solo artist recommendations

hi, hello, 안녕

so today I plan on taking a second

to talk about some artists that I

not only don’t talk about enough

as well as the kpop community in

general. and these artists are solo

artists. for the sake of this blog,

i will not be talking about artists

who are still in active groups and I

also won’t be talking about khh

artists. I’m drawing this line so that

i can focus strictly on solo artists

who might not have the benefit of

being within a well known group.

but    unfortunately,    since   I am

limiting   to   solo artists only, no

groups, I   will have to skip over

some   of   my    favorite   soloists:

taemin, ravi,   gikwang and huta,

as well as khh rappers, as if I did

include them, I’d be here all day

and so would you. so this list is

more   of an appreciation of my

top under recognized artists. so

even if   your favorite might not

be   in this   list   because of my

conditions,   please   do   read in

order to learn about some artists

you might not know so well!!

so let’s get into it!

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           » 01. eden ;;

                   ➥ suffering for love

i’m going to be honest. you can’t go wrong with a song by eden. his voice is something that I know I’ll never get tired of, something I honestly don’t think I’ll ever find in another singer. it’s so smooth and sweet. when I hear one of his songs, I’m taken to a whole different plane of calm. to me it’s just one of the voices that so perfectly fits what I want to hear as a fan, so obviously, eden is easily one of my favorite vocals in the korean music industry. not to mention, he’s an amazing producer who creates not only his own music but also songs for artists like btob and ateez. and i think that‘s what makes his sound so unique as it’s so personal, so clearly him. from his instrumentals to his vocals, eden is a singer I can easily identify as one of my favorite artists. there’s just something about him that I love so much. he constantly and consistently meets all my expectations as a music creator, possibly even creating music that so perfectly fits my tastes which is soothingly sad. which might be a bit confusing but let me explain. what some people might find upsetting, I find soothing which is why I often find myself listening to emotional songs in order to feel better. and with the combination of talent and this melancholic calm, songs by eden win my heart every time.

a song by eden which perfectly captures my love for him is suffering for love. I have spoken about this song before but I’m mentioning it again because we truly feel that it encomes eden‘s talents very well. from the title you already know this is going to be an emotional song, but it’s not emotional in the sense of a normal tear-jerking ballad. it‘s emotional through the ease of eden‘s vocals and the tension in the guitars stings. the soft plucking that covers the verses produce a feeling of hurt and sorrow which then break out into anger and frustration with the more loud and complex instrumental of the chorus, almost entirely leaving the sadness behind with the soft guitar. eden‘s voice in the verses also strongly contrasts the chorus, following the same progression as the instrumental: being quiet and soothing but then breaking out into a more heightened and strengthened chorus. the overall sound of this song is just so beautiful and moving. it’s not only well performed but also well thought out and that seriously is the genius of eden.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

3 things | attention

stand up | I’m still | lamp

don‘t make me wait

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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           » 02. eric nam ;;

                   ➥ you‘re sexy, I’m sexy

what I find so alluring about eric is not only his voice but also his personality. you will not find a more wholesome and hilarious artist than eric. his songs and interviews never fail to make me smile. he so easily produces summer-y bops as well as emotional tunes, and he does them both so perfectly. all of his songs are so good and different in their own respects that it’s hard to me to pin point one song as my best recommendation. if you’re having a rough day, and want a song to happily wash all your worries away? play eric nam. if you want to dance and let loose? play eric nam. if you want to cry a little? play eric nam. there really isn’t something he can’t do. he‘s a jack of all trades, and I seriously find that so charming and alluring.

as much I’d love to go off on how much I love eric‘s song, wonder, explaining how beautiful and serene and calming and relatable it is, I‘ve opted out of depressing you all too much and instead chose one of his more pop-based songs. you‘re sexy, i‘m sexy literally piqued my interest as soon as I saw the title, I thought this has to be good, and oh my god, was I right. honestly, eric‘s entire ‘before we begin’ album is a masterpiece, read about my rants about it here. but to focus on this song, it perfectly captures the fun flirty side of eric. the light instrumental with the guitar and percussion allows the song to come off as quite airy and fun, especially as the chorus comes in, mixing with eric’s soft and sensual vocals. the song doesn’t have any crazy drop, but I honestly don’t think it’s necessary. eric is able to add enough interest through his more calm instrumental and smooth vocals that it isn’t necessary for his songs to have intense drops of crazy instrumentals. his songs are basically super fun and enjoyable, be it upbeat or more slow. both his sound and talent is undeniably fantastic.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

honestly | potion | lose you

body | can’t help myself

into you | don‘t call me

runaway | congratulations

come through | wonder

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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           » 03. sam kim ;;

