Three Fresh Tracks: Girl Band Debut, Solo Heat, And A New Idol Wave

Snow in the forecast, bass in the bloodstream. We kick things off with a little storm prep and then slide straight into three new releases that light up different corners of the pop universe: a girl band debut with real instruments and real restraint, a solo star leaning into neon funk, and a multinational rookie squad ringing the alarm with swagger.

First, LATENCY’s “It Was Love” trades flash for feel. Five members play and sing, shaping a soft, mid-tempo band sound that grows from quiet reflection to gentle resolve. Clean guitars, steady percussion, and a tasteful piano-synth color create space for melodies that stick without shouting. By the time the guitar solo lifts around the midpoint, the song has earned its momentum—intimate, bittersweet, and clear-eyed.

Then Kento Nakajima flips the room with “XTC”. Think syncopated 80s synths, jazzy guitar licks, and a rhythm that snaps you into motion. Kenty’s vocal control is the secret weapon, gliding from sultry lows to sharp falsetto as the track dances between playful invitation and seductive tension. It’s a confident solo statement that blends disco shimmer with modern polish, perfect for late-night drives or living room dance breaks.

Finally, meet ALPHA DRIVE ONE and their adrenaline-spiked “FREAK ALARM.” The intro hums like a clock before exploding into 80s hip-hop charge—reverb bass, crisp drums, and a chorus that stretches like a siren. The lyrics double as a manifesto: they’re the “new alien,” inviting you to own your edge and step into the circle. It’s a debut with grit and charm, made to wake up your playlist.

If you want a soundtrack for the week—reflection, heat, and high-voltage confidence—this one’s for you. Listen, save your favorite moments, and tell us which chorus won your day.

LATENCY Instagram X YouTube It Was Love

Kento Nakajima Instagram X YouTube XTC

ALPHA DRIVE ONE Instagram X YouTube FREAK ALARM

Transcript

Storm Prep And Small Talk

SPEAKER_02 0:20

Welcome everybody to another episode of Music Elixir with me, Sattershi and Mist DJ Panic. And we're actually in the same place. Yes. No, the snowstorm's coming tomorrow. So we're getting it done today.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

We are recording on January 24th. If you live in the US, you know very well that there's a big old Nor'easter coming. And then people down south are like, they're just having a panic that more than a panic attack. The bread and milk is they're gone. I've never understood bread and milk.

SPEAKER_02 1:01

All right, the bread maybe, yeah, because you can make sandwiches and but I don't really drink milk on the regular, so that's not on my list.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

The bread and milk is gone. No, I can't find the bread and milk. Yeah, south. Everybody down living down the south, they're just like don't know what to do with themselves.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Yeah, well.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Now here up in New England, where we are in Massachusetts, we're just like, yeah, we're preparing ourselves. But I see it went shopping today thinking that I couldn't find some of the things, at least some of my favorite things. I was just like, oh, but I just want to get a few things. It wasn't much, but still a lot of the you know, like the chips, bare. For some reason, a lot of people are gonna be having corn chips for days because that those were empty. Even the healthy ones that people really don't touch them, they were kind of bare as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

I was like, wow, people are well, the liquor stores, the combinis, they've been run upon also because people are like, I need my beer if I'm gonna be in the house.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Oh yeah. I like the reels when they're like, Why are people getting bread and milk? You should be getting like the guacamole, the salsa, the chips, beer and chicken, tequila, beer, get all the liquor, just stay home and desserts. I'm like, that's a good idea, but no, you need substance. Anyways, so that's what's going on today in our area. Uh, people are just you know getting ready to just stay in. Oh, actually, the CEO of our organization, he said that to please, if you are to be scheduled into to go to the office, not to. The uh building's gonna be closed and to work remotely. And I'm like, yay!

SPEAKER_02 2:58

Yeah, that's how my office was too. They're like, we're pretty sure we're not gonna be open.

Work-From-Home Wins And Home Offices

SPEAKER_01 3:02

So I am fine. Be prepared. Work from home. I I work better from home because I have less of distractions. Uh I love my coworkers and all, but I mean I tend to have I able to finish a lot of things like on time or even ahead. So that's kind of cool. And I work on all the projects while I have that spare time. Yeah. Because then my supervisor was like, Oh, we're thinking on doing that. I'm like, here. When did you have time? When I'm working from home. I make that clear to her. Like, keep me, keep me working from home so I can do like these projects that you want to do, and I already have started or maybe finished.

