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DJ Khalil - The Secrets to a 5x Grammy Award Winning Career as a Music Producer

May 18, 2023

Anyone within the hip-hop scene knows the name, DJ Khalil. He gained popularity for both his music-producing and DJing skills. The other day, Sonical.ly had a chance to sit down and talk with DJ Khal

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Ed Sheeran Successfully Defends Himself in Copyright Trial

May 7, 2023

Copyright infringement cases are very much on the rise in the music industry. Recently, Ed Sheeran was on the receiving end of one. Fortunately for him and the music industry as a whole, he won. Who

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How AI Technology Impacts Artists’ Rights

April 28, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (aka AI) is not a new thing. It has been used for various purposes like social media algorithms and Siri on your phone. However, for the first time, AI is being used in

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Who is Kiana Ledé?: The Story Behind the “Jealous” Singer

April 28, 2023

From Kidz Bop idol to R&B and pop singer, Kiana Ledé has fully planted herself within the music industry. The release of her latest single “Jealous” featuring Ella Mai adds to her growing achievements

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Breaking The Silence: A Look At Mental Health In The K-pop Industry

April 23, 2023

In the past few years, the K-pop culture has experienced a number of suicides, which has devastated the Korean entertainment industry. Sulli from f(x), Jonghyun from SHINee, Goo Hara from KARA, and

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Breaking Down The Genius of SZA’s Album ‘SOS’

April 20, 2023

Since SZA has released her latest album ‘SOS’, it has made a lot of buzz in the music industry. The album has received positive reviews for its combination of R&B, pop, and hip-hop and featured.....

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Korean Indie/Pop Rock Bands You Need To Know: Day6, The Rose, & HYUKOH

April 20, 2023

With K-pop bands like BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, and SEVENTEEN, Korean music has been on the rise over the past ten years. But Korea’s music culture doesn’t stop there....

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Show Me The Money: South Korea’s No. 1 Rap Competition

April 10, 2023

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WONHO: Rising Success After Departure From Monsta X

April 8, 2023

In October 2019, member of the K-pop group Monsta X, WONHO, faced allegations of drug usage, resulting in his departure from the group. Fans were disheartened by the news of him leaving and wondered..

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BMI’s Court Case Win Helps Songwriters in the Live Music Industry

April 1, 2023

Songwriters, composers, and publishers have long been underpaid when it comes to the live concert industry. However, a successful court case may be the first step to changing that.....

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How Has Social Media and Music Platforms Influenced and Evolved Music Creators?

March 28, 2023

Society has always placed a high value on music. As technology starts to become more part of our lives, social media and music platforms have become more and more prominent in the music business....

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The 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards Put The Spotlight On Songwriters

March 28, 2023

The Latin GRAMMY Awards are changing it up this year for songwriters! On March 21, 2023, The Latin Recording Academy released a press release announcing various additions and changes to the awards...

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Sunmi Becomes the 'Stranger' With New Single

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Photo Source: Koreaboo

After over a year of absence from the Kpop scene, solo artist Sunmi has recently come back with her eighth digital single, “STRANGER.” Co-written by Sunmi, the single delves into her 17-year career (10 year solo career) through self-reflection and being genuine to herself. 

Sunmi first debuted in 2007 as a member of the girl group, Wonder Girls. She also debuted as a solo artist in 2013. Since then, she has established her own unique music style, “Sunmi-pop,” which incorporates electro-pop and retro elements with addictive melodies and powerful performances. While staying true to her colours and sounds, she also explored many new ventures as an artist, including becoming a singer-songwriter. 

In “STRANGER,” Sunmi becomes a stranger. The track opens with a dark and mysterious tone – with an abrupt, chanted chorus. The track moves away from her classic sound to reggae rhythms and a spoken-word chanted chorus. Her empowering vocals throughout the song present another dimension to the track.

Aside from “STRANGER,” the digital single also includes the songs “Calm Myself” and “Call My Name.” Narcissism is a common theme seen through all three songs. 

“Calm Myself” is an English-lyric track that opens the album. The song highlights the process of letting go and finding inner peace after a past relationship. The song demonstrates the process of self-healing and moving on from a failed romance. The last song, “Call My Name,” is a track inspired by her fans. Her voice and instrumentals contribute to a calming track about self-love sung from a fan’s perspective.