Unsung Artists: August 2026

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August, as usual, was filled with a rush of releases slipping into the last summer comeback slots. Quantity was undeniable…quality more elusive. Several anticipated returns fell surprisingly flat, and even among these Unsung Artists, there are quibbles to be had. But where there is K-pop, there are almost always good songs to be found and intriguing concepts to explore. Despite its ups and downs, August was no exception.

Before we dive in, an honorable mention goes to TXT’s viral Japanese release, “Setsuna Hanabi.” There’s a lot to love here, from a cinematic and angsty MV, to by far the coolest take on Brazilian funk I’ve seen in a K-pop summer full of the genre.

Zooming out, it’s interesting that Aespa aespa aespa is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment, consisting of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. Since their debut in 2020, aespa has gained international recognition for their innovative concept that combines music, storytelling, and virtual avatars, creating a unique identity within the K-pop industry. Known for their powerful vocals, dynamic performances, and futuristic sound, the group has cons ’s late May Japanese comeback “Kiss n Tell” also made an outsized splash. These successes are notable in an era where Japanese releases have taken a relative backseat to K-pop’s focus on other international markets. My personal theory is that while mainline K-pop singles chase TikTok virality and continue to shrink in runtime, some groups’ Japanese releases are starting to sound more like ‘classic’ K-pop, which appeals especially to longtime fans. Only time will prove or deny this hypothesis, or show whether these summer hits are an anomaly or part of a pattern. But for now, good music is always something worth shouting out…so let’s do some more of that and dig into our August Unsung Artists!

Red Velvet Red Velvet Red Velvet is a five-member girl group known for switching between bright “Red” concepts and sophisticated “Velvet” R&B-influenced music. – “Surfin’ Boy”

There were many elements of Red Velvet Red Velvet Red Velvet is a five-member girl group known for switching between bright “Red” concepts and sophisticated “Velvet” R&B-influenced music. ’s long-awaited comeback that didn’t quite land. Fortunately, the “Surfin’ Boy” MV wasn’t one of them. In many ways, it’s a vintage Red Velvet Red Velvet Red Velvet is a five-member girl group known for switching between bright “Red” concepts and sophisticated “Velvet” R&B-influenced music. MV, full of playful menace and boy-murder. At the same time, it has some unique visual touches, particularly an amusing performance set filled with weightlifting and fish-lifting (literally) backup dancers. Shadows and dramatic color-grading are also employed artfully.

Unfortunately, the final minute of the MV loses its way, introducing a mediocre B-story line that confuses the plot and comes with imagery that disrupts the otherwise cohesive mood. Nevertheless, the MV is stylish and witty, with a good mix of nostalgic Red Velvet Red Velvet Red Velvet is a five-member girl group known for switching between bright “Red” concepts and sophisticated “Velvet” R&B-influenced music. signatures and fresh elements.  Now, if only the song itself could have done the same.

KiiiKiii – “Pop Off Pop Off”

One thing about KiiiKiii is that they aren’t afraid to take a big swing in their MVs. They commit, fully, to whatever aesthetic they choose. And in keeping with their fun, slightly mischievous energy, Starship often selects big, bright imagery.

That’s certainly the case in “Pop Off Pop Off,” a blindingly technicolor MV that takes the snippets of Y2K nostalgia from the MV for their early 2026 hit “404 (New Era)” and runs wild. In “Pop Off Pop Off,” KiiiKiii bounce in and out of old school computer windows, Sims-like video games, and a Nickelodeon Channel-esque mansion with neon lighting, dragging along magical powers and My Little Pony toys with them. They also take one, or maybe several globe-trotting trips. Let’s just say there’s a lot going on, which could also be a description of the song’s nonsense lyrics:

> Flip flop sun is up
>
> Sandcastle however I want
>
> KiiiKiii bring you magic meow
>
> Pop off pop off flipsy baby

This is not an MV you would call sophisticated, or even totally successful. But it is attention-grabbing, fun, and an accurate visual manifestation of the unhinged energy that characterizes “Pop Off Pop Off” as a song. At minimum, it will hopefully get viewers to check out accompanying mini album WhyKiiiKiii: an EP full of, frankly, superior songs, that sacrifice none of the bright enthusiasm that makes “Pop Off Pop Off” pretty easy to forgive for its flaws.