SPEAKER_02 3:38

Yeah. See, I don't really have like an actual office kind of space in my house to use because I don't want to be in, you know, the room we used to do the recording in is good for that. Yeah. But when you're just by yourself, you don't want to be like upstairs, locked away in a row. I'm like, I want to be What about your dining area? It's not at it's not comfortable. Do you know what I mean? There's nothing comfortable chairwise, seat-wise. Like I don't have a good office chair or anything at home.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

So it's you do have another where you live, you have so many rooms. I know. Every time I look at it, I'm like, I can do this, and I can turn into that, and I can turn into this thing. Well, upstairs they're all bedrooms. Yeah. You know, but you also have that nook, the butler's room, whatever, which is next to your washer and dryer.

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Oh, oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, uh that's a storage room right now. We got all kinds of stuff piled up in there. There's nobody. But that could be an office. It could be, yeah, that's true. I could do that. Just gotta get organized. Get my sister to get organized.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

If I take your place, I'll gut the whole thing out. And I'll be like, okay, this is where I want to be working. You know, upstairs.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

Well, I used to I used to have it as an office, but then my sister started storing stuff in there. And it just kept getting worse and worse and worse. All her books and all her, you know, so she needs to start letting go of some of the books. I know. I've told her that. The mono marketplace makes some money. It's like the we don't have books in the bathroom or the kitchen except for cookbooks. But every other room in the house has bookshelves in it loaded with books. And that's what happened to that office. It's just overrun with books. But anyway, all right. We're way off topic now. But basically, yes, over here in especially in New England, we're gearing up for a big old storm.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Yeah, yes, yay. As long as you don't lose electricity, which is you know the Wi-Fi. I know, right? Oh my god, that would be that would be the pit. Yeah. You can't use your phone too much because, you know. Anyways. Anyways. All right. So today we're gonna be uh talking about three songs that we listened for about you know some week or so. Thank you for those who have been listening to the start to move countdown. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I just want to say much. We had a listener from Uruguay. Ah, really? Yes, so much for listening. That's it for uh escuchar nuestro episodio.

SPEAKER_02 6:30

Is that a new that's not though a new location? We've had listeners down there before, haven't we?

SPEAKER_01 6:35

It's been a while, yeah.

Global Listeners And Shoutouts

SPEAKER_02 6:36

Okay, it's been a while, so I was like, well, they're obviously a fan of one of the one or several of the startup groups.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

So I knew. So that's cool.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

Well, thank you, Uruguay. We appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

Yes, family wants to go there. I don't know why. I'm like, really, just like, yeah, I just want to go to Uruguay. I'm like, okay, start learning Spanish. And please listen to me when I talk in Spanish. You can learn. They're like, whatever.

SPEAKER_02 7:08

I'm like, no, that's why you'd go with me so you can translate. That's the thing, you know?

SPEAKER_01 7:12

Like, gotta be the translator for everywhere. At least in Puerto Rico, we have some people who are bilingual, so I don't have to be worried about like, oh yeah, they said blah blah blah blah, you know?

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:27

Anyways, so thank you, thank you, thank you for those who have been listening and sharing the episode. Um, yeah, that's what I'm gonna say because uh we received a message that it was we were like, thank you, thank you, thank you for the message, anyways. So, yes, listen to three songs. Uh, we have a female band.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Yes, we do.

Introducing Today’s Three Songs

SPEAKER_01 7:51

We also have a solo artist and uh debuted a Korean group, male group, idol group. Idol group. So we're gonna be starting first with the girl group called Latency. Latency. Latency. Latency. You know, I even went to the Google Translate and I went found the Korean, the Korean uh characters that they use for the group and put it on to translate and it did say latency. I was like, oh, okay, so it says what it says, and I still messed it up. Even though we're in English, of course. Uh the name of that song is It Was Love. That was released on January 8th. Uh a little bit of information that I found on the girl group. There are five South Korean girl bands under Ordinary. Uh, they made their debut on January 8th with that song. Yes. We have said the names of the other girls, if I can. You know, like I said, uh I'm just still working on my Japanese. So Korean have really not very good pronunciation. But we start now with He Young, uh, she is the lead guitarist, also vocals, Ji Wong with guitars, vocals, Hai Yung, keyboardist, look vocals, also hyunjin, drummer, vocalist, and last but not least, the magnet, Sammy as the bass player, and also vocals. What I like about this, everybody sings.

SPEAKER_02 9:30

Yes. Everybody sings. It's cool that they all play instruments and they all sing. Yes. The really cool thing.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

I don't I I mean okay. You do you want to start or do you want to start? Oh, you can start.

SPEAKER_02 9:43

That's okay.

