Sunday Spin: New Releases From LE SSERAFIM, Hayley Kiyoko, WEST, Conan Gray, and LYKN

EnVi is back to round up the freshest songs around the globe for you to step into the new month in style! This week’s Sunday Spin features a soundtrack to fit those final April showers as well as the excitement of May’s blooming flowers.  

LYKN – “ถ้าเกิด (If Only)”

Thai quintet LYKN serve up R&B slow-jam realness in their latest single, “ถ้าเกิด (If Only).” The song is composed by member Tui and features a slow tempo allowing for LYKN’s vocal abilities to shine. “ถ้าเกิด (If Only)” is reminiscent of throwback romance anthems like Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” and New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain.” Just like these aforementioned hits, this song is also a yearning anthem. LYKN admit their regret for how they treated their love and wish for a second chance at love. They belt out in the chorus: “If only I never said those words that night / Maybe we would still be side by side / Since the day you walked away / I’ve been drowning in this pain.” 

The accompanying music video adds onto the song’s sentimentality with its dramatic storyline. No spoilers here — but Tui and actress Mata Pattariyakorn convey a tear-jerker story of unconditional love. Compared to their dance-focused hits like “ทัก (FIRST SIGHT)” and “โลเล โยเย โมเม (No Way),” LYKN showcase a softer image in “ถ้าเกิด (If Only)” — proving their versatility as a rising global force. 

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LE SSERAFIM – “CELEBRATION”

Ever since BLACKPINK made their comeback with “JUMP,” it seems like Eurotrance and Eurohouse have had the K-pop(-adjacent) girl group world in a chokehold. After KATSEYE gave their own entry with “PINKY UP,” it’s LE SSERAFIM’s turn to pitch in. “CELEBRATION” is the hat they threw in the ring, a worthy lead single to mark their second album three years in the making, ‘PUREFLOW’, pt. 1.

Don’t let the rave-ready techno beats and hardstyle progression distract you from the lyrics. Co-penned by members Kim Chaewon and Huh Yunjin, the Korean-Japanese quintet continues to remind everyone of their group’s ethos. They’re fearless (as the group’s name, an anagram of “I’m fearless,” suggests), resilient, flirty, edgy, hot and fun, and a little bit kooky. “CELEBRATION” is a culmination of all that, embracing every part of themselves and turning up to celebrate their imperfections through sisterhood.

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CLOSE YOUR EYES – “POSE” 

Shortly after their first anniversary, CLOSE YOUR EYES made their comeback with the infectious “POSE.” The song combines Brazilian baile funk with 2000s hip-hop for a song that is danceable as it is addictive. “POSE” is effortlessly cool — dialing down the intensity from their previous release, blackout, and showing their ease moving into their second promotional year. However, the septet don’t get comfortable as they continue to showcase new sides of themselves. 

CLOSE YOUR EYES were highly involved in making “POSE” come to life. Members JEON MINWOOK and JANG YEOJUN participated in writing lyrics while KENSHIN contributed choreography. This song is more rap-forward than their previous releases, with even main vocalist SEO KYOUNGBAE hopping in for a quick verse. “POSE” is all about stepping into the best version of yourself with confidence and remaining ready for the spotlight. 

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JKT48 – “12 Seconds”

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It’s been five years since JKT48 adopted the traditional multi-team system that the worldwide 48 Group practices. After the original Team J, KIII, and T were disbanded in March 2021, the Indonesian idol group is back with the three-team formation, albeit with a slightly different moniker: Team Passion, Dream, and Love. After the first two dropped their promotional singles over the past two years, “Dekat Namun Jauh” (Near Yet Far, originally AKB48’s 2021 digital single) and “WAKAKA PEOPLE” (adapted from NMB48’s 17th single from 2017), Team Love is completing the trifecta with their own release, “12 Seconds.”

The J-pop track is an Indonesian version of HKT48’s single of the same name (titled “12秒” in Japanese) from 2015. Unlike Team Passion’s dance-ready gloss and Team Dream’s high-octane firecracker, Team Love’s showing harkens back to the 48 Group’s golden era, striking a perfect balance between a guitar-led rock tinge and bubblegum underpinnings. It’s reminiscent of titles like “言い訳 Maybe” (My Excuse Maybe), “永遠プレッシャー” (Eternal Pressure), and even “ごめんね、SUMMER” (I’m Sorry, Summer), all of which JKT48 have their own versions of. This song might just be the thing that ushers in JKT48’s own return to their Golden Era of fun, frilly explosions.

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NCT WISH – “Ode to Love” 

It’s not springtime without a bubbly, bright NCT WISH comeback! NCT WISH released their first full-length album, Ode to Love, which features a dynamic blend of the experimental “neo” sound and NCT WISH’s signature freshness. The title-track and album namesake is a UK garage inspired pop song overflowing with sweetness. “Ode to Love” interpolates The Cranberries’s “Ode To My Family” — giving a sugary spin to the sentimental 90s track. NCT WISH are beacons of light in the song, sharing their sincere desire to spread kindness to the world. 