Tuide – “Sun Kiss”

With “Sun Kiss,” Tuide have struck easy-listening debut gold — and launched their career with a deceptively unusual MV. On the surface, “Sun Kiss” leans into the chill musical vibes of the track, with idyllic outdoor scenes and a naturalistic shooting style. But the MV’s intense saturation, extreme camera angles, and odd surveillance camera shots add an eerie edge.

In particular, there is an intensely disjointed look to many of the dance sequences, like the members were just dropped into a mountain landscape or seaside vista. Frankly, if the MV’s closing credits didn’t contain behind the scenes footage on-location, I would assume this was a case of poor green screen blending. As it is, it must be a deliberate choice.

The overall effect is an AI-reminiscent glossiness mixed with some truly striking, nature-forward shots. That’s an alarming concept in its broader implications, but the execution here is fascinating. There are some visuals that feel truly distinctive — hypnotic choreography executed amid black and green landscapes, intense sun dappling slowly coming into focus as decipherable images — and that’s no small feat. “Sun Kiss” presents more than enough to raise anticipation for Tuide’s future, but with a cautious eyebrow raised for this particular concept.

SF9 – “Without Wings”

If vocal-forward, structurally familiar ‘classic’ K-pop is what you’re looking for, you might not have to pop over to Japanese releases entirely thanks to SF9’s “Without Wings.” The group’s tenth anniversary comeback sticks to their signature strengths, and this moody, pretty, and catchy title track is the pleasant result.

In terms of the MV, initially it seems like a missed opportunity: with a title like “Without Wings,” there are some obvious and rich imagery options. Instead, the MV finds SF9 in a parking lot, leaning into the sad grunge aesthetic. Technically, the idea of young layabouts stripped of purpose and opportunity does match the song’s concept, but it’s hard not to imagine budget was a factor.

Fortunately, the execution of this relatively copy-paste MV is strong, with creative framing (lots of doors and windows are put to work) and sharp editing maintaining visual interest and momentum. Additionally, there is something to be said about keeping the comeback’s imagery grounded in the interplay of the members themselves. The melancholy yet hopeful sentiment at the heart of “Without Wings” could be read in a typical romantic way. But it isn’t hard to make the leap to SF9’s career itself, a trajectory full of both just-missed opportunities and enduring perseverance:  

> All things doomed timing, I’m still alive, still alive
>
> Don’t know why my heart just keeps racing now
>
> Fly up again without wings
>
> Even without the winds fly high
>
> Even if you’re shattered, I’ll never die again
>
> Break out the walls of this cage, I’m a bird without wings

NCT NCT NCT is a South Korean boy group formed by SM Entertainment with a unique multi-unit concept. There are 6 units within NCT; NCT 127, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, WayV, NCT U, NCT DOJAEJUNG. 127 – “Blingy”

This is no ordinary comeback for NCT NCT NCT is a South Korean boy group formed by SM Entertainment with a unique multi-unit concept. There are 6 units within NCT; NCT 127, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, WayV, NCT U, NCT DOJAEJUNG. 127: There are real stakes here for a group that have sat near the top of the K-pop pyramid, but are also in the midst of the military enlistment churn and major restructuring. Into this moment comes “Blingy,” a song about as far from nervous as it is possible to get. And that is precisely its magic.

The MV pulls heavily from cinematic mafia imagery, but leans into the dark comedy and slapstick energy corners of that genre. The result is a precocious, infectious ride — and a concept this is particularly well-suited to the current, non-enlisted five-member lineup of NCT NCT NCT is a South Korean boy group formed by SM Entertainment with a unique multi-unit concept. There are 6 units within NCT; NCT 127, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, WayV, NCT U, NCT DOJAEJUNG. 127. There’s also a smart calculus here, with the MV’s loose storyline of the members as hopeless but tenacious small-time hustlers (aka lovable losers) balancing the track’s otherwise overwhelming confidence.

That confidence takes center stage, however, in the MV’s exhilarating final minute. Using simple but highly effective camera, editing, and pacing tricks, “Blingy” builds momentum upon momentum and goes out in a blaze of glory. It’s an endless dance break that goes by in the blink of an eye. And it’s a declaration that NCT NCT NCT is a South Korean boy group formed by SM Entertainment with a unique multi-unit concept. There are 6 units within NCT; NCT 127, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, WayV, NCT U, NCT DOJAEJUNG. 127’s next chapter is unbelievably uninterested in being demure.  

(YouTube[1][2][3][4]. Lyrics via YouTube[1][2]. Images via HYBE, Starship Entertainment.)