The incredibly talented (and unjustly attractive) singer and dancer Kim Jong-in, mononymously known as Kai, released his debut solo project just over a month ago, extending his work beyond active K-pop groups Exo and SuperM (both of which he’s also a current member). The self-titled mini album was prefaced by a visually stunning teaser FILM: KAI just mere days before it’s official release. Known for his enthralling dance skills and smooth voice, this literal Gucci model was able to really shine in his element with this R&B project masterpiece.
So, honestly this was supposed to be included in my “Best of 2020”, but the thought of reconfiguring it in the final hours gave me a migraine. And also I had way too much to say and decided to save this little review for now. Quick backstory: I’d never listened to Exo or SuperM, didn’t know the group’s music and absolutely did not know who Kai was as an individual. And not in a bad way, I just have a lot of K-pop on my plate and hadn’t reached too far beyond my faves.
The lead single “Mmmh” was recommended by a trustworthy friend, and at that time I was like let me take a peek. Song was good, video was good, but I think my first impressions were a bit overwhelming and I didn’t know how to conceptualize his intention. Nonetheless, it was impressive. Several weeks later, I came across a Kai suggestion in my YouTube feed and it was being presented as a “film”. You already know: the best way to get me interested is with a concept trailer. The album itself was already out at this point, but I figured I’d enjoy the experience more thoroughly with the visuals.
So first of all: EVERY SONG on the record is a10. EVERY SCENE in the video looks like a movie. Not exaggerating, and you can just see for yourself. The entire film seamlessly moves from song to song, with each having a very different, visually complementary set. Each teaser really leaves you wanting more, which is a really resourceful tactic. Since this was shared before the album’s release, different elements of the tracks have been removed or manipulated as to not spoil the entire song. (For example, as a pre-chorus begins to build, once it “drops” only the instrumental is played.) This both leaves some to the imagination and also provides an unobstructed glimpse of the impeccable production for track. Small detail, but each song was introduced by a specific font which was really pleasing.
Kai is clearly a model for a reason, donning labels like Obey, Casablanca, and Marine Serre in the video and mixing designer duds and accessories with street style. Custom denim, tailored vests, and even bacalavas make an appearance here and there. The styling is amazing. Okay – on to the music!
Like I mentioned earlier, the lead track “Mmmh” was definitely an immediate R&B vibe, and with a simple and catchy hook it was easy for the message to transcend any language barrier. Simplicity is key! Since the film totally sold me, I immediately pulled up the album to play in full. The second track on the album is “Nothing On Me”, with the title totally contrasting with the suggestive lyrics “I want nothing on me but you”. I like this song a lot, mostly because of the building nature of the song’s composition which repeatedly culminates at its peak into a really aggressive, almost industrial-tinged, pounding chorus. I don’t throw around comparisons, but something about the slower moments (the intro, the pre-chorus) – I can totally hear The Weeknd singing it. And this is not meant to say they are similar, but it’s just reminiscent of a very unique tone that I really enjoy.
At the halfway point lies my personal favorite – “Amnesia”. I knew from the literal first two seconds of the atmosphere it created, that I was like okay I’m about to play this song out. (Not to mention the train track scene from the film…*sweats*). When he sings “can’t remember anything before ya…”, you really will forget everything that happened before you heard this song. I can guarantee you’ll be saying “I got you boo…” in your head whether you want to or not. There are so many layers to this track, and they all kind of just blend into each other (in a good way). But there are these dreamy, “twinkling” sounds and high points that I hear that are super crisp in comparison. And somewhere in the middle lies a really soft but heavy, consistent bassline. I think when you hear it, that will make more sense. It’s a great balance of all the elements and it’s extremely easy to listen to.
Another highlight on the record (and the most uptempo song on the album) is “Reason”, which also spawned one my favorite dance routines in recent memory. The flirty, upbeat number is definitely a club track, with this really catchy looping, vocal that basically runs in the background of the song’s entirety. It’s definitely got some bounce to it, and the choreography brings it to life (evident in both the teaser and the covid-friendly dance practice below). More than any other song on the project, I think this one fits into my daily life regardless of my mood and I am always down to hear it.
We’ve reached the home stretch, with the heavenly track “Ride or Die”. Something about this song makes me feel like I’m projecting into the cosmos; sonically it just has this spacious, celestial feeling about it. It’s a touch 80’s, but definitely has a futuristic vibe and is a great way to bring the album back down to slower tempo. The album comes to a close the way the film actually began, with “Hello Stranger”. Another favorite for me, with elements in the tempo and lyrical cadence/delivery that are just soooooooo classic throwback R&B. This is a song that will sound really good in the future, but would have also sounded just as good 30 years ago. (Wait, the 90s is that long ago? I feel nauseous.) I like the combination of singing and rapping within the same segment of the song, and Kai rallies between the two quite easily. The pacing of the lyrics is probably my favorite thing about this song. Love it!
With that said, aside from just how things literally sound, there’s so much extra work that goes into fully absorbing music in another language. This is my first album review that I’ve done based solely on how I hear it, what I’ve gathered from music video subs, and also lyrics and translations courtesy of the amazing Genius. So, I guess this perspective could seem skewed or different, but I am open to any additional context about any of the songs I’ve discussed above. Comment below, which was your favorite clip in the film; which song was the best?
Must hear: “Reason”, “Amnesia”, “Hello Stranger”