                   ➥ seattle

an absolute vocal gem for the korean music scene, sam kim is one of my favorite vocalists, having released one of my absolute favorite songs, which I’ll get to later. but there really is just something special about the vocals of this one man that he not only perfects the sound of rnb through songs like no sense, featuring crush, but also ballads like who are you, from the famed drama goblin. I think it’s because his voice has such a strong sense of power and style in addition to a solid vibrato and just that right amount of raspiness that he can pull both of these sounds odd so well, despite being fairly different styles. regardless of whichever style sam uses in his songs, I simply find something so alluring his the sound of his voice. often I think it’s the personality he adds to his songs, not only the vibratos and the raspiness, but also the soothing and elegant adlibs as well as the raw emotion he’s able to exhibit through his soft breathing and off-hand phrasing such as whispers, counting or words, within various songs. there’s just so much personality he’s able to put into his songs through his own voice as well as his instrumentals. it’s very easy for me to lose myself in his songs. I find them overwhelmingly moving and soothing. they’re often songs I turn to in times of need because they really do speak to me. sam kim has a beautiful voice, and he makes beautiful songs.

seattle is probably one of my all time favorite ballads ever. from the soft and soothing piano to sam’s own calming voice, this song comes of as a rather somber lullaby. the slowness of the tempo allows you to feel as if all of your nerves and overwhelming thoughts are trickling out of your consciousness. it’s a song that is like a nice refreshing breath, releasing all the pent up emotions and bringing in a new sense of peace. it’s simply a song that calms me and that isn’t always something you can come by. there really is something in how sam created and performed this song that brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. it’s so beautiful. it really is, and there isn’t a better word for it as his voice so easily blends with the piano and later the orchestral progression. the raw emotion he gives off with this five minute long song really is a treat to your ears. It’s breathtaking and eye-opening for many reasons, vocally, instrumentally, emotionally. It’s beyond amazing.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

mama don’t worry | no sense

who are you | sun and moon

where’s my money

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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           » 04. kim feel ;;

                   ➥ excuses

now kim feel is a name I rarely ever hear around ka. It’s almost as if he is a ghost that no one is aware of which in my mind is crime because this man has such a unique voice! It’s so full and breathy, making his vocals perfect for a slower pace song either be it a ballad or a light hearted tune. as a solo artist, he’s someone I’ve come to treasure since I find his voice so unique. as soon as one of his songs start, you get this feel of care and kindness. in most occasions, his soft yet powerful voice is almost like a warm hug, blanketing you when you need reassurance. in other situations, his unique vocal tone adds enough style through low vibrato and full voice to add to his unique and fun yet light instrumental. and that’s something I enjoy about kim feel’s songs; no matter what style he tries, his voice is always the focus of the song. it’s where all the emotion and interest comes. it’s what guides and blends into the instrumental to make the songs what they are, which are perfect tunes of soothing melodies and calming instrumentals.

my favorite thing about kim feel is that it seems like his music takes you to a simpler time, as if you’re in the middle of a field without a care in the world. his breathy voice fills the air along a soothing guitar or quiet piano. his songs always paint such a serene scene in my imagination that you seriously can’t go wrong with any of his songs as his ballads with his vocal and guitar combinations are to die for. and then he surprises you with some more upbeat and even unpredictable instrumental tracks. none of them are too crazy but I can appreciate some slight divergence from the consistent ballad sound all while still holding on to his classic sound. and that’s what excuses is, kim feel’s classic sound. in my mind there’s literally nothing that matches him better than a guitar. they’re the perfect pairing, blending almost seamlessly. a particular part of this song I enjoy a lot is how with each verse, both the instrumental and the vocals crescendo together, expressing the true harmony that they are working in throughout the song, becoming more complex and powerful until the end. I feel like it really creates an amazing and impactful song, and that’s how you just have to feel after listening to him.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

stay with me | true love

still you | beautiful scar

pierrot | seongbukdong

tell me | maybe | pray

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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           » 05. kim donghan ;;

                   ➥ focus

donghan has easily become one of my favorite kpop artists. from his visuals to talent and personality there’s literally nothing not to love. I originally fell for his dancing ability with him being one of my favorite trainees on produce 101 so when I heard he was going to be a solo artist, I was beyond excited! His unique ability as a dancer totally allows him to fill a stage and even a song with his own presence. Be it choreography or vocal, donghan never disappoints.

