This week’s K-pop releases include the first solo debut from THE BOYZ, a one-of-a-kind cultural blend of Mexican and Korean heritage from international artist Samuel, and a vivacious contender for song of the summer from girl group izna. Dive in to see which tracks made the cut below.

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izna - “Metronome”

Setting the summer tone with their third EP, Set The Tempo, girl group izna does just that in their latest title track, “Metronome,” an ethereal house-driven experience that makes it impossible to sit still. While the opening is soft and unassuming, the song quickly builds into an earful of complex progressions and color melodies, with every turn uncovering an even more unforgettable moment. “It contains our ambition to move forward at Izna's own pace, not at the speed set by other people or by the world," member Ryu Sa-rang said about the song’s message. With EDM and house taking over again, this is how you stand out from the crowd.

Samuel - “ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI”

Gaining popularity as a contestant on season two of the popular survival show Produce 101 and going to debut as a K-pop soloist, Mexican-Korean artist Samuel is now blending his Latin heritage with his K-pop sensibilities in “ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI.” The lead single is one of the four tracks on Samuel’s latest album, SAMUELiTO, boasting addictive reggaeton rhythms with bilingual prowess, smoothly switching between English and Spanish throughout. Sonically, “ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI” is unapologetically Latin, but the K-pop influence is mainly seen in the performance quality. With nonstop, visually appealing choreography, Samuel is bridging the gap between his dual identities — the polished style of K-pop with the hypnotic sounds of Latin culture.

Jacob (THE BOYZ) - “Slow Dancing”

After nearly a decade in the industry, THE BOYZ finally debuts its first member to go solo — Jacob with his album simply titled, j. With his soulful and nostalgic title track, Slow Dancing,” the Korean-Canadian singer reveals a more romantic side of himself than he usually lets on in THE BOYZ’s singles. The dreamy combination of the soft-rock ambience and yearning R&B elements seeps into every note and lyric, as Jacob sings of relishing in the true love he’s found. “Every kiss is special with you / Every breath I take is for you / Know I’ve said way too much, but I wanna hear your mind / While I’m slow dancing with you,” he sings in the chorus. While fans have praised “Slow Dancing” for being the perfect soundtrack to a rainy day, it’s also the epitome of lazy summer days under the shade.

HEART OF WOMAN - “TEA”

Two weeks since debuting with a full-length album, Heart Byte: Legacy, five-member group HEART OF WOMAN has released a performance video for its hip-hop dance B-side, “Tea.” Blending smooth vocals with an ever-bouncy melody, “Tea” is both whimsical and witty, giving off a delightful Alice in Wonderland vibe if she dropped into the modern world. “Time to wake up, where am I? / Show me, show me, show me, white rabbit / Time is ticking, vroom / Zoom into a new world, yeah,” members Liri and Chaei sing in the opening. Lyrically, the song is just as clever, mixing in tea party references to the classic children’s novel, while also referencing the common slang phrase, “spilling the tea,” which means to gossip or share secrets. On its own, it’s already a quirky listen, but once you catch the puns and play on words, it just makes “Tea” that much more enjoyable.

JAY B - “Layback”

Since initially going solo in 2021, GOT7 member JAY B has carved an extensive R&B catalog, favoring soulful rhythms and sultry crooning over heavy pop numbers. His latest single, “Layback,” follows the same path, capturing the tension of a relationship as two people naturally grow closer. "I kept thinking about how I could make people say right away, 'This is GOT7's JAY B music,' and 'JAY B's music is different from GOT7's music in this way,'" the singer said at a press conference for his 3rd EP, TR.EE. “Personally, I like R&B, so I think of it as R&B dance. I think vintage sounds, soul, and funk are my roots. As a group, we tend to make more pop-oriented music and follow trends, so I think that is the difference." With sensually languid chords and his signature timbre, it’s hard not to clock this as none other than an intrinsically JAY B vibe.