Best New Music: May 2026

The best new K-pop, J-pop, and T-pop!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

#20: BARUN & Woo Yerin, Myself / “grown”
The “grown” music video weaves whimsical yarns between the “real world” and one of stop-motion animation. The animated protagonist — who has a connection to “reality” from the get-go, as a physical doll — dives into and out of settings made of paper and fabric squares matching those on the “real life” desk. The animated character befriends a turtle resembling her “real life” pet and a sea otter resembling the one whose face appears in the dregs of her “real life” coffee cup! Adorable attention to detail allows Woo Yerin’s optimism to strike an extra-memorable and inspiring chord. As she sings about taking baby steps towards the dreams that feel “scattered,” tiny claymation feet walk on fabric-scrap pathways, complete with bits of rope resembling snakes in the desert and bubble wrap that moves like ocean waves. She sings, “[L]et us… reach out our hands... stretch them as far as they can go / Even if we can never truly grasp it…,” and a tiny claymation hand does indeed reach for a rainbow! And she sings about opening doors for herself that once felt closed as the animated girl has a literal door open for her with a hand-drawn key. 

Woo Yerin is rewarded for indulging her imagination when the animated girl brings an aspect of her world back into Woo Yerin’s. After blue-green lights around the animated girl turn rainbow-colored, Woo Yerin’s dark bedroom becomes the site of a colorful light show. The lights form fun shapes on her walls as she smiles and spins around the room with the doll version of the animated girl. Like the video’s opening shots of a sunny arts-and-crafts room (complete with foreshadowing figurines and a not-yet-spilled drink in a cheerful cup), the bedroom scene is emblematic of blissful harmony between interior and exterior worlds. This harmony is made possible thanks to Woo Yerin’s hand-made proof that daydreams are worth cherishing — even after becoming “grown.”

#19: YOON SAN-HA, NO REASON
YOON SAN-HA needs less than fifteen minutes to make his clear and convincing — not to mention catchy! — case that not only should no one else define him, but no one else can. After all, if he is still learning who he is, how could anyone else credibly claim to have found the answer?! As he repeats throughout “IDK ME,” “If I don’t know me yet, how could you?” “I like it like this,” he asserts, and the other songs on NO REASON maintain that appreciation for staying in a “TBD” status. In a reverse “fake it til you make it” way, he becomes a “nobody” by acting like one in the “IDK ME” video. He is a celebrity whose face appears everywhere, yet no one seems to recognize him as he “acts natural.” He carries himself with the kind of nonchalance that is made possible by not seeking external validation and being content with personal anonymity. The sound of NO REASON is also a testament to having lots of energy when it’s not wasted on self-consciousness! He starts out by breezing and bounding through pop sub-genres, and he keeps his carefree nature in the last few songs via lyrics. In “+1,” he sings about “adding up” his “minuses” to “equal” his ideal life, and in “demo,” in a complimentary way, he compares his life to a never-finished song.

Overall, YOON SAN-HA successfully embodies the confidence that comes from the willingness to keep one’s self-identification flexible.

#18: FLARE U, YOUTH ERROR
Plucky and perky sounds are the name of this duo’s game, and each song shamelessly externalizes eagerness and embarrassment! The songs repeatedly imply they are thinking “Oops!” and “OMG!,” as do their failed attempts to woo a crush in the “WAY 2 U” video. But no matter how many times they metaphorically fall on their faces, they convince each other to bounce back: “Don’t overthink things” (“Hyper”); “I’ll always make you feel like a prize” (“Don’t Cry”); “[K]now that I got you” (“MIRACLE”); “Throw away those gloomy feelings” (“WOO-HOO”). Even the most serious song, “Playground,” communicates through upbeat sound effects and “ooo”-ing how quickly they pick themselves up! 

What makes YOUTH ERROR more than just a cheerful pop project are its broad applications. Even the most directly crush-focused song, “WAY 2 U,” can also be interpreted as being about best friends lifting each other’s spirits. After all, FLARE U’s crush in the “WAY 2 U” video has a relatively minor presence; more often, the attention stays on the guys just enjoying each other’s company. The album’s concept trailer is the same. One incident after another indicates it’s a bad-luck day — their toast falling on the ground, their basketball shots not going in, their belated realization that they put on mismatched socks — but thanks to having each other, they can easily shake off and laugh about those grievances. YOUTH ERROR not only accepts the clumsiness that comes with inexperience and growing pains, but it reminds people to not take for granted the friends they have to lean on as they stumble down those rocky roads.