Latency Background And First Impressions

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Um when I listened to this for the first time, because I was introduced to the group, but they didn't even tell me, like, please listen to this girl group. I'm like, okay. Without looking at the video, just when I listened, I was like, uh, okay, cool. Another Korean idol group. Idol group, sounds like, because I later on then did the deep dive to see to give the introduction about the group. So I was like, oh, another idol group, really cool, kind of rocking, like the vocals, without expectations. You know, the song is a you know, it has this really good vibe, soft, emotional, very band-driven. I was like, this is kind of cool for an idol group, you know. It wasn't loud or flashy. Also, the song kind of grows slowly on me. Because the first time I heard it, you know, I was uh okay, cool. Then after listening to a couple of times, I'm like, okay, let me find out more information about the group. And then I find out that it's an actual band. I'm like, what? Right. It it just doesn't sound like it's it just if like I said, without looking at a video, knowing the background of the group, I just thought it was just another idol group. I mean, the guitars were simple, beat was steady, the vocals were not like showy when it comes to a band. You know, we've seen rocking bands are like belting out who let's see who's the one that's gonna be the diva of the group, you know? Yeah, but it wasn't like that. The vibes just like felt very uh like intimate. Uh I love the melodies after listening to a few more times. It's it did not grab me right away, but then after listening more to the song, I was just like, Yeah, I'm totally this is a total vibe. Especially when they're like, nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah yeah yeah na na na na Yeah I for a debut it's really good for a girl band. I was thinking that it was an idol group, but it's been a band. I was like, uh, this is cool. I I like I like what I heard.

Breaking Down “It Was Love”

SPEAKER_02 11:50

Yeah. Well, I was gonna say, because I also sort of looked into them a little bit more as well, and there some of them are actually from other groups, like so they've got some experience already, and they sort of know how to perform and and how to project and how to you know what I mean. So being five separate like groups or individuals anyways, coming together, they they created a really a good, enjoyable sound as a debut. What's interesting to me is I was like, it was almost like it was gonna rock out when it first started. I was like, oh hey, you know, this is pretty. But then it sort of just goes down to this simple mid-tempo with the guitar riff and you know, soft, gentle vocals, and it was just kind of laid back, you know, like it's a vibe. The the opening, I was sort of like waiting for it to go up somewhere, but it sort of went down. But it wasn't like not in a bad way. It was totally fine because it it was catchy. And I also sort of I was like, is this gonna be like a total pop song? But it's not, right? It's got elements again, but it's sort of more I don't know, it just felt like a bunch of girls hanging out, having dinner, and sort of like discussing life, right? To music. Yeah. It was it had sort of that that mellow-ish feeling to it. And then the like there's sort of this piano synth solo at about a minute, and there's this voice changer that sort of shifts the mood, and it it gets sort of thoughtful and playful, right? Right? Gets a little more again, like they're reminiscing about something or they're just trading life secrets, let's say. It seems a little bittersweet. You know, they're talking about we gotta move it slowly, please let me go. So it's I don't know, it's something like a relationship gone wrong. Not not necessarily, you know, we always say this doesn't have to be a romantic one, just something somewhere went out of whack, and they're like, all right, we just gotta let's give up on this, move on, move forward. But then it sort of builds up this intensity at around the two-minute mark. There's this, I don't know, energy building, right? And you're like, what's coming? What's coming? And then at two, it's like boom, the guitar solo, the deep bass, all right, and then the vocals get like a little more forceful, a little more powerful. Like they're like building up their they're getting a little stronger about whatever it is that's going on. So it's it was really cool. And then after that two-minute mark, the song seems like they're reaching a resolution. Like they've finally come to whatever point that they were trying to get to. So, like, no matter what what happened, happened, but we're gonna move forward, gonna be strong, we're gonna be confident, we're gonna be like living our best life. So it was the music sort of took you on this gentle ride through like, oh, I'm a little bummed out, things weren't really going really well. But you know what? La di da, tomorrow's another day. I mean, like, I'm it did. It just it was just this weird, you're like, yeah, something's building, something, something's building, and then at two minutes it's just like and you're like, oh, whoa, all right.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

That guitar saw was good. Yeah, it was, but like good. I'm like, wow, look at her shredding. What? Yeah, exactly. I'm like, what? You good, girl.

SPEAKER_02 15:34

That was awesome. So, like, again, it's not it's not like this total rock out song. It's not a total pop song either. It's just something it's just sort of this whole, you know, going through a life change. Just stating where you are now and saying, but you know what? I'm gonna get past it, gonna get over it, gonna move on. Yep. Things will get better. So it was really a very positive feeling, and it's catchy. It really is catchy.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

It is catchy.

