P1Harmony’s “EX”-tra Big New Era

First impressions of the group’s new album and the promotion of it

Photo courtesy of FNC

P1Harmony just released their first English-language mini-album, EX! The timing is perfect, as they embark on the North American leg of their third world tour starting tomorrow, September 27! The singer/rapper/songwriter extraordinaries have graduated to arena-size shows in North America, so it’s no surprise that they’re targeting that market more overtly than ever. Besides releasing the new English album and premiering its title track on Good Morning America, the fandom-oriented company hello82 is executive-producing and distributing EX, purposefully linking this specific album with this specific tour.

Check out the “P1ustage H: MOST WANTED” North American Tour Dates Here!

Sept. 27: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ
Sept. 29: EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA
Oct. 1: Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON
Oct. 4: Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX
Oct. 9: Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA
Oct. 14: United Center in Chicago, IL
Oct. 18: Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 21: Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA

Tickets are available here!

EX Album Review
While EX is a testament to many of P1Harmony’s musical strengths - smooth genre-blending, seamlessly alternating between singing and rapping - it crystallizes one element worth appreciating the most. It proves that the group is at their best when at the intersection between humorous and heartfelt, and EX features one silly-yet-sincere song after another!

Photo courtesy of FNC

“EX” finds countless ways to use that expression, from singing about “you” deserving romantic “EXploration” without “EXplanation;” to emphasizing “End of story, period, no EXclamation;” to using words like “next” and “text”! “Dancing Queen” describes the downright-delirious joy of being with a lover without any “playing it cool” pretense; they sing about the room feeling like it won’t stop spinning and the sensation of being under a spell. In “Stupid Brain,” they complain about wanting to turn their brains off for a day, and the orchestral accompaniment adds a comical bit of drama to their time spent wishing for the opposite! “Night Of My Life” sounds like they finally have turned their brains off and are ready to let loose! Little details, like the briefness and acceleration of the pre-chorus and sudden auto-tune tweaks, add to the sense of urgency they have to let the fun fully commence. Lastly, the Spanish version of “EX” is a natural follow-up to the Latin-inspired and ironically-titled “SAD SONG”! It is a nice touch to start and end with songs directly addressed to “you;” like the live event and album linkage, this choice creates a sense of connection between P1Harmony’s music and the listeners. It’s no wonder that their fan base keeps growing!

Taken as a whole, EX screams “We’re ready to party,” and thanks to P1Harmony’s formula of synergy plus dynamism, they guarantee that party is one to remember! Earnestness and enthusiasm remain key ingredients in P1Harmony’s winning musical formula, and by wrapping serious thoughts in bright and bold layers, the group delivers crowd-pleasing, stage-ready hits that don’t sacrifice their more playful instincts.

Check out EX here!

View the Substack version of this piece here!