Heize’s latest album 바람 (Wish & Wind) is a fragrant cup of chamomile tea. It’s your favourite meal after a hard day at work. It’s a tender hug from your significant other. It’s soothing, beautiful and absolutely worth your time.
Heize, an R&B artist under CJE&M, has been rising in popularity over the last few years. Her appearance on Unpretty Rapstar was really the turning point in her career, but it’s the direction she took from there that has surprised and delighted in equal measure. Heize elevated herself from just another survival show contestant to a real force with top-notch collaborations with the likes of Highlight’s Yong Junhyung, KR&B megastar Dean, rapper Nafla and former 4Men member Shin Yong Jae.
These collaborations, and Heize’s own groovy R&B hits have made her a household name in Korea, landing multiple all-kills on the charts and becoming one of the leading lights in Korean R&B globally. It’s in this context, as a bona fide hit-maker and domestic superstar, that Heize has released this latest album and proven once again why she’s so fantastic.
Wind starts off strong with the lead single “Jenga” featuring Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko: a jazzy head-bobber about a relationship on the verge of collapse, like the titular Jenga tower. The instrumental for this track is fantastic, with syncopation and swing in every instrument and a fantastically stuttering drum beat to hold the track together. The lyrics are also brilliant, with Heize’s chorus of “I don’t wanna play this game no more / somebody help” really ringing out and Gaeko’s rap consisting of some great analogies between his relationship and the leaning tower of Pisa. There’s even a slamming piano solo thrown in for good measure! Overall, a fantastic opener to the album.
The second track, “괜찮냐고 (but, are you?)” is a slower, more emotional affair. It starts with nothing but a piano, and Heize’s voice and the instrumental are very subtle throughout, with quiet drum beats and guitars surfacing and leaving. The harmonic backing vocals make the song sound a lot larger and airier than it otherwise would have done and overall, the build throughout makes it a great listen, especially for a rainy day. Possibly too repetitive, it may end up being the lowlight of the album but that’s saying more about the quality of the album than this song.
The fourth track gives me ample space to heap praise onto DAVII, the second creative force on the record alongside Heize. DAVII is a composer, producer and singer-songwriter, signed to Cube Entertainment, and he produced this album and helped Heize write most of the songs. On this fourth track, “잘 살길 바래 (Wish You Well)” he features as a secondary vocalist and oh my goodness is his voice fantastic! Heize is a phenomenal singer, but DAVII’s husky tones were a welcome contrast for this wonderful duet. This is definitely a highlight of the album, and with its rich harmonies and infectious melody, could have easily been the lead single. Bravo DAVII!
The final track of the album may just be its best. “미안해 (Sorry)” is almost a throwback to 70’s pop music, with a tinge of bands like Electric Light Orchestra. The track has a lovely sense of motion with it’s driving chord progression and a chorus with a catchy, slightly childish edge to it. This song will have thousands apologising for things they never did, just because the lyrics are stuck in their heads. It’s a real belter of an album closer, and shows Heize’s diversity and ever growing talent, as well as DAVII’s skilled arrangement.
To reiterate, this album is an absolute gem for the KR&B enthusiast, and a damn fine introduction for any newcomers. Solid songwriting, great piano riffs, and some soulful vocals make this a must listen for anyone looking to de-stress, or to get over a relationship. It speaks to the soul.
This post was written by our guest blogger, Ben Chuter.