SPEAKER_02 16:02

You can't help but like sing along to it. And it does have sort of, you know, dips and swells of emotion, but like overall, it's just a very steady, yep, moving along piece.

SPEAKER_01 16:17

It's a good pop song.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Yeah, it is a good pop song. Exactly. So it was very fun, very fun to listen to.

SPEAKER_01 16:24

Looking forward to hearing more of them.

SPEAKER_02 16:26

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

This is really good. This is really good. I mean, come on, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:33

A girl band. It's been a while. Yes, it has. Okay, like band, band, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

I know a band. I mean, even so going in blindly, not knowing much about it, just listening to it. I thought it was just another general girl group, but then looking into it, yeah. I'm like, oh no, they did all this, they they played the guitar, they played everything. Oh my god. I was like, yeah, yes, I'm for this girl group, definitely getting attached. All right. Moving on to the next song. Yeah. Now that one person that I am very, very attached to, because of course it's my son. I know people are gonna be like, that's all you do, panic. You always talk about this this person all the time, every time, that he has something out there. You why? And I'm like, because it's my son, it's my Kenty. My Kenty. Well, for those who don't know, my Kenty is Kento Nakajima. He has dropped a new single ahead of his uh new album that's coming out in February, so it's pretty soon. And of course, being my Kenti, he has to come in very strong. Oh yeah. The name of his song is Ecstasy, even though it's type XTC. Huh. Well, that's on purpose.

Why The Debut Works

SPEAKER_02 17:58

Exactly. Actually, here, can I tell you a funny little aside? Yeah, yeah, yeah. When I first saw the XTC, I don't know if you remember there's a band from the 80s. It's Families First.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

They love this group.

SPEAKER_02 18:13

Well, I really like them too. So when I first saw XTC, I was like, what is panic doing? What that's not a part.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

I know why you then I was like, oh, wait a minute. Okay, I get it. There is a group from back in the 80s. Yes. From England called XTC. Not XC, XTTC. Right. Uh only for people in that era that know that knows if you know, you know. This group. So I I actually show family this song, and they're like, Is it about my band? I'm like, no. No, no, it's not. But they I'm like, I know.

SPEAKER_02 18:55

Yeah, no, no, I I didn't think it was about the band. I thought you accidentally put something by the band in the playlist. Yeah, no. It's like, did she share this in the wrong spot?

SPEAKER_01 19:04

No. So you know what is so funny?

SPEAKER_00 19:07

I okay.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

I need to meet my Kenty because I have so many questions with a lot of things when we like when he writes and does things, if he knows about this group called XTC. And you know, yeah, because he wrote the song, because of course this song was written by my Kenty along with Manjo. Manjo's being everywhere out and you know, collaborating with Japanese artists, like crazy. Anyways, so but also the song is giving that 80 vibes as well.

SPEAKER_02 19:38

Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

It's very funky, dance pop vibes. Of course, like I was saying before, is written by my Kenty. I found out that he wrote this. The track is something I want to say, something new, but for him, I don't know. It's Kenty. It's it's just like his his vibe or his wood. Known for you know you know the sexy type, you know, is if you of course previously you know you got the uh uh the really poppy cutesy song like Candy, you know, but this is like ecstasy, but this is the other side of me, the other side of Kenty, you know, like the Pisces that we know he is.

Enter Kento Nakajima’s “Ecstasy”

SPEAKER_02 20:22

Well, I was gonna say, yeah, his stuff varies, but you can always you can tell it's him, but you also like can see the multiple influences he has. Like he obviously listens to a lot of different genres.

SPEAKER_01 20:37

Yeah, it's it's a complete sound. It's a different sound that he has done before, of course. But he's just stepping, you know, like he's I'm moving on, I'm stepping forward, I'm doing something new, you know. Wanna do things that I couldn't do maybe in the past, so because now I'm solo, I'm doing all this I'm writing freely to do all these things, you know? And uh I like you know the way that he is with his songs, he likes to invite his his fans. Oh god, you know, that but this time like a little bit of a darker Kenty, you know, he's a more bolder with this song, you know. It's you know, honestly, I'm all for it because it's my Kenty. And I can never say anything wrong with my Kenty. You know, you go for it, Sarah, because you know what? Everything he does for me is perfect.

