Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones — always focused on sound, stage and substance.
For HallyuTones’ first Spooky Season, the writing team has prepared a list of our favourite songs with dark or horror concepts. We took some inspiration from some of the recommendations you’ve all shared with us throughout October and also put together a playlist for everyone to stream.
Let’s get to it!
Tshego:
PRIMROSE – Freyja
For their first comeback as a quartet, PRIMROSE dove deep into Norse mythology to give us the hard-hitting experimental track Freyja. Accompanied by visuals of the members adorned in floral and thorny crowns, the artistic depictions of Rainie, Hayun, Ruby and Nahyun as celestial beings completely had me sold.
The song’s lyrics speak directly to invoking the power of Freyja, a powerful goddess, to surmount all of the challenges presented by the “inevitable Ragnarok”. All four of the members of this group have been through innumerable road blocks to be able to stand on stage together. This song is a battle cry that says “A flower on top of this destruction, Blooms from the ashes”.
The accompanying visuals mirror the journey from isolation and the desolation that follows the breakdown of everything they once knew and what it takes to be the shining light in the dark. For Prisms (PRIMROSE’s fans), that would absolutely be any time the group’s members show up on stage.
It’s not often that new member additions to existing groups are as successful as the case of the Rose Blossom icons, H1KEY, but PRIMROSE is proof that a second chance is sometimes all a group needs to find its perfect harmony.
PRIMROSE is no stranger to experimenting with their sound and general artistic direction. In this offering, their tale of survival leads us to a historical shrine-type structure where the skills that had fans intrigued at their initial debut keep them supporting PRIMROSE through every season, bloom after bloom.
Dreamnote – Ghost
This group is the definition of versatility. Dreamnote has shown their impressive ability to transform their voices, appearances and aura depending on the tone of the concept. No song shows this better than Ghost.
While the music video is not so much spooky as it is mysterious, the vocals on this track definitely take the cake. At some points (the pre-chorus especially) the members’ voices are so clear and cleverly layered that together with the other sound effects like the ringing bells and cackles, it builds a beautifully unsettling soundscape.
The music video takes this a step further and draws us into a multitude of dimensions, each with its own allure. Member Sumin’s gaze is so striking that it’s hard not to be enthralled from the beginning, and once we reach the first chorus? Miso’s voice kicks in strong, pulling listeners into this dream’s every note, and Lara’s additions in the bridge tie it all up together.
In what may be the biggest blow to spooky K-Pop lovers, Dreamnote has announced the end of their exclusive contract with iMe Korea. However, fans are slightly hopeful that this isn’t the end for the team following a moment in member Miso’s birthday live where someone that sounds like fellow member Youi playfully shouts that “We’re not disbanding”. I guess time will tell when or if we’ll get to hear more songs like Ghost that show Dreamnote’s evolution as a group, and as individual performers.
XLOV – I’mma Be:
One of the greatest splashes of creativity to hit the K-Pop industry in recent years has to be XLOV. A genderless group with members from different countries, these survival show trainees have years of collective experience that shows in everything they do.
This choice ends up on the list for the crawling feeling evoked by the staccato beat. The song is sung in almost hushed whispers that are offset by rap lines packed with punch and dare I say, allure. Wumuti’s voice brings us into the song like a sticky molasses trap ‒ she tells us this is a reality “You won’t be able to wake up [from].” The styling of Rui, Hyun and Haru tells us otherwise.
Not only are they boldly taking space as a group that can’t be defined in simple terms, the members of XLOV break every stereotype of what it means to be assigned male at birth (AMAB) and to break every rule that comes with that.
Some of the members have heterochromatic eyes, while the scenes shift from ordinary scenes to mind-numbing rooms where nothing happens. Lyrically, XLOV takes this scene and lets their words wash over the listener. When Hyun sings, “See my body moving like this, I’m riding on the wall of prejudice” not only does that speak to the exploration of gender and fashion norms in the video, but also to the valor of four young people challenging everything the audience once knew to be real.
In the spirit of dark concepts, I present K-Pop’s dark horse. A testament to what it means to be Queer: to be innovative, to be courageous, to think beyond what is and beyond the bounds of what could be.
Nate:
SUNMI – Full Moon (ft. Lena)
Sunmi’s ‘Full Moon’ is a song that is constantly covered by numerous idols during their pre-debut period, for independent showcases on survival shows and even big award ceremonies. Its iconic choreography, smooth vocalisations and catchy chorus have made it an all time classic. However, beyond this popularity is the concept of the music video itself. At the very beginning, Sunmi approaches a man having restless dreams on a bed, moving towards him at supernatural speeds to drain his blood. The symbolic full moon set pieces are contrasted by red furniture (like a red sofa and coffin) to evoke bloody imagery.