I find his music to be the greatest kind of pop music, including strong vocals, interesting instrumentals, and having an overall fun and exciting vibe. basically every single one of his songs makes me want to dance along. I even had two of my on my current jam playlist for the better half of last year and every single time they came on, I was instantly in a better mood. his music truly is him, which is fun and lovable.

i think donghan’s greatest appeal is how easy it is to fall in love with him and his music. he approaches the genre of pop, something we’ve all heard before but brings a freshness with him. all his songs have fun, attention grabbing instrumentals and his voice always completes the synth used instruments very well, often blending together. my best example of this is his song ‘focus’. the instrumental of this beat is quite persistent, ranging all over from percussion to synthesis horns and yet donghan conquers it all. the parts id like to highlight are 0:26 until the chorus and 1:09. the first part is where donghan’s voice seems to be moving in skipping motion, mirroring parts of the instrumental which have seen shown to bounce all over the place, creating a slightly chaotic yet musically intriguing sound. the second part is exactly where donghan’s vocal hold on the word “you” turns into a synthesized instrumental note. both parts show how much donghan’s vocals compliments the song, and I think it’s amazing how this song is set up to work that way.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

sunset | good night kiss

idea | record me

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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            » 06. samuel ;;

                    ➥ sos

samuel appeals to me very much in the same way that donghan. both are young yet very talented singers and prefers, and both of them are really here to show use unique colors of themselves. I adore samuel for many reasons, his talent is definitely one, being an amazing dancer as well as artist, but my absolute favorite part is his energy. he’s always been such an energetic and exciting person, and even as a performer that shows through. In his choreographies, he never misses a bit, and in his songs, there is literally not one note that doesn’t make you feel exactly how he does: ecstatic. and it is in this way that I identify his songs as nothing less that feel good bops. his songs really are fun little tunes. usually having upbeat feels, the songs themselves are full of exciting and happy vibes. for most of them I can see myself jamming to them constantly because they just make me feel great, and I want to share that greatness with you.

what better way to explain a feel good, care-free, uplifting song than this one I’ve chosen. ‘sos’ has a feel that I would explain as the perfect essence of summer. it starts off with open and airy instrumental which is then added too with samuel’s warm sounding vocals. honestly, the whole song just sounds like the sun is shining down on you. from samuel’s clear voice to the bouncy and fun beat to the chants, everything about this song just screams exciting summer track to me. I could totally imagine myself cruising down the highway, blasting it. It really has such a positive feel to you, even as I listen to it right now for the hundredth time, I can’t help but move and smile. it truly can be a happy virus of a song.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

sixteen | teenager

clap your hands | one

I can’t sleep | princess

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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            » 07. ione ;;

                    ➥ whatever

out of all these artists, ione is the one that’s most recent to me, having only come across him last fall, but ever since then, I’ve been whipped for him. there was just something about watching the mv of ‘idea’ that made me want more. it was probably the combination of the choreography, his vocals and the overall vibe of the song, but I watched it and instantly knew I had found something or rather someone special. and the same feelings of ecstatic surprise spans to every single of his songs. each one that I listened to has been just as good if not better than the last. his music is just the perfect mix of mature rnb-pop, a style of music if done right can totally be to die for. and I’m telling you, his music is to die for. so much so that choosing which song to talk about for his section might have to be the hardest decision of this whole blog as literally any song would do great justice to represent him.

even though I totally suggest giving ‘idea’ a listen and a watch because that the song that pulled me into being a fan, I’ve chosen to talk about ‘whatever’ as I find the instrumental to be more interesting. the vibe for these two songs and honestly this whole album is fairly the same but that’s fine because that’s just i one’s style. It’s what he does with this continued type of music that makes his songs so great. and the most interesting variation lies in his instrumental progression. the build of ‘whatever’ is slow yet smooth, with long notes working well with his own vocalized notes, but there’s also shorter notes that contrast this speed. interestingly enough if you listen closely, these contrasting short notes actually follow a similar tune to ione’s voice. at 0:35 very softly in the background, an almost horn sound hits similar notes to ione, leading into the chorus. then when the chorus arrives we have the more strengthened part of the song with strong percussion. it quickly turns back into the peaceful verses. this change despite quick is something that catches my attention especially as the second chorus drags out longer, adding an extra verse which truly adds to the feel of the song, expressing a slight pain that the singer might be feeling. I find this really interesting because so often choruses are identical so the fact that he went the extra effort to put a spin on the normal is definitely something I find noteworthy. I know this style of music might not be for everyone, but I absolutely love it. I’ve been listening to his songs on repeat for about eight months.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

idea | all the things

unreal | treasure

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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            » 08. xydo ;;

                    ➥ spotlight

this artist is another 2019 find, and thanks to the amazing rapper himself, ravi. xydo has featured on a few of ravi’s tracks which I have linked below because his verses are absolutely killer. as a singer xydo has a vocal tone that matches rappers so well. it’s smooth but stylistic enough to stand out again all the various flows and tones of rappers such as ravi, coogie, ph-1, and sik-k. at points, in features, it almost seems like the song is actually xydo because he totally steals the show with his unique vocals. he just has a voice that really is music to my ears. It’s so easy to listen to, and it fits so many vibes. a lot of his songs have a more upbeat vibe whereas when he features on a song such a ravi’s there’s a darkness to them but none the less his voice fits the song perfectly. I guess you could say he has a voice of a chameleon, able to blend with many different styles and various voices.

