Sunday Spin: New Releases From Jackson Wang, BINI, Saint Levant, and JISOO
Sunday Spin is EnVi‘s weekly music showcase, where we bring you the hottest global hits in our curated playlist. Join us every Sunday for new music that sets the perfect tone for your upcoming week.
The Valentine’s holiday kicked off a jam-packed week for music! All across the world, artists rang in the special day with fresh releases. Even if you didn’t celebrate Valentine’s, Team EnVi is here to introduce new hits to capture your heart (and ears) through our latest Sunday Spin!
Jackson Wang – “High Alone”
Fresh off of a reunion with GOT7, Jackson Wang returned as a soloist with “High Alone.” In his newest single, Wang continues the self-discovery journey established by his debut solo album, MAGIC MAN. “I’ve spent the last year understanding the Jackson I have always been avoiding,” Wang shared alongside the official music video’s release. “Let me tell you the truth I see. It’s all in this album, let the story begin.” This track begins chapter one of a teased MAGIC MAN 2. “High Alone” features drum and bass elements fused with dark R&B. Wang’s airy delivery atop occasional pitch-altered lines create a surreal vocal landscape.
The lyrics are highly reflective and personal, displaying Wang’s vulnerability. The track starts off with a bold message: “People only judge you from your past / But no one knows what’s in your mind / Until you do it.” Wang sings about not wanting to face the world alone and how suffocating it feels. The cinematic music video tastefully captures this sentiment. It appropriately kicks off with a simple lit cigarette, then transpires into dystopian disillusionment. Wang is made a spectacle as an unempathetic crowd watches him drown. The reflective message of “High Alone” is also more forwardly depicted in the video as Wang wrestles with his reflection in the mirror. Entering a new era with such a powerful message, MAGIC MAN 2 is a project to follow this 2025!
JISOO – “earthquake”
The superstar singer, fashion ambassador, and actress JISOO released her debut mini album, AMORTAGE, to much global anticipation. In tune with the Valentine’s season, “earthquake” captures the seismic feeling of confessing your feelings. JISOO’s historic solo debut, ME, earned her numerous accolades like “highest 24 hour view count for a K-pop music video in 2023” and “the first female K-pop soloist to achieve one million pre-orders.” Just like “FLOWER,” JISOO radiates her signature classy and sensual energy in “earthquake.” However, this track and its accompanying music video showcases a more powerful vibe for the starlet. Christian Breslauer, who worked with other strong female soloists like Doja Cat, SZA, and Ariana Grande, directed the explosive music video. The music video is a dramatization of the thrill one feels when they press the send button on a text to that special someone. JISOO’s accelerating heart rate is represented by a speeding car, and the rush is exemplified by her spinning around the office while glued to her chair. Veteran actor, Cha Seungwon, also makes a special appearance as the “Emotional Protection Heart Guard,” who inquires about her feelings.
This club hit further plays on the earthquake motif as the accelerating pre-chorus reaches an explosive chorus of dance-pop goodness. JISOO sings, “It hits me like an earthquake / My heart races faster / My whole body is trembling, can’t stand.” If you can’t get enough of “earthquake,” AMORTAGE features three other songs. AMORTAGE is a portmanteau of “amor” and “montage.” JISOO explained AMORTAGE as “a collection of stories about love — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.” With acting projects, solo promotions, and a BLACKPINK tour on the horizon, JISOO is ready to capture 2025. “I poured my heart into this project and I’m so excited to share it with you all,” she shared in a press release. “Thank you, BLINKS, for your endless love and support. This one’s for you!”
Linying – “Dial Tone”
Los Angeles-via-Singapore artist Linying takes a nuanced and personal perspective on the dynamics of masculinity in her newest single, “Dial Tone.” Linying’s soft vocals play with the groovy melody and tie this indie track all together. The band sound is the perfect vessel for the personal message she wants to convey. “That song came from thinking about the men in my life and the struggles I’ve seen them go through, like alcoholism and anger issues,” Linying expressed in a press release. “When you’re not fully in touch with yourself, you inadvertently cause hurt to the people around you, and the cycle just goes on from there.”
