Kicking off 2021 in style, K-Pop sensation (G)I-DLE release their anxiously awaited brand-new mini-album I burn today. Get it HERE via Republic Records.
As the group’s most fully realized conceptual effort to date, I burn examines the emotional rollercoaster of a breakup, distilling all of the ups and downs into a genre-busting artistic statement. Incorporating Eastern instrument sounds, it depicts a story of mixed emotions one may go through in the process of parting and finding happiness again. As ‘my’ story begins with a burned heart by a painful breakup, the album ends by showing although these scars may hurt me, they make me glow and bloom a red flower.
Amplifying the members’ voices as creators and songwriters, the six-track project notably features writing by leader SOYEON on three songs, MINNIE on two songs, and YUQI on one song. Among SOYEON’s contributions, the lead single “HWAA” catches listeners’ ears with its addictive hook and lyrics depicting dramatic emotional changes. The song builds with its musical arrangements and Eastern instrument sounds to let the listeners feel the aching pain from a breakup. Lyrically, it explores “the pain of love by using blazing fire and a beautiful flower as metaphors.”
“LOST” reflects raw feeling with R&B production punctuated by synth loops and guitar, and “Where is love”brings (G)I-DLE back to the dancefloor with retro-style funky bass and a chantable refrain. “MOON” is an upbeat, honest pop track with a catchy hook built upon a danceable disco rhythm, bass, and synthesizer. Meanwhile, “HANN(Alone in winter)” reaches heavenly heights over cinematic production as the moombahton-inspired finale “DAHLIA” glide towards a sweeping refrain, “I’ll choose to love you anyway cuz you’re my dahlia.”
Last year, (G)I-DLE incited a frenzy worldwide with “DUMDi DUMDi,” which gathered 18.3 million Spotify streams and 74 million YouTube views on the music video. Not to mention, their “Oh my god” music video picked up a nomination in the category of BEST K-POP at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. Plus, they broke the internet with the 2020 (G)I-DLE ONLINE CONCERT ‘I-LAND : WHO AM I.’ Their official U.S. debut mini-album I trust claimed #1 on the iTunes Overall Album Charts in 61 markets with acclaim from MTV, Billboard, Just Jared, and more. (G)I-DLE have reached astonishing heights with 805 million YouTube views and north of 752 million streams on Spotify.
With I burn, they have the potential to catch fire like never before in every corner of the globe.
