A debut EP that harpoons this 5th gen K-pop girl group to the skies, ILLIT lets out pretty performances that instill freeing joy across the EP. ‘SUPER REAL ME’ might be a bit short for its own good, but has enough sparkle in the melodies and production that allows ILLIT to succeed nonetheless.
HYBE LABEL has been on a hot streak in terms of K-pop acts that have been breaking through for the past few years. With both LE SERRAFIM and NewJeans gaining the production and marketing push they need to get charged into the spotlight, it shows that they are putting all of their attention to those acts as they keep on expanding newer acts under their management, giving needle-sharp focus to allow these new acts to maintain a thriving growth in the future. With the 5th gen K-pop acts now sleuthing their way in, ILLIT seems to be that act that may as well be one of the instant standouts amidst the rest of the bubbling 5th gen K-pop acts.
Formed after the K-pop competition series R U NEXT? and handled under one of HYBE’s sub-label Belift Lab, ILLIT immediately carves their starting point with ‘SUPER REAL ME’, their debut EP comprised of 4 cuts - overall short, yet has enough in the melodies and performances to let it stand out in their own way. The propulsive low-end grooves courtesy of fine-tuned mixing and mastering give the melodies their well-earned punch as well as all of the member's overall jovial and youthful exuberance shining through neatly. Again, it’s a bit too short for its own good where a few more cuts could be added, but there is quality that manages to pop up. The cutesy midi synths crossing over the rumbling bass touches of ‘Magnetic’ paired with the sticky melodies is a combo that allows the song to be, indeed, magnetic, ‘Midnight Fiction’ with the waves of vocal harmonies settles the blend of guitars, percussions, and synths to float across the soothing midnight sky, and even if ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ and ‘My World’ could have been extended a bit further, the basslines on those tracks does have developed tunes that carry the mostly decent vocal melodies.
While the lyrics glide across a more lightweight focus, it does make sense for an EP that is introducing what they are at the moment: just a K-pop girl group that aims for a fun concept with a sonic palette that has enough drive and construction to go alongside it. Perhaps a win on HYBE LABEL’s part once again, the next thing ILLIT will have to do is expand and refine their style even further as time goes by, especially since the EP itself lands decently with solid foundations in both melodies and production. A first showing that unveils enough of who they are, with enough joy that gives them a head-start on where they could potentially go in the future.
Favorite Tracks: ‘Magnetic’, ‘Midnight Fiction’
Least Favorite Track: ‘My World’