Visionary artist Lenne Chai directed the riveting music video, starring The L Word’s Leo Sheng and 13 Reasons Why’s Michele Selene Ang. Trans actor and drag queen, Mikey Xu, conveys the complexities of gender identity and a grapple with conformity. The stage is set at a Chinese traditional wedding, where Xu suppresses her identity to adhere to the masculinity instilled by societal and familial pressure. “Dial Tone” is a cut off of Linying’s sophomore album Swim, Swim — set to release on April 4. Filled with sentiment and emotion, it captures a reflective period spent in the Philippine island of Siargao.
Hikaru Utada – “Electricity (Karen Nyame KG remix)”
Legendary Japanese soloist, Hikaru Utada, continues to defy our expectations with a remix of their 2024 track, “Electricity.” Known for hits like “Simple And Clean” from the Kingdom Hearts franchise and the majorly successful “First Love,” Utada is sharing their artistry with a new generation of listeners. In 2024, Utada’s longrunning career was honored in their two-disc best-of album, SCIENCE FICTION. Among new versions of her classic hits, Utada also unveiled brand new tracks like “Electricity.” “Electricity” is a synth-driven midtempo song driven by their signature Y2K essence. To reimagine “Electricity,” London-based producer Karen Nyame KG joined forces with Utada.
Karen Nyame KG adds a percussive driven twist to “Electricity,” further boosting the dynamic sound of the original. To really immerse oneself into the track, “Electricity (Karen Nyame KG remix)” also came with an official visualizer. The visualizer depicts a symphony of rounded shapes and colors atop a bright red background. To celebrate this remix, a sold-out pre-release party took place on February 14 at the Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park in Osaka. This very venue is also hosting the “HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024 NINE STORIES” exhibition, which is ongoing from now until February 24. After celebrating yet another successful year under their belt, Utada is ready to take on 2025 with their captivating and timeless sound.
rhyu – “For it’s You and Me”
Embracing Valentine’s day is Singaporean singer-songwriter rhyu with her latest single, “For it’s You and Me.” Known for her raspy vocals and sincere delivery, rhyu using her voice to tell such a romantic message is no surprise. The song is sweet and serene, with its vibrant instrumentals making it the perfect soundtrack for this season of love. “I hope people feel the warmth I felt while writing this song, and are able to relate to it in their own ways,” rhyu shared in a press release. “This song came from a place of comfort and gratitude I felt towards someone. It’s such an amazing feeling and I hope to translate that through ‘For it’s You and Me.’”
After putting out seven singles, rhyu thought it was “time for something a little bigger.” “For it’s You and Me” is a sampler of what is to come for rhyu’s debut EP, It’s Pouring. Set for a March release date, “For it’s You and Me” is the first song off the five track EP. Rhyu is fairly new to the music scene, beginning her career only two years ago at the age of 19. However, she is ready to share her artistry with the world, and It’s Pouring starts a new journey for the budding artist.
SAILORR – “CUT UP”
After the raving success with her single “POOKIE’S REQUIEM” and a remix with Summer Walker, SAILORR is here to add some toxicity to your Valentine’s weekend with “CUT UP.” She opens her new lyric video serving visuals and vocals, singing, “Cuddle me / Don’t cut up / I’m kidding / I’m cutting up over you baby.” As the song progresses and percussion is added, her classic R&B sound comes out as heard in past singles like “W1LL U L13?”
The singer juxtaposes her pink and white bride-to-be looks with the storytelling of lacking trust but growing desire. After singing, “Delete the texts I know you know / You don’t want me to see,” she soon follows this by declaring, “Loving usually make me sick / But bae I think I’ll make you mine,” during the chorus. Full of lust, “CUT UP” is a single for those who are easily in and out of all-encompassing obsessive love and like it that way.
