Sunday Spin: New Releases from IVE, CORTIS, Jill Scott, BNK48, and Ghea Indrawari

With Valentine’s Day just behind us, as well as the Lunar New Year and holy month of Ramadan ahead, there are plenty of excuses to get together with your loved ones and cozy up with some new releases. If sharing earbuds and creating playlists for dinner parties are your love language, look no further than these new releases to brighten up your shared moments.

Jill Scott – “Right Here Right Now”

After eleven years, three-time GRAMMY winner Jill Scott returns with her sixth studio album To Whom This May Concern. Featuring 19 new songs, the album brings together a mix of genres, from jazz, house, to hip hop and spoken word. The full-length album almost feels like a celebration of what music is all about. From the uplifting energy of the Maha Adachi Earth-assisted “Dope Shit,” which encourages listeners to step into their full potential with its manifesting lyrics, to the soft jazz tones that evolve into house-inspired beats on “Right Here Right Now,” the album delivers both expression and dance floor-ready moments.

“Pressha” complements the album well. Placed right in the middle of the tracklist, the song explores the standards and expectations that come from society. In a jazzy background with a steady low drumset, the track brings a realness to those who have felt the same way. As a pioneer of leading where her artistry feels right, To Whom This May Concern is bold, moving, and ultimately a piece that many feel touched by. 

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IVE – “BANG BANG” 

The ever fierce K-pop sextet, IVE, are back with a “BANG.” They returned with the pre-release single, “BANG BANG,” which combines trap 808s, a wild-west guitar, and electronic beats for a sonic statement piece. The song is exhilarating — there is no time for rest as the song continuously builds up from the start. “BANG BANG” dives into IVE’s bolder side, reminiscent of previous releases like “Kitsch” and “Baddie.” They confidently deliver lines like “Who cares what others think / I don’t give a shh! what you say / Yeah I be going out with a bang.” 

The music video matches the song’s relentless energy with an emphasis on powerful choreography shots. IVE also doesn’t miss the chance to flaunt their visuals as they work the camera with dynamic poses and close-ups. “BANG BANG,” is just the first taste of what IVE has to offer for their upcoming full album, REVIVE+, set to release on February 23. Now entering their fifth year of promotions, IVE maintain their footing as one of K-pop’s biggest girl group acts. 

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CORTIS – “Mention Me”

Rookie group CORTIS obtained their first contribution to a soundtrack for GOAT, a Sony Pictures Animation movie featuring various animals as its cast. The film’s premise involves goat protagonist Will learning to adapt to the pro basketball scene and prove himself worthy of his faster and larger teammates. 

Heavy bass, muffled sirens, and clocks ticking boldly come together to emphasize the intensity of standing in the spotlight, be it music or sports. “Every time they talk ’bout ‘Who is that?’ / They gon’ mention me,” CORTIS proclaims in the chorus. CORTIS reflects Will’s greenhorn character as a rookie K-pop group finding their sound. Still, they have accomplished feats such as being named Friends of the NBA, as well as becoming the first K-pop group to perform at this year’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Halftime and NBA Crossover performance.

CORTIS build up anticipation for how they will break barriers as they grow as they sing, “Only top class, I might need a (Oh, yeah) / Little more space next time we meet up.” The group acknowledges their growing popularity as they bring hype through every performance. As you listen to “Mention Me,” remember to stay unbothered and focus on your own path to success. 

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BNK48 – “Celebration”

Graduations — the ceremonial departure of members from the Japan-founded AKB48 Group global network — are inevitable, and rarely does it happen en masse. But for BNK48, the offshoot based in Bangkok, Thailand, it has happened twice before. It’s happening again next month, when eight out of thirteen of the group’s third generation are setting off on their own happy trails. One of the ways 48 Groups commemorate this milestone is with a send-off show or concert. Though seldom paired with a new single, this time around, the BNK48 graduates-to-be are given one last hurrah with “Celebration.”

If mass graduations are rare and special songs marking them even rarer, this release is the rarest of them all. Gone is the common practice of selecting from AKB48’s Japanese-language repertoire and translating it into Thai. Instead, “Celebration” is an original song that, well, celebrates Thai pop in all its glory. The song abandons any Japanese association carried by the 48 name, veering closer to the synthy, 2000s dance sounds ubiquitous among Southeast Asian pop (à la BINI or 4EVE), complete with a rap-like second verse and chanty pre-choruses. It demonstrates the group’s individuality and how it stands out from the rest of its sister groups, infusing something new into the 48 Group sound library.

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SHAUN – “Diary”

Picture it: spring is about to bloom, picnics and friends at the park, and “Diary” playing in the background. SHAUN’s new pre-release single has us craving for warm weather and reminiscing about what once was the past. This song is presented almost as a journal entry, with an electric guitar-led sound and soft melodies serving as the background for a track that almost feels like part of a K-drama. With lines such as “The worn pages and clumsy handwriting pull me back to the days I smiled and the days I cried” and “So when I look back on this moment someday, I won’t fill it with regret,” the track is a heartfelt, happy memory of youth and growing up.

“Diary” is part of the pre-release singles for SHAUN’s upcoming EP, with two other singles already out and a music video in the works. He personally led the composition, writing, and production process of his new tracks. Warming us up during the chilly weather, “Diary” reminds us not to resent the past and to welcome it with love and care.