80s Funk, Vocals, And Tease

SPEAKER_02 21:33

Well, like I said, like it he he puts so much in every song he does. Oh yeah, like not just emotionally and professionally as a performer, yeah, but also sound-wise. That's why I was saying it's like he must listen to a lot of different genres because it's like crazy how much he puts into each song. So, what what I liked about this, like the super intense bass and synth opening, yeah, it sounds so serious, right? And you're like, Well, what's coming? And then he's like, flash, da da da, and you're like, what just happened? And it gets all sort of super funky, yeah, and that syncopated rhythm, and it's you know, just like a little offbeat almost. You're like, What? Yes, what is happening right now? Where did this come from? Um, so it's really danceable because of that, right? The guitar is kind of jazzy and it's accompanied by that 80s like synth and bass combo. So you've got that coming in at you, right? You get disco, you got funk, you got jazz, you got, I don't know, everything happening all at once. So it's just it creates this like weirdly groovy, off-beat sound. You're like, I don't know, I couldn't get enough of it. He is vocals, yeah. Jeez. Oh, yeah. He well, he's got a crystal clear voice.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

Like the boy goes from sultry to high pitch to just like oh, he just gives it all right this song. It's vocally. I'm like, yes, Kenty. You know, because it's like one party he's like, na ni monahi, but he's like really like high pitch. I'm like, oh. But then although what you when he goes low, he goes low. And then that's when just you I'm like, goosebumps. Kenty, come on, chase. Well, it's no stop it.

SPEAKER_02 23:36

Well, I was gonna say, like, around the the minute 22 mark, he he goes full on like funk mega disco, and you're like, I don't know, you're dancing all over the place. But like I really just like the whole idea of this. It feels sort of like he's just talking about the ecstasy of life and interacting with people, like interacting with someone else.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

Well, he um but it's Elch is like I wanna dance. And that sounds that's like very like funky disco point, yeah. Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:09

But then he's like da uh uh uh you know, so it's sort of like I don't want to say a little darker, but it seems a little more like dangerous and seductive and sensual, and he's just he's inviting you to explore this side of life with him, you know, or just explore it for yourself, but like tap into your own ecstasy, yeah? Like he it's really he's the boy can pull off everything. He's got the even but even when he's doing the cutesy Kenti stuff, he's got that little Oh my god, that wink and that smirk, and you're like, oh, this boy is like exactly he's a man, he's a man, I know he is. But like it's my dad. This song is another one that it goes up and down. You're so like the I want to dance part, you're like, oh, this is so fun, loving, and happy. And then he's like, Exactly, but come to my ecstasy, and you're like, oh, wait a minute. What's he saying? What's he doing? Oh my god. So it's another one that I really like couldn't help but move to. And it's yeah, and it starts out the beginning is deceptive. You're like, where's this, where's this going? Because it's a little deep, and then but then he's like, you know, flash, and you're like, oh, okay. But it goes, it does, it goes up and down, it has those sultry, sexy moments, and then the sort of fun, loving like just let loose and have a good time.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

So he's such a teaser.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

I know, right?

SPEAKER_01 25:45

He is such a teaser, teasing you, because yeah, like starts sometimes he's like low, he's like I'm like, ooh, and then I wanna dance. I'm like, okay. It's like he puts you in a trance and then just like breaks it, breaks it in a weird way that you're like, oh, wait a minute. Uh okay, I guess we're not doing that.

SPEAKER_02 26:08

Yeah. But like, well, you know, one minute you're you're freestyle dancing, waving your arms in the air, and the next, you know, he's like, you don't know, grabbing you by the waist and doing a little uh and you're like, whoa. And then he just throws you out and then he goes solo.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

And I'm like, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I thought we were doing a thing over here, and now you're just like does a spin and throws me to the other side of the stage. I'm like, hey, that's why we had a moment. Exactly. That's how that's how he's such a tease. Oh, Kenty, you know how to play? You know how to get my feels. That's why I love this boy.

Themes Of Desire And Groove

SPEAKER_02 26:52

He's amazing to me. And like I said, like it's similar, but so different from other things. Because like, think about Idolic, which we've also talked about. You know, like that's another powerhouse song. Yeah, but it takes you all over the place, sound-wise, vocally, emotionally. You're like, I don't know what I'm supposed to be feeling. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

The book is just gets you all hyped up.

SPEAKER_01 27:18

Kenzie is so diverse. He will have the cutesy songs that gets you all candy, one, you know, and the other ones that just melts you, and then the other ones that you're like, what's going on? My emotions, what are you doing today? You know, like this one is like, okay, uh, what's going on? Uh yes, no, yes, no, yes, no. Because there's no maybe, it's just yes, no, yes, no, yes, no. Hot cold, hot cold. Yeah, exactly. But it's like the ecstasy, you know, like, oh, jeez. Oh my god. Yeah, you know, that's my boy. Snorted. I love my candy. And that song is yeah, that that's something they said, love Kenty. Yeah, that's me singing. Oh, okay. Moving on, because we can go for like an hour and a half just talking about Kenty. I know, right? I'm sure he'll be fine with it, or saying, No, get them away from me. I want them near me. One day, Kenty. One day I gotta see you perform like live. Because that little bit that we saw on the countdown.