SixTONES – “BARRIER”
SixTONES are ready to go beyond the barrier in their fourteenth single, “BARRIER.” STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’s sextet starring Jesse, Taiga Kyomoto, Hokuto Matsumura, Yugo Kochi, Shintaro Morimoto, and Juri Tanaka are entering their fifth year as a team. SixTONES topped charts with hits like “KOKKARA” and recently commenced their first five dome tour, “YOUNG OLD.” Though the tour is in full swing until April, their latest release proves that there truly is no stopping SixTONES. “BARRIER” has an irresistible groove thanks to its fun rock and jazz elements. SixTONES’ unique vocal chops blend effortlessly upon the funky brass and quick paced drum beat. “BARRIER” embodies SixTONES’ bold and unrelenting energy. The track is full of optimistic and comforting lyrics perfect for those days when you need that boost of positivity. They sing, “Even on days when I try to shake off those entangled gazes / Even in the midst of wavering conflicts, I’ll be by your side wherever you go.”
The six members work the camera with their suave aura in the music video. SixTONES dance in the street in casual clothing, but then show their duality in a full black ensemble complete with leather pieces. In reference to breaking barriers, SixTONES rip and dash through a sign with the word “BARRIER” repeated on it. “BARRIER” also serves as the theme song for the new feature film adaptation of the best-selling manga, A Girl & Her Guard Dog. SixTONES’ very own Jesse stars in the film, making the OST all the more special! SixTONES are set to release a physical CD version of “BARRIER” on March 19 which features bonus tracks and exclusive behind-the-scenes DVD featurettes.
Amel Bent – “Triste”
Want to take a trip down to France with us real quick? Nearly three years after dropping her seventh studio album Vivante, veteran French singer Amel Bent makes her long-awaited return to music with her latest single, “Triste.” As an artist who’s never shied away from vulnerable topics regarding life, love, and heartbreak, this new era of Amel sees the singer opening up even further, revealing her struggles to overcome sadness, anxiety, emptiness, and the societal pressures of being a woman.
Continuing this theme in “Triste,” (which translates to “sad” in English), Amel tugs at bittersweet heartstrings, combining the song’s upbeat tempo with the somber feeling lingering in her voice and hanging in the air on the strings of the guitar. Lyrically, the track is about the constant push and pull of having hope and the desire to move forward, yet feeling stuck in the past and drowning in sadness. “J’suis triste / Pourtant mon cœur cogne encore là / Ça s’entend dans mes accords moi / Y’a des larmes dans ma voix,” Amel sings in the chorus. In English, this translates to “I’m sad / Yet my heart still beats there / You can hear it in my chords / There are tears in my voice.” Although the message is woeful and full of emotion, its uplifting melodies are enough to want to dance the pain away, even if it means crying as we do.
Milena – “lullaby (demo)”
In true Milena fashion, “lullaby (demo)” is infused with jazz and soft vocals, living up to its name and possibly being her most calming song yet. Coming off of a North American tour with the band wave to earth, “lullaby (demo)” and its sister single, “독신주의 (i love you),” are Milena’s first releases of the new year. “Lullaby (demo)” is mixed and arranged by basecamp, a male duo under the same company as Milena, WAVY. Similar to her last single of 2024, “Dear, Barcelona,” both releases have a bedroom pop and lo-fi sound to them with minimal instruments and heavy use of piano and strings.
Though “lullaby (demo)” is fully in Korean, the tone of Milena’s voice and the tempo throughout allow no room for a wrong interpretation of meaning. The song is filled with questioning the pulls of love and softly asks what love will really make you feel. This Valentine’s weekend, Milena says, “If you think of someone, why don’t you send them these songs?”
Saint Levant – “Diva”
Palestinian singer Saint Levant is here to tell a story of heartbreak-turned-to-yearning in his song “DIVA” from his new album Love Letters. Saint Levant has released a music video for the single along with the album to explore what “DIVA” is all about. Overflowing with eclectic and bold visuals, the singer matches this with an equally groovy and retro backtrack. Saint Levant doesn’t shy away from showcasing Algerian beauty either, with stunning architecture and colors surrounding every scene his character moves through.
