[Writer’s Picks] The Best K-Pop Songs of January 2026

Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage, and substance.

January was a bit of a slower month, with very few releases that weren’t just singles, but there were still quite a number of quality songs to listen to from the first month of the year.

With this mix of female artists, 2026 is off to a solid start with a round of varied, exciting releases.

10. BLOOMY – FADE AWAY

This deeply underrated song doesn’t even have so much as a music video or a stream count on Spotify, but it’s got a simply addicting nature to it that makes it a fun little first single. BLOOMY has operated previously as a choreographer and dancer, with this single debut marking her transition into making music.

With the singer herself participating in the song’s writing and composition, this debut presents a lot of promise for this fresh new artist. Its production and vocals come off like those of a more experienced singer, allowing her to bloom in a brand new way.

9. DIA – Dance!

No, you didn’t miss the return of ”’WOOWA’‘s singers, this is Pixy’s DIA, making her solo debut before her awaited debut with fellow Pixy member Lola as a duo in AWU. If you love a good, funky track from a capable vocalist, this is just the song for you.

It’s a simple pop song with a really catchy chorus, serving as a nicely paced, effectively fun track. Her voice has a sultry lightness that summons good comparisons to the likes of Sunmi, and they truly get a chance to shine here.

8. i-dle – Mono (feat. Skaiwater)

It’s a lot simpler than a lot of their other works, but features writing reminiscent of their most empowering messages wrapped into a catchy, mellower song. All this is helped by a feature that goes great with the group, resulting in a satisfying collaboration.

Whereas i-dle has become far more known nowadays for their brash, loud and proud title tracks like ‘Queencard ‘and ‘Tomboy‘, this tamer approach still proves an effective sound for them. With lyrics primarily in English, there is an international appeal with this song and its message of embracing everyone in enjoying the sound of music. It’s a song worthy of the group’s reputation as trailblazers combining good music with lyrics that have more depth than one expects, and is a welcome addition to the group’s discography.

7. dodree – Just Like a Dream

Another of the months’ debuts, this is an incredibly unique and original showing for a K-Pop artist, thanks to the instruments behind it and its emphasis on vocals. dodree makes their debut with a single album, and with both songs under 3 minutes, they make the most of it, serving up a song so good, it’s for the best that it’s not a dream.

It’s unconventional in production, foregoing the typical sounds you’d hear in a K-Pop song, and bringing a new sound to the scene that is more than welcome. Traditional Korean instruments go along with a pair of unforgettable voices that at times, feel like a different flavor of Ablume’s Aran, fluctuating between airy breathlessness and deeper, stronger vocals. ‘Just Like a Dream is a terrific debut, with a wonderful pair behind it that is hard not to root for.

6. Bora – Muffler

Cherry Bullet‘s famous vocalist has returned with a ballad reminiscent of Wendy of Red Velvet’s ‘Like Water‘, opting to play it safe and do what she does best, and makes the most of it. This slow, ballad track is a sweet comeback to music for the singer, and it gives her fans exactly the kind of thing they know and love her for.

Her voice shines in this simple track, elevating the ballad to one that is tender and a showcase of more mature vocals. There is a lightness in her voice that perfectly captures a sense of longing and yearning that the instrumental is more than happy to help with, thanks to the inclusion of stringed instruments providing the song with the feeling reserved for the most comforting of lullabies. Despite the song’s title, Bora’s voice remains as clearly flawless as it ever was.

5. Choi Ha Ri – JUMPER

This soloist makes a very impactful debut with an incredibly short, but incredibly fun pop-rock track. Calling to mind songs like BoA’s ‘Crazier ‘and QWER’s ‘Dear ‘from last year, this single works as a delightfully bright introduction to the artist.

A MIXNINE survivor, she makes the most of her years of experience and goes all out on this guitar-led track. With its catchy chorus and effective instrumental, it’s rather easy to fall in line with her chanting and hard to resist shouting “Jump!” with her.

4. LATENCY – It Was Love

With an all-star lineup of former girl group members, this band landed with a strong impact thanks to a simply fun rock song. Four of its five members are past members of either Good Day/cignature or LOONA/Loossemble. Their experience shows itself in the quality of the music, bringing something fresh to this month’s releases.

Every member shines in their own way, taking up an instrument and supporting each other to help make their debut both fun and memorable. With this only being a digital single, there’s a lot of potential for the band with more songs later down the line, and we can’t wait to see what comes next for them.

3. Apink – Sunshine

Making a welcome return, this group proves they’re still able to have a unique voice amidst the modern K-Pop landscape with a great EP. Though it is painfully short, that doesn’t stop ‘Sunshine‘, their chosen promoted bside, from being an excellent album track that feels complete regardless of length.

The group finds a bubbly sweetness to it reminiscent of Yena’s ‘Being a Good Girl Hurts’, this unashamedly giddy and happy track is a highlight on Apink’s RE : LOVE for its brisk energy perfect for a sunny day. With Love Me More as the title track and strong bsides alongside it like ‘Fizzy Soda‘, Apink made absolutely sure that their return was nothing less than stellar in terms of both production and vocals.

2. H1-KEY – Not Like a Movie

Coming half a year after their summer hit ‘Summer Was You‘, H1-KEY marks their 4th anniversary with a meaningful, sweet track showcasing once again their love for the music and their fans in a wonderfully lovely fashion. H1-KEY always brings a sentimentality and meaning to their songs, and Not Like a Movie’s denouncement of an idealized life and rejection of pressure calls to their more heartfelt songs, like ‘You Are My Key‘ and ‘Rose Blossom‘.

There is a familiar feeling to their first song of the year that feels comforting, with a funky, groovy sound making up the track. The girls’ voices shine as usual, and their vocals combine with the lyrics to make another great entry into their discography. “It’s okay if it’s not special,” may be one of the song’s tender lyrics, but this group always makes their releases something beyond special.

1. Chuu – Canary

With the year’s first full album, Chuu once again cements her status as not only one of the most active, but one of the best soloists currently operating right now. XO, My Cyberlove has a number of great bsides like ‘Cocktail Dress‘, ‘Loving You!,‘ and ‘Teeny Tiny Heart‘, along with a beautifully done title track, and Canary stands as quite possibly the best of the bunch.

A powerful song using her vocals for a yearning only the person behind ‘Kiss a Kitty‘ can deliver, towards the end, she sings out, “I trust you’ll heal, I don’t doubt it, I really believe it,” and you can feel her pouring her heart out in these lines. It’s a song that builds up effectively to an explosive, emotional chorus, and once it winds down, it does so with a melancholic sadness reminiscent of Paramore’s ‘After Laughter‘. With her vocals quieting down after a phenomenal bridge, Chuu ends the song on a soft, whispered tone, landing this emotional rollercoaster of a song perfectly. As it stands, ‘Canary ‘is already one of the year’s best songs, serving as a reminder of the incredible range Chuu has as an artist.

To support the artists featured in today’s special piece, please follow them at their social media links below:

BLOOMY INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/bloomy_on?igsh=MXRobWp4czZqeHQw

BLOOMY SPOTIFY: