Wave to earth Have Fun With Their New Album “play with earth! 0.03”

Exploring themes of love, heartbreak, and youth, South Korean band wave to earth – comprising members Daniel Kim, John Cha, and Dong Q – released their latest album, play with earth! 0.03. The album was released on September 6 and contains seven songs, including the title track, play with earth! 

Let’s Have Fun With Earth! 

Starting the album off is “are you bored?,” a groovy instrumental track with strong influence of Lo-Fi and Synth-Pop. The song is filled with a nature-esque quality and a warped ‘70s mood, while carrying a moderate tempo. “Are you bored?” sounds as if it could be the theme song of the album, introducing new and old listeners alike to the world of wave to earth. 

The title track, “play with earth!,” starts with the warm voice of lead singer and guitarist Daniel Kim, surrounded by soft instruments. It encapsulates everything the band is known for: a bouncing beat and wavy ambience that captures the essence of the ocean. The sound of “play with earth!” is reminiscent of their 2020 EP “wave 0.01,” It gives a feeling of nostalgia, while also reflecting the growth of the group in the past four years. 

Their third track, “annie,” was written by both Daniel Kim and bassist John Cha. It is wave to earth’s first explicit song and carries a slightly theatrical theme. “Annie” tells the story of the main character getting over a girl who seems to have told her fair share of lies about him. Though the subject is frustrating and the singer expresses having been slandered, the production of the song is a heavy contrast, as it is surprisingly joyful. Its upbeat tone makes the listener want to stroll down the street and swing around on lampposts. “Annie” reimagines the breakup-song genre: it’s no longer about losing another half, but rather regaining individuality and truth. 

Diving Further Into the Wave

Originally released in 2020, the fourth track, “pueblo,” didn’t gain a spot in their previous album, 0.1 flaws and all. Being one of their livelier songs, “pueblo” is easy to sing along to on a long drive with the windows down. While Dong Q’s drumming plays a heavy part in leading the listener, Daniel Kim’s vocals are soothing while simultaneously being sprightly. 

Calming the listener down from the pop-rock tone of “pueblo” is  “beck.” While slightly upbeat, Kim drags out his voice in different spots of the song to create a feeling of dread throughout. The lyrics are like a one-sided conversation between the singer and “Beck” with talk of shame when returning home. A recurring theme in the song is insecurity surrounding following his dreams. This is seen in lyrics, such as “I’d thought I’d make a good living on my own” and “the reality is always a mess.” Discovered by Kim in the last moments, even if he stumbles while chasing his dreams, at least he’s not alone. 

The longest track of the album “slow dive” starts to pacify the album’s upbeat nature even more by introducing a soothing beat and Kim’s lower tone. There is only a distinct difference in tempo during the chorus with a rise in volume from the singer, as well as a more stimulating instrumental. The tonality perfectly reflects the lyrics, as they express messages of wanting to give up, not knowing how to put yourself back together, and wanting to stay in the good moments of life. “Slow dive” is bound to make it onto contemplative and reflective playlists everywhere.

With a strong finish to the album, “holyland” has to be one of the most anticipated songs from fans. Known for their somber slow songs, wave to earth have successfully added another to the list. Written by both Daniel Kim and John Cha, “holyland” covers topics of loss and grief and the desperation of wanting someone back. The first half of the song has a strong influence of R&B and soul, while the latter half includes a soft influence of rock that wave to earth are known for. “Holyland” is simultaneously heartbreaking and healing. With the last thirty seconds fully instrumental, it gives the listener a moment to reflect, resonate, and reach to press repeat on the album. 

Keep up with wave to earth on X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!
Interested in more album breakdowns? Check out our coverage of xikers’ fourth-mini album, HOUSE OF TRICKY : WATCH OUT, here!