It’s been nearly two years since NewJeans’ last release, with 2024’s new jack swing-inspired “Supernatural” being the girl group’s final comeback before going into hiatus due to legal conflicts with parent company, HYBE. However, even in their absence, NewJeans’ sonic fingerprints can still be found lingering in K-pop’s DNA, with the group’s refreshing blend of late ‘90s/early 2000s pop, R&B, and dance music becoming the “It-Sound” for many other groups to follow. With reports now signaling the girls’ long-awaited comeback, it seems there is potential for yet another shift in the K-pop industry, with NewJeans leading the way.

On April 26, speculations began swirling that NewJeans members Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni were spotted in Copenhagen around the same time a scheduler had surfaced online for what appeared to be for a recording studio in the Danish city. Soon after, the girls’ agency, ADOR, outright confirmed the rumors by stating that “the visit was part of a preproduction process to chronicle a new musical journey of NewJeans,” before adding, “the members are preparing for activities on the best timetable for each of them.” With the group’s pre-existing sound having garnered so much attention and critical acclaim across the board, this definitely raises a few questions as to what this “new musical journey” could look like moving forward.

When five-member group NewJeans made their surprise debut in 2022, they were considered a breath of fresh air for K-pop consumers who were looking for a new spark in creativity. While most other group releases were big, flashy, and relatively maximalist, NewJeans toned it down with a soft blend of pop, R&B, and house music that drew more from K-pop’s ‘90s and early 2000s girl groups. Throughout the next two years, the group would go on to bring other electronic subgenres to the forefront, specifically UK garage, Jersey Club, Baltimore Club — effectively kicking off what would become K-pop’s next defining era for the early 2020s.

The confirmation of their comeback is both exciting and intriguing, as NewJeans quickly solidified themselves as one of K-pop’s leading fourth-gen girl groups in such a short amount of time. With only three years under their belt (before the hiatus), the members became trendsetters in every sense of the word — through their unique sonic palette, distinctive visual aesthetics, and eye-catching choreography that leaned into the group’s emphasis on girlhood and youthful energy. 

Technically speaking, NewJeans’ sound wasn’t necessarily groundbreaking — it was clear ADOR and their former executive producer Min Heejin were pulling inspiration from past eras while also listening out for up-and-coming sounds in the Western market. The first modern inspiration that comes to mind is British singer-songwriter PinkPanthress, who gained popularity through TikTok with her eclectic use of genres like bedroom and alt-pop, drum and bass, UK garage, and R&B. Her sound alone helped spark a new wave of interest in UK-born styles, with NewJeans reinforcing it through songs like “Super Shy” and “Cool With You.”

Similarly, the group began to dabble in club music, as well, either building entire songs around East House house genres or mixing them with pop, hip-hop, and R&B. Tracks like “ETA” and “How Sweet” utilized these styles to the fullest, with the former being built around Baltimore Club and the latter incorporating elements of Miami bass, electropop, and the 1980’s inspired electroclash. Since then, K-pop has been somewhat of an explosion of house and electronic/dance releases, and while the influences have definitely existed in the industry before, it would be remiss to ignore the current hyperfixation on it in these last few years.

Fifth-gen groups, specifically, have taken to this trend of what many have called “the easy listening epidemic” — songs that are much more subdued and lighter in tone. More often than not, these tracks are usually built around the rapid percussions of the drum and bass (or liquid drum and bass) styles while prioritizing soft, lush melodies. Visually, it’s also been associated with the popular Y2K aesthetic, which NewJeans heavily capitalized off with dreamy and often whimsical outfits where more is more. Almost like a domino effect, K-pop became saturated with this style, with practically every girl group going through a Y2K/drum and bass/UK garage phase.

While certain trends and styles have progressed since NewJeans was last active, their return to the music industry has a high chance of turning K-pop on its head once again. Right now, high-octane EDM and house are running rampant in the K-pop scene. Will NewJeans ramp up their sound to try and catch up or deviate from the trend entirely? Frankly, the latter seems like the smarter move — when you’ve already earned the title of “trendsetter,” why backpedal into a space that’s heavily occupied as it is?

Internally, however, a lot has changed with NewJeans since we last saw them. With former ADOR CEO and executive producer Min Heejin no longer overseeing the group’s creative direction — or involved in the process at all — how will this affect NewJeans’ comeback both musically and visually? Furthermore, the group’s overall lineup has taken a hit, with former Korean-Australian member Danielle’s contract termination in late 2025 and eldest member Minji’s status still unclear for the foreseeable future. Regardless, whatever happens between now and NewJeans’ next release, the pending evolution of their artistic vision will undoubtedly shake the K-pop industry in more ways than one.