Furthermore, the indoor setting of the music video is a creepy house complete with dim lighting, suspended chandeliers, and a rooflight window that casts the room in the perpetual glow of the full moon. All together, this elevates the song to create a mesmerising yet unsettling feeling, as if the viewer is being entranced by the vampires looking to drain their blood. And, judging by the end of the music video, our turn is coming up very soon.
SUNNYHILL – Midnight Circus
Another blast from the past! SUNNYHILL as a group have been very understated over the years, with numerous line up changes and hiatuses. However, they also have several very notable and unique songs under their belt. Midnight Circus is one such example, with a deeply unsettling music video. Set in a creepy circus, the music video embraces all things weird and unusual. One of the early lines in the song is ‘show must go on, never stop’. The viewers are given the impression that the members are trapped – caged, tied up, and threatened by the circus ringleader and forced to perform.
The choreography for the track emphasises how the members have no autonomy, moving in perfect synchronisation like marionettes alongside their identically dressed back up dancers (notably including several members of FIESTAR). As the members’ strings are (literally) cut, they disappear, and the circus tent explodes and collapses – the curse is lifted.
For anyone looking for a hair-raising watch that leaves you with many questions, goosebumps on your skin, and a new track to bump in your playlist, look no further!
ARTMS – Birth
ARTMS burst onto the scene with their debut album, ‘DALL’. With the group being formed from members of K-Pop icon group LOONA, expectations were high for not just memorable music, but for the next evolution of the group’s popular and complex lore. ‘Birth’ was chosen as a pre-release for this album, and its music video is unlike any other.
Creepy paintings and animations litter the music video, from stags with human faces, to the goddess Artemis hunting strange creatures. These pieces are visually striking, with bright reds contrasting with murky backgrounds to give the impression of ancient folklore and cursed stories being told.
The song deals with the confusing emotions after a break up, when feelings can be conflicting and mentally you may end up in a dark place. We see this reflected in the members seemingly fleeing at night, leaving the past behind but with no clear path forward. The dark setting and gloomy makeup makes the members seem clouded by their troubles.
As the song progresses to the now iconic ‘I could gather ex-boyfriends’ line, the animations become increasingly confusing and gory, with the creatures being depicted as decapitated or wounded. It is as if their feelings themselves are personified by the paintings.
Throughout the video the members are visited by a glowing humanoid being of light who appears to them at their darkest moment, offering them a way forward – a reminder that the darkness will pass, or a malevolent being with malicious intentions?
Zed:
Purple Kiss – Sweet Juice
Sweet Juice is a sinister song sweetened by delicate vocals, creating an alluring sound. The songs’ lyrics insinuate that this isn’t your average juice and there is something sinister at play. The accompanying music video confirms our suspicions; set in a creepy hotel, ‘Insolito Hotel’ – ‘insolito’ meaning unusual/extraordinary, so that’s the first hint something is off. The video includes the members being followed by a mysterious figure, who eventually calls Goeun to ask if they want ‘sweet juice’ and then tells them to run, (reminiscent of the ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ scene from the movie Scream).
Rotary dial style telephones are a key prop throughout, but they make a particularly haunting appearance in the ending sequence; embedded in a purple dyed spot in the snow (a colour replacement for blood). When it begins ringing again, the girls look at it curiously. Horror elements aren’t unfamiliar for Purple Kiss as they are known for their witchy concept. Purple Kiss you will be missed.
Red Velvet – Peekaboo:
Red Velvet’s speciality; upbeat but unsettling. The song itself is whimsical, the flirtatious lyrics delivered with playful vocals on top of the eerie and haunting music video.
The music video starts at the end of the ‘action’ – in an establishing shot, we see a glimpse of a pizza delivery boy frantically scrambling at a phone box. Before that, there is a shot of the girls standing in a row looking at the full moon and Yeri holding a crossbow. This precursor pretty much establishes the plot.
The key theme is pursuit; scenes where the girls happily chase after the terrified delivery boy. The music video plays into the ‘male fantasy’ and ‘femme fatale’ with the women being the ones controlling the chase and flipping typical romantic roles as the active pursuers. But this isn’t romantic, the boy runs away as he is scared for his life whereas the girls just see it as a game — hence ‘Peekaboo’ which is a children’s game. There are also references to ‘Hide-and-seek’ which is appropriate for a video that masks violence as innocence. The members switch between smiles and dark glares, this juxtaposition is key to Red Velvet’s identity.