for all of xydo’s songs, the focus is his voice. of chorus the instrumentals significantly his voice by adding to the overall vibe of the song, but particularly in songs like ‘s.l.y’ and ‘spotlight’, it really is his voice that carries the song. It’s just so powerful yet smooth, it’s hard to not get woo-ed by his vocals. and even though ‘# ootd’ and ‘s.l.y’ are probably the songs that would catch new listeners’ attentions with fun beats through strong percussion and warm feels through synthesized guitar and pianos and even some clapping and snapping, the song that stands out to me is ‘spotlight’.

as a song that is entirely sung by himself, ‘spotlight’ is what I think of when I think of his vocals. with an instrumental that is very reminiscent of eden’s production style, I find myself getting lost in this song. the instrumental starts off very soft and quiet, allowing for xydo’s high notes to float peacefully over them. then getting into the chorus, the instrumental opens up into what I can only identify as a dream sequence. it just sounds to serene and calming, and xydo’s vocals mix so well with the peacefulness. I just really adore the vocal tone of xydo’s voice in this song and I honestly might love the instrumental even more as I truly do find it so moving and soothing. It’s a song that puts my mind at ease and allows happiness to wash over me.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

#ootd

limitless | hoodie

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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            » 09. kream ;;

                    ➥ dalla

now kream is an artist that I came across around the time I was first getting into khh and krb, and even though most of his discography now is more ballad based, the song that I found him through is ‘dalla’ which stands alone as a song that is unlike any other in his discography. it features a strong percussion and base guitar, creating quite a powerful and gangster feel. it’s a song that I relate to feeling rebellious or expressing power. ‘dalla’ has a really strong edge to it as an instrumental piece and kream’s voice adds a very interesting element to the song, especially since he’s known for softer sounds and you do here elements of the softness of his voice but most of the time there’s a very apparent sense of tension in his vocals. I honestly live for the feel of this song. It’s a style of song I enjoy a lot as there’s a lot of feeling you can get from it.

however, this song no matter how much I love it, isn’t a good presentation of kream as a whole. songs I’d definitely suggest listening to in order to hear his full spectrum is talents are ‘wings’, ‘paper heart’ and ‘talking to the moon’. all off the same album, they show his softer and even more somber sad side. the harshness of dalla’s instrumental is gone and replaced soft pianos and strings, quiet echos, and calmer synthesized notes and percussion. and as I’m a sucker for sad songs, I absolutely adore the melancholic feel of these songs. they make me feel free and open despite their more depressing tones. when listening to his music, you can truly feel what he aims to express, and through all his different styles, you can understand a lot of different things.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

talking to the moon | gift

paper heart | wings

good morning | drama

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

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            » 10. yella d ;;

                    ➥ oao

this artist has such a small discography that I think it should be a crime. I also found him early on into my adventure into khh and krnb and is as absolutely dumbfounded by his music. his instrumentals are amazing, following a soft electronic beat for the most part which allows for his voice to be the man focus. not to mention, here’s a man that raps and sings, both of which he does amazingly. they’re both so calm that it’s just so easy to listen to any song by him. he always has something unique to show through his voice or his instrumentals.

if you’re looking for a summer bop, go no further. showing more of his upbeat and vocal side, yella d released his song ‘oao’ in style. it has a light and bouncy edm feel which is perfect for blasting on a warm afternoon. while listening to this song, it’s not difficult to imagine yourself on a beautiful beach under a palm tree. from the fun instrumental to a solid rap and smooth vocals, this song could brighten any day. It’s simply a song that you listen to and can’t stop yourself from dancing along with. and a little added artistic bonus is that he refers back to his other songs. in microdot’s rap, he mentions ‘goalkeeper’ which was yella d’s first song and I appreciate that little shout out quite a bit. I also enjoy that the last twenty seconds, distances itself from the upbeat instrumental of the rest of the song and gives us a style that was so present in his previous releases: relaxed yet styled almost rnb vocals.

˚✩ honorable mentions ::

goal keeper | ysbtf

on the way to you

*ﾟ ﾟ･ ✧.｡. *. •.°

⋆｡˚

other quick suggestions ;;

unfortunately, I can’t talk about

every single solo artist or else

this blog will go on forever so I’ll

just list the last three here:

roydo, ✧ | ✧

elo, ✧ | ✧

bumzu, ✧ | ✧

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in conclusion,

these are some of my favorite

non-kpop group and non-khh

related soloists. they all have

such unique styles and voices

which I adore, but I feel that

people   either   over   look or

arent even   aware that they

exist. so I hope that through

this blog, you were able to

find someone or something

new to e n j o y ! !

:

question time,

do you stan any of these artists?

what are your thoughts on their music?

who are some do your favorite soloists?

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢

cover + edits by me

og pics from ig + pt

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣

— ƒɑҍӏҽs