This month was dominated by boy K-Pop groups. Release after release was marked with catchy beats, addicting lyrics, captivating visuals, and some of the best cinematic music videos we've seen all year - I'm looking at your Stray Kids. Notable comebacks include ATEEZ, Stray Kids, GREATGUYS, P1Harmony, DKB 8TURN, KANG DANIEL, U-KISS, and Eric Nam, and the official debuts of iKON's Jay, LUN8, and Hi-Fi Un!corn, to name a few.
Here are my top 10 favorite new releases of the month for June 2023! If you don’t have time to read it all, scroll to the end to see what my top 3 recommendations are.
STRAY KIDS - 특(S-Class)
On June 2, STRAY KIDS wowed listeners across the globe with their third studio album, ★★★★★ (5-STAR), and its lead title track, "특(S-Class)."
MCND - POP STAR
Being on tour in Latin America didn't stop MCND from releasing the rock meets hip-hop-inspired single "Pop Star" on June 2.
TAEYONG - 샤랄라 (SHALALA)
After single releases, NCT's fearless leader, Taeyong, officially dropped his first mini-album, SHALALA on June 5, with the title track of the same name.
THE NEW SIX (TNX) - Kick It 4 Now
P-Nation's first-ever K-Pop boy group, THE NEW SIX (TNX), returned on June 7 with the retro-inspired title track, "Kick it 4 Now."
P1HARMONY - JUMP
P1Harmony wrapped up its "HARMONY" album trilogy on June 8, with the party-rock anthem, "JUMP."
VAV - DESIGNER
After a nearly three-year hiatus due to military enlistment, VAV returned on June 12 with their seventh-mini album, Subcönscióus.
DKB - I Need Love
Hot off the heels of their fourth-place finish on JTBC's PEAK TIME, DKB dropped "I Need Love" on June 14.
ATEEZ - BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)
With each and every release, ATEEZ continues to outdo itself, and "BOUNCY," released on June 16, takes the chili pepper.
SHINEE - HARD
On June 26, SHINee released its eighth studio album, "HARD," with the extraordinary title track of the same name.
OVERDRIVE - WEI
They may have been on a world tour when promotions began, but that didn't make WEi's return and the subsequent finale of their love series on June 29 any less sweet.
Be sure you listen to: VAV’s “Designer,” The Nex Six (TNX)'s “Kick It 4 Now,” and SHINee’s “HARD.” I hope to “see” you next month for my July roundup of favorites.