#17: AND2BLE, Sequence 01: Curiosity
Sequence 01: Curiosity walks the line well between AND2BLE coming across as total rookies versus overconfident idols. This reconfiguration of the globally-successful boy band ZEROBASEONE tries on many different hats but deploys the members’ already-honed singing skills and stage presences to prevent those hats from looking like floundering attempts to find new footing. This new group shows an interest in pursuing more pop, R&B, and EDM influences in the future; shows an equal openness to being known for songs of which vocals are the standout element, like “Curious” and “Bed,” and songs in which the instrumental is the best part, like the other songs on Sequence 01: Curiosity; and shows enthusiasm in general, with lots of nonsensical exclamations: “da-da-da,” “mmm,” “ayayay,” “nanana,” and so on! The “Curious” music video further shows AND2BLE are finding their new image in real time. They try out many potential plot points: dark-angel cosplay, a heist mission, a meta show within a show, and a story set in a flipped-over world. They even keep different options on the table in terms of signature style (for example, pairing clean-cut attire with a lip ring) and ambiance (using ever-changing light sources and ever-shifting camerawork). 

The “Curious” video makes the AND2BLE members look like skilled magicians’ apprentices, relative rookies who have been recruited for bigger and better things because they have already proven their potential. Now comes the fun practice time!

#16: RUNG HYANG, Legassic
Combining the words “Legacy” and “Classic,” this EP indeed delivers timeless appeal. This Japanese R&B artist serenades listeners with gentle rhythms and soft guitars and pianos. The most lullaby-ready sound is, naturally, in “Lull you,” although the most minimalist numbers are “Seeds of life” and “memento,” the latter being a ballad tribute to RUNG HYANG’s late grandfather. “Let’s beat it” and “tiny shine” offer mood boosts without pizazz, pulling listeners out of a pleasant haze just enough, through the change in rhythmic delivery in “Let’s beat it” and the multiplied, layered vocals in “tiny shine.” Those songs’ warmth sounds as natural as the project’s narrative loop; the first track is akin to a song one would rock a newborn to sleep to, and the final track is a tribute to someone who has passed away. Between the “birth” and “death” songs are ones that remind listeners to cherish every moment of life, to “cry and laugh” often (“Let’s beat it”), to “take every unnecessary thing and plan to let it go” (“tiny shine”), and to ensure those who have “always placed something right in the center” of a metaphorical painting are emulated every day, so as to not have passed away in vain (“memento”). Legassic is a personal yet universal nudge to live in a way that allows for endurance and makes others proud. 

#15: SCRUBB, eco • ego
Each track on eco • ego picks a groove and commits to it. The first four songs pace themselves and convey calm approachability, as they thank someone who has a loyal and reassuring presence in “Analog,” pray that someone notices the musical messages they are transmitting in “Let it Flow,” and sing about giving themselves the grace to fall down many times as long as they get back up once more in “Go” and ‘Better Next Day.” They exude a relaxed warmth again in the remastered version of “Goodbye,” which has the periodic presence of a backing choir but a sway-worthy speed that keeps the overall mood mild. The primary outlier is “HIPPO,” a rock-inclined head-banger from last year! But it feels less out-of-place when considering its sentiment; it is about the frustrating degree of patience required before fate brings lovers into each other’s orbits. They do stay patient, but they are disgruntled about it! “HIPPO” also earns its spot on this EP by adding significance to the music videos’ evolution. “HIPPO” comes first in the video chronology and involves manufactured conditions, with theme-song-like gimmicks and a Warner Bros. logo knockoff featuring a hippo in place of a lion! Next in the chronology is “Analog,” which shows appreciation for “real world” interests, like planting and listening to physical copies of music. The newest video is for “Let It Flow,” which meets the “fake” and “real” premises in the middle. Drawings are layered on top of live-action backgrounds, and this contentment with not picking one style over another represents the pair’s down-for-anything demeanor well.

#14: Ayumu Imazu, CLASSIC
Ayumu Imazu proves to have effortlessly transferable swagger! His upbeat pop sound emphasizes bouncy basslines and synth grooves, both livened up further with mobile guitar presences and constant tweaks in vocal volume and tone. Ayumu’s stage presence is apparent even when just listening to the music. He sounds approachable and amused even during the “bummer” songs about a crush messing with his mind! The most vibrant standouts are “Elevate” and “Bassline.” 

He commands attention in ways that do not feel try-hard, and the same is true of the “CLASSIC” music video. He represents what he sings about: rebranding what is “classic” and “iconic”! He leaves the conformity to his backup dancers, wearing casual attire in an office building while they wear suits and ties. He insists on personalizing everything he does, even when halfheartedly playing the part of a traditional office worker. When he changes into a button-up shirt and tie, he keeps his sneakers and backwards cap on, and he opts for a vest in place of a blazer. He quickly abandons the “running a business meeting” pretense to continue dancing at the conference table! And he does get “back to work” in a janitorial role, but by incorporating mops into his choreography! Fittingly, he has a shirt that says “DON’T FORGET,” which is hard to do because of his synchronized dance crew and “Can’t stop, won’t stop” grin! 