SPEAKER_02 28:35

Yeah, that was awesome.

SPEAKER_01 28:38

Wow. I he's such an idol. He is such an idol. I mean, okay. Because he's got presence and charisma. He does. His magnetism is great, grey. Great gray. At least for me and you. And yeah, and everybody else.

SPEAKER_02 28:58

You know, like there's no off switch on. Yeah.

Alpha Drive One Overview

SPEAKER_01 29:06

Oh my goodness. All right. Moving on to the next and last song. Song, yeah. All right. This is a very, very early, early debuted group. Uh, the name of the group is Alpha Drive One. We're gonna be singing, I mean singing, talking about. Well, we could sing it, I don't know why. I we should have left Kenty towards the end because now my head is mush. My head is mush, I can't concentrate. I hope he is listening. You know how I'm doing this. I hope you're listening, Kendi. You know where to find me. Alright. Huh. Okay. Let's start again. Alpha Drive 1. Uh, we are talking about with their debut song. Actually, not a debut song, because they actually dropped an EP, I believe. Uh, this is the song Freak Alarm that it was just released on January 12th, just like Kenti's uh excessing. And um little bit of information on this group. So this group is actually another one that came from units.

SPEAKER_02 30:23

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

From unit band groups, projects, whatever.

SPEAKER_02 30:27

Yeah, and they were on that whatever boys planet. Right. Boys 2 planet. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:32

There are plenty of boys in here. Let me see how many. Yeah, there are. Alright, so we have eight of them, right? Jun Xio. Let me see. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Yeah, eight. Starting with uh Jun Xio. Then it is Arno. We have a Leo, also a Jiang Wu. Seng Wong. Oh. I wonder if this is Chin if he's Chinese. Uh, and Zing and Sangyong. Sorry about all the mispronunciations, but I was thinking Sanghyan. Sang. Yeah, you could, yeah, you probably have a better pronunciation.

SPEAKER_02 31:12

Well, I was gonna say Arno and Leo are kind of odd names in there too. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I didn't look into like where all of them were from individually, but yeah, they're because we're not doing a deep dive on the group.

“Freak Alarm” Sound And Swagger

SPEAKER_01 31:25

So we just like to give, you know, give you the listener. Just a quick information on the group. Yeah. Um, but they are oh, okay. I'm reading more into it and just found their their website. Uh so the uh the eight-member multinational. That's what I thought. Wait a minute. It sounds like Chinese, uh, we have some Chinese uh members. Multi n uh okay, multinational project boy group under wake one. Um formed through MNET's reality survival show, Boys to Planet. They made their debut on January 12th. Yes. Oh yeah, and with the first mini album, Euphoria. Oh, from ecstasy to euphoria. Wow, it was a mood. Yeah, oh my god, again. I picked these songs, and it's like there is a mood. Sometimes I just don't don't realize until after we do these. I'm like, okay. So I guess I was feeling something when I was picking songs, or just fate brought them together.

SPEAKER_02 32:31

You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. It was the way the the roll of the dice happened. These were the songs that came out, got picked, and they just happened to link together in a right weird sort of way. Well, we always manage to link things together. People are like, I don't know where you got that from. I'm like, there's this whole train of thought. Yes, it's a Pisces thing. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

Yes, yes, yes. For me, Freaker Alarm, it's like another one with 80 vibes, but like with that hip hop because it had that bam, bam. I was like, Woo! All right, I know these, I know these sounds, they're very familiar and nostalgic to me. I grew up around this era. This is very, very like 80 vibes hip-hop. It like that it comes in loud and confident, and I'm like, Yay! I like this type of debut songs. This is the one I always, you know, like Sarah's giving me face. You're making noise. No, no, no. The chair was squeaking while I moved my life. You'll know if you hear that creaking is not the chair, not Sarah. So yeah, freak alarm is high energy, it's catchy, very it's just just to grab your attention right away. Um, I like those beats, the choruses are catchy as well. Uh it's easily to remember. It's fun.

SPEAKER_02 33:56

Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

And I get it's just like it's I like that it's like kind of like a chaotic, uh debuted energy. I was like, yeah, this is what I like about debut songs because this is the way I remember will remember a group. Uh and in definite like it, it's it's bold, it's playful. I was bopping to my head, I was dancing. It was like such a fun song. It was very fun. Like the raps, it just moved things along. It's just I like some of the noises. It and again, it just feels so nostalgic for me for like the hip hop 80 vibes.

