February is rolling in, and we are getting more music releases. On February 10th, boy group EVNNE released their 4th mini album, Hot Mess. If you aren’t familiar with the boy band, they are alumni of the hit Korean music survival show Boys Planet, having competed alongside the final members of Zerobaseone. The group consists of seven members: Keita, Park Han-bin, Lee Jeong-hyeon, Ji Yun-seo, Yoo Seung-eon, Mun Jung-hyun, and Park Ji-hoo. They debuted on September 19, 2023, under Jellyfish Entertainment with their debut album Target: Me and debut song “Trouble.”
The band has been very busy since their debut, holding fan meets and concerts in Japan, as well as an Asia Tour. They also participated in KCON Germany 2024 and completed a USA Tour in the summer of 2024, greeting and meeting international fans for the first time.
Let’s dive into the new album!
Hot Mess
“Hot Mess” is the title track, and it’s a fun upbeat pop-rock song. The intro itself features Keita blowing a whistle, which transitions into a noticeable bass and drum beat. The music video is filled with vibrant colors and patterns that mesh well with the chaotic “hot mess” theme. It shows the bandmates doing various tasks, whether picking up vegetables, decorating a cake, or cooking in the kitchen. One notable detail is Seungeon bringing a cake out, then tripping and dropping it. The cake flies and lands on Yunseo, and Seungeon doesn’t hesitate to take a selfie with him in that state. The more you watch the music video, the more details you’ll find, including the band running a cake shop called “Delulu Cake Shop" and customers lining up for a piece of cake.
Birthday
I’d classify “Birthday” as a softer pop song compared to “Hot Mess,” its louder counterpart. The band performed this song at their comeback showcase, and you can enjoy the softer harmonies in their singing, along with playful, synchronized choreography.
Love Like That
This song has more of a band sound, and member Yunseo participated in writing the lyrics. You can hear the strumming of the guitar and the steady beat of the drum. Compared to Hot Mess, it’s on the softer side in terms of volume and percussion. This is definitely an easy listen. You can enjoy their vocals with light band instruments.
Crown
“Crown” is a heavy hip-hop/pop song. Member Keita shared in the showcase interview that it’s his favorite song off the album because of his rap, which he wrote. If you’re familiar with Evnne’s other title tracks, such as Trouble and Ugly, “Crown” fits in with their music style, offering a more intense sound.
Youth
I like to think “Youth” fits into the genre of a “sentimental” song that’s often expected on an album. Written by Seungeon, he shared in his showcase interview that he wrote the song based on his own struggles during his time as a trainee. He recommends listening to the song while on your way home from work or after a difficult day, as it may be comforting. The message of the song is about the struggles of the moment and telling yourself to take things one step at a time, knowing that the struggles will only last for a short while. This is definitely something we can all relate to, whether we’re in school or working as adults.
Keshiki (Korean version)
This song was composed and written by Japanese member Keita and was originally released as a Japanese single last year. Now, with the release of the Korean version, Keita is able to share a song he’s very proud of with more listeners. The word Keshiki translates to “scenery” or “landscape” in Japanese. The song has a J-pop melody and an instrumental band vibe, offering something refreshing next to the other tracks on the album. You can watch the Japanese version of the music video and read the translated lyrics, which share dreams of working hard on something you love.
I'd say my personal favorites off the album are Love Like That and maybe even Youth, though I can’t help but admit how humorous and fun Hot Mess is. Let us know your favorite song off the album! It's now streaming on music platforms, and you can check out the music video on YouTube.
Listen to "Hot Mess"