own label, NAKED. This, of course, is just one more title for jack-of-all-trades Kang Hyung-gu – choreographer, songwriter, rapper, and producer being a few of his already existing titles. Just days ago, he released his first single under NAKED.
Self-confidence centered ‘Fashion Style’ evokes the feeling of a peaceful night drive, the track being one more step forward in carving out KINO’s unique artistic identity. (Ciara Glagola)
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