Lyrics, Energy, And Debut Presence

Playlists, Moods, And Recommendations

SPEAKER_02 34:33

Love, love, love. Oh yeah, definitely. How about you? Okay. About you. Well, I was gonna say, what I what I found interesting was the the opening rhythm was sort of like uh the droning of an alarm, like an alarm clock alarm. You're like, dun, dun, you know, it's sort of building up to all of a sudden that right, that real alarm sound, that 80s hip-hop thing you're talking about that we remember from our childhoods. So it was it was sort of really interesting, like how they made that work. Bass super reverb, it like it hits your whole body. I liked when they sing freak alarm when they do the freak alarm pound. Their voices sound like a wake-up call. They sound sort of like an alarm clock when they're doing like it's the way they they sort of draw out the the freak alarm. You know what I mean? You're like, oh, so you know, they're waking you up from whatever dream state. And there's parts of the song where when they're singing, that's sort of what it's like. Like you're in that hazy, I'm sort of awake, the alarm clock hasn't gone off. And you're you're in this dream state, drifting slowly towards waking up, and then they're like boom, bam, bam, bam, and you're like, whoa, they're waking you up with this. So it was really very interesting kind of sound. One of the lines I liked was it's like feels so different, and something about alien, the I like new alien. So they're not like the other known idol entities, they're something new. So this song is inviting you to come join them, join their party, whatever. Because when they walk into a room and they say this, everybody notices, right? That we walk into I'm like, yeah. The place is popping and whatever. So, like this line is them sort of saying, We're not, we're not your typical idols. We're we're a little bit different, and we want you to come experience it with us. And and so I was like, you know, this whole like call out the freaks, right? With the freak alarm. We want everybody to get your freak on. Like, there's so many meanings to freak, right? That you're like there, so they're sort of incorporating all of that into describing themselves as the new aliens, right? But also their audience, you know, like, have you got a little bit of freak and you come join us? You know what I mean? So, like, there's so many different ways to take this particular statement of, you know, we're gonna sound the freak alarm here. And so it was just it was really cool. I liked the whole variety of things you could take away from this and feel from this, and also like the swagger to this song. Like, you can just see them like walking into a room, right? And be like, hey, we're gonna set it on fire, right? Yeah, gonna start a fire. Like they there's just a lot of confidence to it and swagger. That's the only word I can think of. Like, it definitely has this movement to it, this feel to it, a little sassy and saucy and just really cool. And so I like that their presence is reaching the audience, and they want you to just hit the floor, hit the stage, hit the club, hit the park, whatever it is. Just it's time to get your freak on. And that's what they're saying. Like, so it's just it's so so catchy, and it just got stuck in my head. And I would wake up with this song in my head. I'd be like, I'd wake up and be like, the freak alarm. Like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 38:33

Like we're trying to say, Sarah. So it was your your your your subconscious trying to say, freak alarm, wake up, wake up.

SPEAKER_02 38:41

So it was just it's and like I said, the way their voices sort of create that alarm sound, like harmonies. Like, wake so good. Yes, wake up. It's like, oh. So it was just it's really cool. I like it. And it's not like um a super heavy in your face kind of debut song, but it's it's it's confident. But is good, yeah, it's got this like it's good self-assuredness about energy, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:12

Like, wow, this is a debut song. Definitely debut song, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 39:17

Awesome. So I'm I I want to check out their other stuff too. Their mini album, yes, yeah, see what else they got going on. But but this one's just fun. Like, if if you're feeling kind of attitude-y, yeah, and you're at work and you're like, you know what? I'm annoyed by everybody, so I want to annoy them back. Play it because they'll the attitude from it, people will be like, wow, okay. Yes, yeah, where are you at? Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 39:46

Yes. Well, definitely. I'm happy I don't have to do that anymore. My job is awesome. I love my job. Well, I it's quite cool. I love my coworkers.

SPEAKER_02 40:01

Well, I don't have to deal with too many people. Well, good. I've got my own office. Um I'm in my own little world. So that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 40:08

That's what I need, my own little office, but we'll see. Anyways. Anyways, anyways, anyways.

SPEAKER_02 40:14

But you know, I know there's a lot of people out there who do have to work with lots of people and lots of people that you don't necessarily get along with or see. Of course.

unknown 40:23

Yes.

Charts, Industry Ears, And Gratitude

SPEAKER_02 40:24

People who annoy you throughout the day. Because back when we were huge, when we were in that huge office, it was definitely. My God. Too many clashing personalities. But yeah, no. So I really I enjoyed this. I enjoyed all of them. And they all give a different sort of energy. You know, you're like, I'm feeling a little playful, hopeful. I'm feeling a little sexy. I'm feeling a little sassy and salty. You know, so exactly. Mood for every part of your day, every part of your week.

