South Korean group ASTRO (MJ, Jinjin, Cha Eun-woo, Moon Bin, Rocky and Yoon San-ha) made their second comeback of 2021 with their latest EP Switch On. The EP contains 6 unique tracks on the lines of summer and vibrant themes. The imagery of water in the form of an ocean, waterfall and even tears is commonly found in the songs. Switch On transports the listener to a scenic island with waterfalls, beaches and lush greenery. The last two tracks depart from the overall summer scenery and take a little personal turn with the group singing about embracing their true self and giving a message of hope to AROHAs (fandom name). Let’s take closer insight at each of the six tracks from ASTRO’s latest EP Switch On.
AFTER MIDNIGHT
The album begins with an upbeat and funky song ‘After Midnight’. The song transports the listener to a calm, breezy beach at midnight with lyrics like, “After midnight / See the highlight / Night of the summer, baby we will never forget / The perfect midnight”. The group plays to their strengths in the song with Jinjin and Rocky taking the rap verses and Cha Eun-woo, MJ, Moon Bin and San-ha highlighting in the vocal verses. One cannot help but relate to the strains of retro music themes in the songs. The guitar riffs and the piano keys in confluence with the groovy and fast-paced music alternatively create a perfect dance melody. The song feels like a title track for a movie speaking about travel and friendship.
Cha Eun-woo, Moon Bin and Rocky took part in writing the lyrics for ‘After Midnight’. The hook step is quite simple and thoughtful as well. Who here wants to have a golden tattoo as Cha Eun-woo did in the music video?
FOOTPRINT (발자국)
‘Footprint’ is an EDM-based track that speaks about going to a new place and leaving old worries behind. The tropical summer theme from ‘After Midnight’ continues in ‘Footprint’. The listeners are promised a journey to a land of no worries and new beginnings. Leaving a footprint behind is a sign of leaving a mark, and also moving on. ASTRO urges the listeners to not worry about the footprints in the past with lyrics that go, “Will you follow our footprints? / It’s fine if the big wave strikes us / We left it at a place that only two of us know.”
WATERFALL
The third song in the album Switch On, ‘Waterfall’ is a tad bit slow-paced than its predecessors. The group displays a stellar harmony of vocals and synchronization with the music. The music showcases a minimal use of instruments. Its purpose is to uplift the singing and it does that in a good measure. Waterfall feels like one of those tracks that go well with a life story. With a good chunk of lyrics containing the phrase ‘You’re my little waterfall’, this song is not going out of the loop anytime soon!
SUNSET SKY
Speak about vibrant summer themes, and there is no acoustic ballad-like track? Impossible. ‘Sunset Sky’ begins with the telltale guitar riffs that signal at the beginning of a soothing track. This acoustic track also features a rap verse, but it just finds a coy spot for itself and lends an extended warmth to the song. Imagine yourself sitting at the beach, probably with bonfire lit and the sky ablaze with sunset hues. The lyrics, “I want to leave behind another painting Drawing while looking at the setting sun Coloring the empty sky above oh...” will help paint that picture.
MY ZONE
With participating of Jinjin in the song, the group returns to the future house genre with ‘My Zone’. Departing from the pastel and vibrant summer themes, ASTRO speaks about finding their true self and walking the journey their hearts wish for. The music is fast-paced, and one might say even rushed, but it complements the emotions present in the lyrics that read, “Turn on the dazzling light in the uncertain darkness/Get up again”.
DON’T WORRY
What began as a tropical dance party has now come to a stunning yet soothing conclusion. ‘Don’t Worry’ is synth-pop genre track which is reminiscent of the blue sea. With this track, ASTRO is sending a signal of hope and strength to AROHAs, to their listeners – “Even if you can’t see the light / I got your back, Don’t Worry.” The synth music lends a feel of a dance number to the song. Just because it is a song about hope and love, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be danced to, and ASTRO’s ‘Don’t Worry’ is a fine example. Cha Eun-woo, Jinjin and Rock participated in lyrics and composition.
For a group that has mostly delivered winter ballads and electronic pop songs, ASTRO showcases a stellar versatility with a change in the theme and new approach towards pop music. The incorporation of tropical summer themes with pop or acoustic music is not something unheard of, but ASTRO paints a beautiful picture with their 8th mini album Switch On, regardless. The energy needed for a tropical summer theme is present from the very second each track begins. Each song has the potential to be the soundtrack for a slice of life movie. Which one are you picking?
Watch the music video for ASTRO’s After Midnight here.
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