26/07/2025

LYFE SATURDAY | JULY 26, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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Korean band Se So Neon releases New Romantic

S OUTH Korean band Se So Neon has unveiled another dreamy track New Romantic in Korean and English. Led by producer and multi-instrumentalist Hwang So-yoon (also known for her So!Yoon! solo project), the new track glides with airy, shimmering synths and tender vocals, wrapping listeners in a warm, wistful glow. “I admit that I have a spectrum of quite diverse aspects, but the one that makes me feel awkward and a little embarrassed is when I have tremendous warmth towards others,” said Hwang. Reflecting on the depth of her emotions, she explained that romantic connections – regardless of how clearly defined they are – give her the courage to fully experience life and move forward, even when the path feels uncertain. New Romantic , she shared, is her own intimate way of expressing love, born from a hope that her sincere, non-superficial approach will be understood and embraced. The new track appears on Se So Neon’s debut album , set for release on Aug 15. The band has crafted its own brand of lo-fi and vintage sound, displaying a wide spectrum of musical influences varying from blues and psychedelic rock to new wave and synth pop. Sung primarily in Korean, its music is rooted in the present and in nature, making relatable regardless of any language barrier. “People will feel my energy and my soul,” Hwang proclaimed. After releasing her second solo album Episode1: Love in 2023, Hwang felt anxiety about the band’s next move. She decided she needed a change of scenery, so she travelled to New York City to work on the next phase of Se So Neon’s music. Being in different surroundings and spending almost 10 hours a day in the studio proved invigorating and it also made her realise that she needed to worry less about the future and live more in the present. “That is why the album title is . I had been thinking, ‘I am done. I am not going to do music anymore.’ But after that New York experience, I felt hope,” Hwang said. Hwang’s guitar playing is key to , aiming to defy genres to create a wholly unpredictable, yet utterly natural landscape, much like the ones she marvelled at as a child in Korea and as a young adult in Los Angeles. “I love nature – sky, sunshine. is about nature, because I am from nature,” she added. Se So Neon was formed in 2016 by Hwang. Mirroring its sonic dexterity, the

o Hwang So-yoon speaks about power of romantic connections, her love of nature

AUSTRALIAN artiste Grentperez has released the deluxe version of his debut album Backflips in a Restaurant , which includes three new tracks Girl at the Station (feat. Jeremy Passion), Peace of Mind and Might Not Be . Of the deluxe record, Grentperez shared: “From what started as an ironic title quickly gained so much depth and meaning. I originally wanted to come up with a title that sounded deep and meaningful, initially coming up with things such as ‘a life of love’ or ‘love from me to you’ but I could not help but cringe at myself, questioning ‘who does this guy think he is, haha’, so I opted for something a bit more striking. A backflip. Where would be the worst place to do one? A restaurant. Perfect. “But in saying that, a restaurant is the home for experience, it houses different flavours, people, memories, exactly what I aim to capture in my debut album Backflips in a Restaurant. Here I spread my legs and showcased my range as an artiste, writing music from my usual croonery wedding ballads, into R&B, into some spoken rap and into some groove too. From me to you, think of it as a ‘taste of what is to come’.” The singer-songwriter, known for crafting melodic love songs, captures a genre-bending evolution of his roots as a bedroom-pop sensation, mixing elements of R&B, indie-folk, pop-punk, symphonic pop, 70s soft rock and so much more into his most original body of work to date. Backflips in a Restaurant embodies a sonic playground, from tracks his day-one fans will resonate with to offering newly explored range. At just 23 years old, Grentperez has carved out his own genre of pop music. At 12 years old, Grentperez posted his first video to his YouTube channel and over time, he amassed over 100 million views and 750k subscribers. Since first bursting onto the scene with his gold-certified debut single Cherry Wine , the Sydney-born musician has brought his live show to stages all over the world as support for acts such as Rex Orange County, Wallows, Laufey and Cavetown, in addition to drawing sold-out crowds on his own headline tours. With over 500 million listens on streaming platforms, a multi-continental touring resume, and notable support from tastemakers including NPR Music, MTV, Teen Vogue and more, the young songwriter has blossomed into an artiste. Since his debut, Grentperez has grown a sizable audience across Asia, with his top 10 streaming markets globally including Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. Grentperez drops deluxe version of debut album The deluxe version of Backflips in a Restaurant includes three new tracks.

Se So Neon is led by Hwang.

With over 145 million global streams to date, Se So Neon’s growing popularity is reflected in its strong Southeast Asian fanbase, with key regional cities Jakarta (second), Bangkok (third), Singapore (fifth), Taipei (sixth) and Kuala Lumpur (seventh) ranking among its top global listeners.

band has seen various iterations with Hwang remaining the consistent anchor. Winning Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song of the Year at the Korean Music Awards in its debut year, Se So Neon instantly became a leading figure of South Korea’s indie scene.

Emi Noda’s first full-length record Blue packed with fan favourites

SINGER-SONGWRITER Emi Noda has dropped a full-length album, containing 12 tunes that have established themselves as fan favourites. From her debut Lost Time to the viral hit Ashita (with over 10 million streams across platforms), and her latest anime opener Shodo , Noda’s Blue brings together the songs that defined her rise. It also delivers on long-standing fan wishes with Okaeri – a popular track finally making its streaming debut. At the centre of the album is Shodo ,

which was written as the opening theme for the anime adaptation of Teogonia , the popular fantasy series with over 600,000 copies sold. The song reflects emotional intensity and quiet resilience – echoing the story’s themes of growth through adversity. Noda is known for her emotional storytelling and genre-defying approach. Since debuting in 2022, she has gained over 260,000 YouTube subscribers and amassed more than 80 million views with songs that she writes and composes herself.

Blue brings together the songs that defined Noda’s rise.