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Esha Tewari – “Where Our Streets Meet”

If you’re not familiar yet with who Esha Tewari is, this is a good time to get acquainted with her. The Australian singer-songwriter (whose mother hailed from northern India) has been in the scene since 2024, independently releasing music that feels deeply personal. Maybe it’s the diaristic lyrics that feel like reading out of her handwritten journal or the ambient bedroom pop production, but fans of The Marías, Gracie Abrams, and Florence Welch might find elements that would speak to their penchant.

She recently released her brand-new EP, What Makes a Girl a Girl. Six songs come together to tell her own succinct story of personal identity, romance, and heartbreak, reminiscent of Sabrina Carpenter’s emails i can’t send. Closer “Where Our Streets Meet” stands out with its stripped back performance and an emotional delivery right from the outset. The song opens with “Every once in a while / I rub salt in the wound,” a feeling many know all too well transitioning into the lingering question of “How did we go so far apart from the people we are?”

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muque – “DARK GAME”

Folklore blends with reality in Japanese band muque’s “DARK GAME.” Inspired by the Japanese Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons), the music video features various creatures living alongside humans. Set in the dark of night, an eerie feeling settles over audiences.

The single’s title hints to the song’s composition, as well as a new aspect to muque’s musical identity. Haunting chorus voices are accompanied by a quick violin intro, before falling into a trap-based beat. Vocalist Asakura plays two roles: a manipulative authority opposed by a subject refusing to submit. “You follow my every order / But I want more / I want your mind,” Asakura proclaims as the one in control. Mythical beings march in time with her voice, conforming to order.

Asakura as the rebellious subordinate uses her voice to speak up and the mythical creatures follow her onto a bus. “Sew up the unwanted body / Protect the heart that won’t burn,” she calls out, leaving behind her old self. One by one, the beings choose freedom from oppression and take their futures into their own hands. If you’re looking for a song with a premise worthy of a film, tune into “DARK GAME.” The band’s new lineup also promises more of their new sound with upcoming album GLHF (Good Luck, Have Fun) on April 15 and their “muque LIVE TOUR 2026 ‘GLHF’” beginning in March.

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Ghea Indrawari – “1000X”

What’s the best way to express love? Is it flashy displays that people fawn over once it hits TikTok, or concisely captioned posts cementing the pair’s Instagram-official status? For Indonesian Idol alum Ghea Indrawari, it’s neither; in fact, quite the opposite. Romance is found within the folds of smaller, quieter moments, through bonds of intimacy and trust, and the realization that you’d “choose that same person even if given a thousand chances in life,” she explained.

“1000X” is partially the love song you’d expect out of Valentine’s Day staples like “L-O-V-E” or “Teenage Dream” with all its tender musings of sweet romance. But it trades the saccharine sounds with a guitar-led ballad that evokes Billie Eilish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” paired with feathery vocal stylings that match many of today’s Indonesian Gen Z favorites like Idgitaf and Nadin Amizah. Its lyrics equally reflect the singer’s national roots, harkening back to the 2000s and early 2010s songs that are reminders of the discographies of Maudy Ayunda and Vierratale as well as Yovie Widianto–penned works.

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Nian Tong – “What’s On Your Mind” 

London-based singer-songwriter, Nian Tong, poses the question all hopeless romantics find themselves asking: “What’s On Your Mind?” For those stuck pondering this Valentine’s weekend, Nian Tong’s latest single off his upcoming second EP, Gradually, will speak to you. “What’s On Your Mind” was born from personal experience, where Nian Tong’s move to London back in 2023 led to a lost connection with a love from Boston. Light-hearted in sound with a whimsical piano tune and toe-tapping rhythms, the song transforms painful heartbreak into tender introspection. Nian Tong optimistically sings, “But, I’ll be here / And I’ll be patient and polite / Oh when you are ready / Just tell me what’s on your mind.” 

“What’s On Your Mind” also unveils a sonic shift for Nian Tong, whose earlier tracks were aligned with a more traditional sound with live instruments. This single elevates the vulnerability that was present in his previous releases and fuses it with a more modern indie pop vibe. His upcoming second EP is also emblematic of this shift, marking 2026 as an exciting new era for Nian Tong.

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HWANG MIN HYUN – “Truth”

Returning from his mandatory military enlistment, HWANG MIN HYUN is back with a heartfelt gift for the fans who waited for him. Since his 2012 debut as a member of NU’EST and later as part of Wanna One, Minhyun has continually evolved as a solo artist and expanded his career into acting. After 21 months away, he returns to the microphone with “Truth,” a pop ballad that reaffirms his devotion as the steadfast Captain of Hwangdos. 

He first unveiled “Truth” at his fan meeting, “UTOPIA – SEOUL,” earlier this February, presenting it as a sincere expression of gratitude. The song highlights his signature soft falsettos and smooth vocal delivery with a sentimental melody that gently crescendos alongside his voice. “The eternal truth / Always with you / That we are together,” he sings, “The unchanging truth, even if it grows dim / Nothing changes, I’ll always stay with you.” MIN HYUN’s “Truth” is a promise. Through uncertain and darker times, his constant has always been his fans. In this single, he pledges to remain by their side just as faithfully as they have remained by his. 

Now that he’s back, HWANG MIN HYUN shows no signs of slowing down. Alongside his return to the stage, he is preparing for the second season of the hit drama, Study Group, and is also set to reunite with Wanna One for a long-awaited gathering seven years in the making. 

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Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “IDENTITY” by TVXQ!, “Always Everywhere” by Charli XCX, and “Let Me” by Victoria Monét. Listen to everything mentioned and more, curated by Team EnVi only for you on Spotify.

Want more of the latest releases? Check out our previous Sunday Spin here!