The singer starts the music video with his character selfishly criticizing his lover, and the woman quickly moving on after hearing such harsh words. This sends Saint Levant into a reflection of their relationship where he soon realizes that he only wants her. He then is seen soaking up attention and fame but finds himself still following her around the city in his free time. Throughout the chorus, Saint Levant repeats, “Shine your light on me my baby / Be my golden diva baby.” Giving true “DIVA” energy, the singer doesn’t shy away from showing every angle of his talent, from switching into his lower register after the first chorus to singing in French, English, and Arabic.
CHUNG HA – “STRESS”
Fiercer and more electrifying than ever, CHUNG HA is here to relieve all your “STRESS.” With vogue-inspired choreography and an upbeat tempo, “STRESS” is all we needed this weekend to truly let go and have some fun. With the release of her mini-album Alivio, CHUNG HA is embracing sensuality and feminine energy with other songs like “Creepin’” and “Salty (with SUNMI)” with “STRESS” at the center of the album.
“STRESS” is an invigorating, dance-provoking title track, and the music video shows just that. Surrounded by an ensemble of backup dancers, CHUNG HA is seen throwing out her worries at yoga, work, and with others in a velvet classroom. Instructing everyone how to take it easy, CHUNG HA sings, “Right, wrong, I don’t care, I live strong / Play, pause, press me your favorite song / Fast, slow, vibin’ now with the flow” throughout the bridge. This week you can find Team EnVi going with the flow and taking CHUNG HA’s advice by living with “no stress.”
BINI – “Blink Twice”
Filipino girl group BINI are ready to take on 2025 after wrapping up their most successful year yet. The powerhouse group consists of members Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, and Sheena. Following the success of BINI’s first full English single, “Cherry On Top,” their newest single “Blink Twice” continues their bubbly English discography. In this bubblegum pop track, BINI wonder if their crush feels the same way they do, or if it is simply delusion. Unsure if their love is reciprocated, BINI ask their crush to give them simple signs, hence the title, “Blink Twice.” They sing in the chorus, “Let me give you some advice / If you like me blink twice.”
With spring on the horizon, “Blink Twice” is the perfect accompaniment for the refreshing and colorful vibes of the season. The campy music video is bursting with colors as the girls check if they are diagnosed with “fuzzy heart syndrome.” The “naughty or nice” lyric is exemplified in the second verse, where the music video showcases a more dark and glamorous look for the octet. BINI’s fandom, BL∞M, can’t seem to get enough of this adorable music video, as it achieved one million views in less than 12 hours! On February 15, BINI kicked off their 2025 world tour, “BINIverse,” in their homebase of the Philippines. With a brand new song and a global tour junket, BINI are ready to bring P-pop girl group excellence to the world!
HANA – “Drop”
HANA are ready to defy girl group standards with their pre-debut song, “Drop.” The seven member girl group was formed by the survival program, No No Girls. The program’s application had a unique and necessary initiative: “We don’t care about your height, weight, or age. Just show us your voice and your life.” After a fierce competition beginning with 7000 applicants, the final group was narrowed down to members CHIKA, NAOKO, JISOO, YURI, MOMOKA, KOHARU, and MAHINA. This seven member girl group is BMSG’s first girl group, created with the guidance of accomplished rapper CHANMINA. Known for her empowering lyricism and fierce attitude, CHANMINA endows her style as their producer.
“Drop” is emblematic of the message HANA want to share to the world. Atop a tough trap beat driven by a dramatic piano, the girls share their ambitions. They sing during the pre-chorus, “Everything I’ve sacrificed / Baby can’t you hear my voice and soul yeah / Every element of my life.” The music video showcases the septet’s charisma and presence that transcend their status as a pre-debut team. The choreography is full of swag as they combine powerful hip-hop movements with precise isolations. Despite being entirely shot at a subway station, they command the mundane location like it is an extravagant stage.
Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “Haute Couture” by Rhea Raj, “ONE PUNCH” by MILLI, and “Strategy” by Olivia Marsh. 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!
