NCT’s JENO and JAEMIN Make an Explosive Debut with “BOTH SIDES”
NCT’s limitless members concept may have come to an end in 2023, but their ongoing activities, whether as part of subunits or as solo artists, offer endless potential for creative endeavors. The K-pop boy group’s most recent musical foray centers on members JENO and JAEMIN, who team up to form a subunit called NCT JNJM (read as “NCT JENO JAEMIN”).
Keen eyes wouldn’t find the combination surprising. Since debuting in 2016 as members of NCT DREAM, the two are renowned for their performing skills, charisma, and off-stage chemistry. With the appeal of the latter, the duo made their silver screen debut as cameos in Korean web series A-TEEN (2018) before becoming the main stars of the vertical drama WIND UP eight years later. And with the release of their debut EP, BOTH SIDES, on February 23, JENO and JAEMIN showcase their one-of-a-kind artistic synergy.
An Ode to Duality
As its name implies, BOTH SIDES revolves around duality in every sense of the word. Consisting of six tracks, the EP is presented with a story that centers on contrast, choice, and fate. In the three mood films leading up to the EP release, JENO and JAEMIN are two lone-wolf spies tasked with the same operation, even going undercover as unassuming employees in the same company. Yet it doesn’t take long until they recognize each other as not what they seem. After witnessing JAEMIN sneakily obtaining his supervisor’s security access card and hiding it inside his desk drawer, JENO, who assumes a cautious approach, goes through the drawer after his shift ends — only to be greeted by an office stapler and a cheeky sticky note. Before he could make any move, the emergency lights flared; JAEMIN is ahead of him in this cat-and-mouse chase, suitcase of mysterious assets in hand.
Once they finally confront each other on the highest floor of the building, JENO proposes a deal through a classic coin flip. If it’s heads, they’ll cooperate and get away from the approaching law enforcement unit, no matter what. If it’s tails, they’ll go head-to-head to see who can claim mission accomplished. These outcomes are shown in two separate videos: in “ONE SIDE,” clad in all-black attire, the duo engage in hand-to-hand combat, their fates unknown to the viewers. In “THE OTHER SIDE,” as the coin lands on heads, the two men do not hesitate to grab their pistols and attack the enforcement unit. The ambush proves to be successful, as the scene cuts to JENO and JAEMIN traversing along a desert in a blue pickup truck. As JENO opens the suitcase, he discovers that he is once again tricked: the suitcase contains nothing, and JAEMIN is messing with him.
The duality concept doesn’t end there. Beyond the espionage mystery, the two members act as foils to each other. If JENO is subdued and methodical, then JAEMIN is commanding and unpredictable. From their weapon of choice as secret agents to their clothing preference, it seems as though they do not get along, always competing for attention. But these differences are what makes the two of them appealing — not just in terms of charisma, but also in their musical output.
Which One is Your Best Side?
The title track “BOTH SIDES” confidently opens the record, setting expectations for what’s to come. Penned by Cyrus Villanueva and Niklas Jarelius Persson with lyrics by Cho Yun Kyoung, the hip-hop track is effortlessly sensual. Over sparse yet pulsating trap-inspired beats, JENO and JAEMIN boast their attractive looks and charisma. “Usually I’m gentle / But if you touch me, I bite right back / A shoulder to lean on / Climb on, my nose bridge like a slide for you,” JENO raps; in the music video, gravity is in his favor as a Renaissance-era painting tilts at the same angle as his nose, its inhabitants clearly charmed by him. Flaunting his equally handsome features, JAEMIN walks around with his shirt off and jumps right into a pool, impressing a row of middle-aged ladies: “Big screen filled with me / And inside, an ice cream / Curl my lips into a smile / Ride the vibe, blow a kiss.” While the music video ends with both men sandwiched by the walls of the hotel hallway, it is clearly not yet game over as their charms continue along the record.
If “BOTH SIDES” leans bright and witty, the second track “I.D.O.L.” is its edgier cousin. Continuing the self-aggrandizing theme of its preceding track, “I.D.O.L.” is Miami bass-inspired and highlights how the duo’s titular job means bringing their fans’ fantasies to life. Whistling synths and 808s fill the track as they chant, “From the East side, to the West side / They love me, love me, I’m worldwide / A title that suits me / The IDOL that you’ve been looking for.” They’re aware of their international impact — as any Billboard “21 Under 21” alumnus could attest — and they’re not letting go of their fame. But listening to the song closely reveals their desire to become the love of their fans’ lives: “Every day must feel like a dream to you / Just say the word, I’ll become your fantasy / I’ll show you all my sides, show window, three-six-five.”
The duo’s quest for sensuality reaches its climax in the third track, “What It Is,” with its lyrics entirely written by JAEMIN. A pop R&B song, it is more vocal-oriented than the last two tracks as JENO and JAEMIN switch between hushed rap verses and falsetto-laden prechoruses. In the track, there’s no more flexing good looks or begging for devotion; they’re eye-to-eye with their lover, slowly making the moves needed for pleasure. There’s a focus on the little things — soft touches, intoxicating aroma, and descending into ecstasy. As they put it in the bridge: “I’ll close my eyes / Do anything for you / In the frame / When you and I overlap.”
Love Saver, Heartbreaker, Tastemaker
The mini-album’s mood continues to be suave and mellow in the fourth track, “HASHTAG.” Compared to the first three tracks’ affinity for more modern sounds, the song pays tribute to the sounds of 2000s hip-hop, with metallic, chain-like percussions. Opting for a low-pitched delivery, the duo raps about being online sensations, going viral at every corner of the internet. Unlike people who curate their digital persona out of self-consciousness and doubt, they claim their throne as tastemakers by way of authenticity: “No faker / Thrill chaser / Extra flavor / ‘Cause I certified it.”
Things take a turn in “WIND UP,” which serves as the eponymous drama’s soundtrack provided by none other than the main stars themselves. Just like how the WIND UP series chronicles the unexpected friendship between a high school baseball player and a transfer student who aspires to be his manager, the song sprinkles in baseball lingo throughout its runtime. Lyrically, the song also stands out for its focus on gaining confidence and camaraderie. “The moment you put your arms up / A circle full of luck / Don’t worry about anything,” JENO and JAEMIN sing, referencing the role of JENO’s character in the series, Woojin, as a pitcher. Over a blend of soft drums and brass, the duo proves their ability to transition into smoother and more upbeat tracks.
Last on the tracklist is “sexier,” a return to the flirtatious and confident flair that has been consistent in the record. Right off the bat, listeners are met with JENO’s intimate vocalizations — all over crystalline synths and bouncy beats. This rhythm quickly becomes an earworm, complete with the duo taking turns chanting “Make it sexier / Feelin’ sexier / All night, ah / Don’t stop ‘til you get enough.” It’s bliss distilled into a feel-good two-minute track. Once the song ends, it leaves listeners itching for more — just like how there’s never enough of what JENO and JAEMIN have to offer.
Keep up with NCT JNJM on X, Instagram, and TikTok. BOTH SIDES is available on multiple streaming platforms.
Be up-to-date with the newest releases by checking out our most recent Sunday Spin, featuring SB19, Kento Nakajima, and Hearts2Hearts!