Janis:
BewhY – GOTTASADAE
A horrorcore Korean hip-hop classic. BewhY owns ominous concepts in rap, which paired with his solemn rapping tone and intricate lyricism creates this distinctive flair to his artistry. Screeching beats crawl in your ears, masked black figures stand entirely still amidst a green-lit solidary room as BewhY goes berserk with his craft. Unlike your typical flex tune glorifying extravagance and sex, ‘GOTTASADAE’ takes place in a horse barn and riding hall with dark lighting and shirtless dancers smashing their heads into the stalls. The imagery alone is enough to trigger a fright response from its audience.
Released back in 2019, ‘GOTTASADAE’ is an instant showpiece of its times. The rapid rap segment in the second verse is still being attempted to this day, showing the sheer impact this song has on Korean horrorcore rap, in fact the whole album ‘The Movie Star’ is grounded in the genre. Cesar A. Cruz’s saying read ‘Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable’ . BewhY has clearly excelled at the latter.
Taemin – Guilty
Taemin is one of a few artists with the ability to literally enchant the viewer with his performances. Similar to ‘Criminal’ and ‘Advice’, ‘Guilty’ plays like an addictive drug. It strikes you at first, leading you into the expensive indulgence till you are fully immersed in its pleasure before it leaves you wanting more. Apart from the iconic shirt-lift moment in the climax of the song, the whole track is nothing short of an orchestral-pop masterpiece. The epic, hollow string base threaded throughout the track against Taemin’s falsettos gives you instant chills — accompanied by Taemin’s charismatic dances and the rich flavours in its composition.
The contrasting warm and cool lighting and cinematic framing in the music video invites the viewer into this dystopian, twisted fictional world filled with restraint, pain and the desire to rebel. Amidst the burning anarchy and the frantic mob, Taemin summons his ‘evil persona’ and takes over the revolution, exerting dominance to all. He plays both the perpetrator and victim in the story, perfectly capturing the dissonance within a toxic relationship, with a hint of demonic flavours.
NCT U – The 7th Sense:
The start of the NCT brand and pioneer of the sensual concept all together. ‘The 7th Sense’ is certainly a work of its own. It does not have a particular lore or context, not necessarily sexy, and not a dark concept either. The soul trap track exists in this void within Kpop where no one has yet to surpass, not even the NCT U unit themselves. There is nothing inherently scary about the song or the music video, but somehow “The 7th Sense” feels unsettling to the calming mind. It may bring you into a state of confusion and forces you to face your deepest fears and secrets. ‘Open your eyes, Quietly open your eyes’ the chorus repeats, a hypnotizing spell that lingers in your mind.
The poetic presentation of the concept comes written in its lyrical content. It tells the story of a mindless traveler, lost in their own thoughts, some may even say it represents depression. In fact, this is precisely why the song sounds and feels disturbing. The song describes this person in distress that many of us see ourselves in, the self-loath getting so strong that we wish to escape from reality. From the surly dances and the dispersed rap verses of the song, to the striking reds, silhouettes and ‘dreamy’ aesthetics in the music video, ‘The 7th Sense’ is almost a cultural reset. It visualises arguably the most terrifying fear to the human mind – being lost in our own misery and trapped in this inescapable dream that slowly becomes reality. Perhaps this is what Neo Culture Technology meant, to remind us of the false reality that is the simulation we live in, and it is now time to wake up.
We hope that you have enjoyed our Writer’s Picks for this year’s HallyuWeen Playlist. With a mix of pure horror, unsettling imagery and chilling lyricism, we hope that these songs serve as the perfect accompaniment to your Halloween night.
Please also check out ‘First Bite‘ by Uki Satake and Yuting of PTMRS in our playlists below, and stay tuned soon for a short feature with the members regarding their new spooky season release!
You can stream the HallyuWeen Playlist here:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hAuozjIV5Rs8NTFSsnGuC?si=791_pwGNTOSH9ymRZE1iUg
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/hallyutones-hallyuween-playlist/pl.u-55D6PP2fg0V1kz
YouTube MV Playlist – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnrawkiZtn8&list=PLdJJvYzcUbtVS_WQE7eUOf4RGYSf8-SDH
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