<Version Up>

First and foremost, fuck Blockberry Creative and all that they stand for.

In a genre whose eventual mark on the music industry will be mismanagement, downright cruel business practices that prioritize image and capital over artist’s wellbeing- leading to successful suicides from some of the genre’s largest stars- the legal equivalent of slave labor contracts, capitalistic greed, sexual assault coverups, and poorly concealed abuse scandals, it is a breath of fresh air to see a group crafting their work with as much loving passion as Odd Eye Circle. The collapse of LOONA that is happening before our eyes could be one spark in a revolution that will dismantle K-Pop's malicious business practices as the remaining members of LOONA, including Odd Eye Circle’s very own Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry, have recently finally been able to break free from the shackles of Blockberry Creative and their demanding contracts. The subsequent saving face that Blockberry attempted- suing the members after lawfully terminating their contracts and attempting to ban the departed members of LOONA from any entertainment activities in South Korea- lifted the curtain and gave a glimpse at the malevolent nature of the K-Pop Industry that is camouflaged behind dazzling aesthetics, catchy choruses, and quirky dance moves.

But what now for LOONA?

Well, for members Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry, they’re returning to their ODD EYE CIRCLE side-project; handily the most acclaimed group to come out of K-Pop. 𝐌𝐚𝐱 & 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡’s integration of untraditional sounds, particularly that of bouncy and jolty Future Bass, into K-Pop’s bubbly, jovial sound yielded results that bordered on pop perfection and felt refreshingly authentic, especially for a genre where a sense of artificiality permeates nearly every corner. I still find it difficult to wrap my head around how a song as boundary-pushing and exceptionally odd as 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 or 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐂 exists in a genre where genuine artistry is so often silenced. While OEC’s 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐩 feels a bit more in the vein of a typical K-POP, perhaps a byproduct of how much LOONA themselves have influenced the scene at large, than its predecessor, the contagious feeling of genuineness still translates; you can feel the fun this trio had while making these songs.

Bangers on top of bangers are what separates Odd Eye Circle from other less inspired LOONA side projects- and 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐩 certainly does not lack in that regard. Those “Da-Da-Da” refrains over 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞’s punchy, skippy breakbeats as well as the wonky, lowkey synth line and breakneck hi-hats come together to create undoubtedly one of the group’s most infectious tracks; I echo similar sentiments at 𝐉𝐞 𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐢, who’s gleaming, bumping deep house instrumental channels the head-bopping, spellbinding charm of deep house legends past and who’s woozy, sparkling hook feels like I’m being transported into a dream world. 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭’s tropical bossa nova interlude that interrupts into the cut in the middle of the Future Bass splendor is one of the most unexpected, yet simultaneously welcomed, things I have heard in a K-Pop song ever. While there are certainly a few moments where OEC fails to deviate from the crowd of other K-Pop stars towards the backend of this EP, if anything, 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐩 stands as a display of the potential that has been unleashed now that this trio is now liberated from the chains of abusive management, now able to let their wildest ideas run wild. I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for not simply these three but also all the other LOONA members who are now unfettered from Blockberry’s iron fist.

Favorite Tracks: 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞, 𝐉𝐞 𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐢, 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
Worst Track: 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