#13: xikers, ROUTE ZERO : The ORA
xikers are turning the page regarding their music video lore but still telling tales of humorous and haunted-house-set hijinks. This era’s batch of kooky and spooky delights includes distorted dance-pop within dark hip-hop/trap layers, and the synth-heavy bulk of the project is briskly swapped out for a pop-rock finish (with “Outsider”). It’s a fast frenzy that has a strong supply of xikers’ signature strange swagger, which comes out in evil laughs and screams, computer-game-like noises, rapping and singing switches, and declarations of the group’s grit and glory as “renegade[s]” who want to “wreck” things “passionately”!

The “OKay” music video is equally stimulating and even more frenetic than the EP. The action occurs at a pace that the members themselves can’t even keep up with, hence frequent “buffering” moments when the scene becomes a pixelated blur! It’s a lot to take in, and like the songs warrant more than one listen to determine how one feels about each of them, the “OKay” video deserves some re-watches (in part to catch all of the scary movie and video game nods!). Watching it is like re-playing a video game one has completed before. A lot is familiar, like the haunted house setting and mysterious forces from which no member is safe, but a lot is new. There is no end to the visual hysterics, and each room in the haunted house has its own set of tricks that are sometimes out of xikers’ control and other times the product of them messing with each other! They keep each other and viewers on their toes simultaneously and purposefully, and the unsustainable rate of their suspense and speed justify calling this the “ROUTE ZERO” era. There was bound to be a “crash out” moment and need for a reset eventually, so this “crash” is as good a time as any for new fans to hop onto this wild ride! 

#12: IS:SUE, QUARTET
This cute and cohesive collection of songs is a great primer for new IS:SUE fans and a solid soundtrack for those who already love this J-pop group. The brand-new and older songs alike embrace synth-pop that comes with earworm elements, from soft beeps to “ooo”-ing to Kawaii-esque chants to string flourishes. Funky keys make “No.4” and “Chemistry” stand out, and “THE FLASH GIRL” tries one more twist with industrial toe-dipping. QUARTET is a pop album through and through but has experimental finishing touches, similar to how the title track’s music video is both what classic pop girl group videos are made of and keeps the surprises coming. Even the smallest motions seem to be part of a cute choreography, like the skip-like footwork as the members hold hands, the scene transitions prompted by one member after another spinning on cue, the brief game of “Ring Around the Rosie,” and the ways they walk as if on balance beams on the furniture (knocking over jigsaw puzzle pieces as they do, adding a literal component to the playfulness!). Additionally, they play hide-and-seek with a moving spotlight, doodle music notes on pillars, and have a puppet introduce one of their performances! The giggles and grins stay put, even when they dance together in settings that are in disarray, and even when their dancing takes place in an empty auditorium. Notably, they perform on that stage while facing the music video viewers, not facing the audience (if there had been one). They are inviting “you” to join their party, which is wherever the music and games are, which is wherever they go! They bring the party home with them, too, pouring over sheet music together under a canopy-covered bed, as if having a sleepover with those on the same fun-loving wavelength. One bonus “party invite” comes from the confetti blasts, one with silver rectangles and a later one with colorful and music-note shaped pieces of paper!

#11: ITZY, Motto
This ITZY era sends a few related messages, one being that they have solid individual and collective identities. In the album’s trailer, they each climb on a separate chunk of the same ladder until the pieces magnetically reconnect and tilt horizontally, so they can start to walk the same path. They keep moving forward even when that path turns into a wheel, similar to the wheel on the castle they stand on the roof of together in the “Motto” video. Also in the trailer, they each take their own underground tunnel to get to the same secret exit. And in the “Motto” video, snippets are replayed of their individual “What’s my motto” testimonials that were released prior to the album. The symbolism of being a tight-knit unit and of keeping their individual identities are the same. Similarly, the album itself represents both a collective mindset (through the empowering group tracks) and ITZY’s individual personalities (through solo tracks that show off their different specialties: YUNA’s bubblegum-sweet style in “Tangerine,” YEJI’s uncompromising attitude in “Pocket,” LIA’s sincerity and sensitivity in “Asylum,” RYUJIN’s fierceness in “LOOK,” and CHAERYEONG’s ability to thrive with material that sounds primed for a live show, evident in “Undefined”).

A second main message of the Motto era is that ITZY’s story is still in the works. Everything about “Motto” and the trailer constantly changes: settings (like the rotating, circular stage they “perform the play” in for part of the time), backgrounds (painted skies change colors), the pacing (with some scenes at stop-motion-like half-speed), the format (with some scenes resembling hand-made collages), and even the ways their appearances make statements (they have messages stamped and studded onto their hair)! The dance scenes on an uneven floor and balconies that topple over also reinforce the work-in-progress status. 

In addition to teasing more to come, ITZY show pride in their past eras, starting “Motto” by moving boxes with dioramas of past eras’ video settings. Each member participates in this tribute, naturally!

ITZY’s strong synergy shines throughout Motto and keeps their creative vision clear. 

Read about the Top Ten here!