SPEAKER_01 41:00

Yeah. It's very good. It's a uh yeah. Please give them a chance. Check it out.

SPEAKER_02 41:07

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

You can find them all on your favorite streaming platform. Uh make a playlist, you know. If you feel like one of them is a vibe that is like, okay, this is gonna be for my playlist for this. This one's like, you know, I want to be more uh uh, you know, yeah, exactly. Whatever. Wanna girl group powers, you know, girl power, whatever. You got this one over here, latency. And you want to like, you know, sexy boys, you got Kenti. If you want some boys to like rally you out for something, it's like you got Alpha Drive One, go for it.

SPEAKER_02 41:39

Yes, well, even their even their band name, Alpha Drive One, right? Yo, like boys, you have a big name. Yes, you do. Big name. Gotta live up to that alpha title.

SPEAKER_01 41:56

Mm-hmm. But of course, love each other like a brotherhood. Yes, definitely. I have not really looked their dynamics yet, but you know. Time will tell. Anyways, okay. So thank you everybody for listening to this episode. Please rate review and share, share, share. Can you please give us five stars?

SPEAKER_02 42:19

Because we love our constellations. Also, a be a subscriber so we can maintain and archive all the previous episodes.

SPEAKER_01 42:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:28

As well as this episode.

SPEAKER_01 42:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:29

For your future listening pleasure.

SPEAKER_01 42:32

Yes, yes, yes. And on January 24th, the top three for this week, a group number one. Number two was, of course, uh, our West, but it's called Johnny's West. And on number three is Fujika Sei Matsuri for the soul. Wow. Well, he's got some new stuff coming out, so yes, and people are probably gearing up. I heard as well that he is gonna be in Lalapaloosa, India. Yeah, and also it's his anniversary, debut anniversary this week. Oh, cool. Yeah, which I'm like, sorry, Cassittarians, I just I had other things to do for the show. I have some three hours. Now I'm like thinking, three hours is not enough anymore for me. For real. I like you know, I always had in my head, my show should be a five-hour show. I was just thinking five hours. Uh it's just, you know, it's only me, myself, and I. Uh, if I'm able to do this as a job, you know, I'll do it. Yeah, because it's different. I because I'll have people helping me, not just me. So I'll have like a crew, but anyways, things out there in a universe, you know. I I'm very happy that my show has actually grown so much. Okay, Asia has grown so much. Also, our podcast, Musical Lecture, have grown so much. Yeah, people are listening. Yes, people are listening. People in the industry are listening very closely. Thank you very much. Especially in Japan, Domo Arikato Gosai Mas. Uh, we appreciate that. All the boost and you know, emails and everybody just being lowy, you know, from the fans, from the listeners to everybody. Yeah, definitely. We appreciate you all, and all the copycats. That just love us so much. You know, I try to be. Anyways. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Karma is always on the way. We are always true to ourselves, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_02 44:52

Oh, yeah, absolutely. All right. We do our thing.

Safety Wishes And Sign Off

SPEAKER_01 44:55

Yes. Very well. Yeah. With our shenanigans and everything, because we are not perfect. Nobody is perfect. No. And you know what? People love our shenanigans. And thank you. We're the unhinged friends. Exactly. We're the ones that, you know. When there's somebody out in Japan, in the kitchen in Japan, just putting it on in their little speaker, you know, doing dishes or whatever in the kitchen, you know, in in a restaurant, listening to us banter. Yes. Hey, it's just like, you know, I got some friends over there hanging out with me, talking about some, you know, some of my faves or maybe new ones for me.

SPEAKER_02 45:38

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 45:38

While I'll introducing me to some music, while I'll, you know, crank on whatever in the kitchen. You know, that's awesome. So thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I just would like to go there and like listen. Can they hear? Can the people like in the restaurant hear us? Like, what are the Vikings in the kitchen? It's like, I hear English. I don't know how the kitchen is displayed or it is, but anyways, that will be funny. Like, we were in the restaurant, and they're like, There's I hear English in the kitchen. It just made my guys. Americans, what's going on? There's a lot of laughter in yellow. Somebody's laughing a lot. What's going on? Are you drinking back there? What's going on? Anyways, all right. All right, thank you, everybody. So please stay safe if you're in New England. Yeah, definitely. Please, anywhere around the world when you get really bad weather, please stay safe. Mm-hmm. All right, so keep warm, drink tea. Yes, maybe booze. Not much. Stay home. All right. So till next time. Bye bye.