From dreamy sequences from ASTRO’s Rocky and rookie group idntt to culturally imbued tracks (Chinese and Japanese) from WayV and Hearts2Hearts, respectively, this week’s K-pop releases are less summer-focused and more about finding balance between old and new. The same can be said for NCT 127, who have been ramping up for their first album in two years with their latest fusion of hip-hop and rock.

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WayV - “Vision Wings”

Eight months since their special winter album, Eternal White, Chinese boy group WayV is back with their latest EP, Vision Wings, and its eponymous title track. This is also the band’s first comeback since Thai member Ten departed SM Entertainment in April, but considering he’s still an active member of the group, it’s as if WayV hasn’t missed a single step. Sonically, the quintet is known for its more atmospheric takes on hip-hop, R&B, and even EDM, but “Vision Wings” brings back some of the group’s core Chinese elements that hadn’t been heard in quite a while. Blending traditional Chinese guzheng melodies with modern hip-hop jungle beats, the track feels more like a full-circle moment than just your average comeback — a reawakening of who WayV was and still is.

NCT 127 - “Piñata”

In the two years since NCT 127 released their last album, a lot has changed. Not only has the group’s lineup changed considerably since their last release, one of its most central vocalists, Doyoung, is currently serving in the military. Once an eight-member group, it is now down to five, but that doesn’t mean NCT 127 is down for the count. In the first track video from their upcoming seventh studio album, BLINGY, the quintet revamps their hip-hop sound with a rock influence in “Piñata.” Combining electric guitar riffs, funky bass, and breakbeat drums, the track wastes no time setting a grittier tone than most of 127’s previous outings, but still captures the group’s shout-centric hooks that have become synonymous with the NCT brand. Even with this new configuration, 127 is still as “neo” as it gets.

Hearts2Hearts - “ICONIC HEART”

After dropping another mega hit with “RUDE!” back in February and their latest summer comeback, “Lemon Tang,” girl group Hearts2Hearts has officially made its Japan debut with “ICONIC HEART.” Since their 2025 debut, the octet has carved out a signature sound rooted in high-energy dance grooves, featuring bright house-pop synths and buoyant, youthful vocals. The trend continues in “ICONIC HEART,” but doesn’t just rehash the same style — it builds upon it. Incorporating elements of K-pop’s take on Jersey Club, future bass, bitpop, and speed garage, the track takes Hearts2Hearts’ core dance-pop sound and fuses it with an unmistakable J-pop influence, resulting in a bouncy number that feels both vintage and fresh. In the pantheon of the group’s ever-growing discography, this feels like an entry all its own.

Rocky (ASTRO) - “Fake It”

Although boy group ASTRO hasn’t made a regular comeback in a while, the lull hasn’t stopped its individual members from exploring solo careers and making names for themselves in their own right. The latest to do so is 27-year-old Rocky with his R&B-influenced single, “Fake It.” Featuring a “slow-burn, sinuous, and moody groove,” the track is anchored in the trendy male dance-pop sound that’s become popular for male K-pop idols taking the solo route and especially evokes veteran Taemin’s signature style. The dark synths combined with Rocky’s hypnotic, airy vocals take the track into an otherworldly atmosphere, fitting the album’s theme of unrequited love and the emotional boundary between illusion and reality. It’s like a three-minute dream sequence come to life, reaching out just far enough that it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. It all comes to a head when backed by the singer’s fluid choreography that seems more conceptual and interpretive than straightforward. In a week full of comebacks from K-pop’s powerhouses, “Fake It” is not one to underestimate.

idntt - “Deep Dream”

We’re more than halfway into the year, and rookie boy group idntt has already had five releases under its belt between singles and mini-albums. This time, the conglomerate’s third sub-unit, itsnotover, has re-emerged with its hazy R&B single, “Deep Dream.” Described as a minimalistic take on contemporary R&B, “Deep Dream” lives up to its name, creating an atmospheric listening experience with soft, dreamlike melodies and a languid tempo. Even with the heavy vocal processing, the alteration suits the song’s heavy bass, chugging along as if it has nowhere to be — a nice change of pace in the industry’s current trend of moving through and ending songs before they’ve even had a chance to settle. Between all three of idntt’s subunits (unevermet, yesweare, and itsnotover), each group has already delivered several strong entries this year, and they haven’t even made their official debut — let’s hope this upward trajectory continues.