The chorus details the song’s intention: “(We sing for love) Listen up / All the kindness in the world / Overflowing in this song.” The lyrics feel like a warm hug as they motivate listeners and give them comfort. They sing in the second pre-chorus: “Even days that make you cry / Will pass you by / Life is bitter but we’re getting sweeter / Your shining smile is beautiful.” If you’re looking for some motivation as the month comes to a close, look no further!

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YOASOBI – “ADRENA”

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Japanese duo YOASOBI continue to build their narrative tracks with new project E-SIDE 4. Full of both new tracks and English versions of beloved singles, the nine-track EP opens with the high-energy “ADRENA.” Vocalist Ikura sings over the breakneck beat produced by Ayase, describing the adrenaline-pumping experience of going for it and confessing one’s love. “No need to fear anything,” Ikura affirms in the chorus, “So / Go jump in / No delay.” The electronic production gives the track an addictive quality perfect for getting your blood pumping in the mornings. 

YOASOBI are best known for drawing their songs and lyrics from different media, such as books, short stories, plays, and even social media posts. They blend the narratives with elements of J-Pop and Vocaloid music to produce unique stories of their own. Since their formation in 2019, YOASOBI have produced TV anime opening themes for Beastars and Oshi no Ko, as well as collaborated with acclaimed novelists to publish the short story collection Hajimete no. This year, the duo has plans to launch a North American tour in August, followed by a dome and stadium tour across Asia in the winter, where they will bring their stories across the world.     

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WEST – “Kore de linoda!”

Straight from Japan, WEST returns with their 12th full-length album, Yuiitsu-Muni. Translated as “Unique and Unparalleled,” the album is a vibrant celebration arriving just in time for their 12th debut anniversary on April 23rd. Leading the fanfare is the title track “Kore de linoda!,” written and composed by center Daiki Shigeoka. With the explosive start of trumpets, the song bursts into a fully upbeat, happy-go-lucky anthem about living in the moment. Overflowing with playful energy and sing-along charm, the track invites listeners to embrace the chaos of life and chase joy without hesitation. Together, the septet sings “Let’s show them our only one!/No matter what/This is just fine!”  

The music video brings that same spirit to life with colorful, cheeky charm. Decked out in bright colors and even brighter smiles, the members drive into an ordinary world of fun with a dynamic dance break of sharp locking moves as the beats drop. Lighthearted mischief unfolds from scene to scene, capturing the group’s chemistry and energy, making it as lively a visual as the track itself. Bold, whimsical, and full of personality, “Kore de linoda!” is the perfect track to light up your week! 

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Hayley Kiyoko, Gigi Perez – “collide”

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Hayley Kiyoko and Gigi Perez announced their collaboration track “collide” live on stage at Coachella, and it’s finally here! The laidback, emotional track is the first of many songs announced for the official soundtrack of Kiyoko’s upcoming film, Girls Like Girls. Both Kiyoko’s and Perez’s smooth vocals harmonize over a dreamy acoustic guitar throughout, setting the tone. “collide” tells a story of the inability to let go of love once you’ve become intertwined. “Your words and / My thoughts and / Your world and / My world collide,” Perez repeats in the pre-chorus, as if stuck in a loop.  

The collaboration is notable for fans of both singers, who openly identify as lesbians. Gigi Perez spoke during her set at Coachella about how she had once been terrified for anybody to know that she loved women. “I was struggling so much as that teenager,” she said. “And then I came across an artist, and a song. And that song and that artist put a hope in me that maybe one day I could be myself.” Hayley Kiyoko’s iconic “Girls Like Girls” music video changed many lives in 2015, Perez included. Now, their collaboration track will feature on the soundtrack of a film inspired by that very video. This full-circle moment, over a decade in the making, will officially launch with the soundtrack on June 12 and the movie’s release on June 19.    

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Conan Gray – “Door”

Conan Gray is expanding the world of Wishbone with a new deluxe edition, adding five new tracks that further expand upon the emotional narrative of the album’s original twelve. Among the new songs is “Door,” a stripped-back ballad that zeroes in on the quiet, complicated aftermath of a relationship long after the ending. In this one, Gray leans into his controlled, yet evocative vocals to convey the painful desire to move on while still feeling stuck in place. 

“Door” opens with a line that immediately transports listeners into his healing space: “I found myself taking your stop on the train.” From there, he continues to recount memories painfully haunted by his ex-beloved that cloud his mind and focus. The chorus pushes forward the song’s central theme and his current conflict as he sings, “I just need to close this door / Who do I keep it open for?”  It’s a rhetorical question, since he and his listeners know exactly who he’s waiting for to walk through again – his “love.” 

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Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “REDRED” by CORTIS, “WSKNNNMN” by HELLMERRY, and “KIRA” by Ado. 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!