Music meteorology: predicting the next wave of megahits and earworms with the tracks they’re teasing and releasing now.
JENNIE has the pop world at her feet.
Words: Dan Harrison.
BLACKPINK’s JENNIE needs no introduction as a pop force of nature, but as she steps back out from the relative safety of her group, she’s holding nothing back. Crash-landing into our eardrums on Friday (11th October), her new single ‘Mantra’ is less of a gentle re-introduction and more of a lightstick to the face – in a good way. Obviously.
While ‘SOLO’, JENNIE’s 2018 debut, showcased her potential as an individual performer, ‘Mantra’ is JENNIE fully realised – a neon-drenched declaration that she’s not simply part of a K-pop royal dynasty, she’s a pop icon in her own right.
BLACKPINK, undisputed queens of K-pop, recently completed their contract with YG Entertainment. JENNIE, ever the overachiever, decided this wasn’t quite enough of a plot twist and launched her own label, Odd Atelier. ‘Mantra’ is the first fruit of this venture, and it’s a short, sharp, sassy-as-all-hell bop.
In terms of sound, ‘Mantra’ is what you’d get if you threw disco, cutting-edge post-Brat pop, and a dash of R&B into a blender, added a generous double shot of liquid confidence, and hit ‘obliterate’. The result? A cocktail so smooth you’ll be swaggering down the pavement before lunch.
The track kicks off with a hook that’s as infectious as the office winter ‘flu’, JENNIE’s glitching vocal cutting through like a hot knife through very expensive butter: “Pretty girls don’t do drama ‘less we wanna,” she swaggers. Seems like she might, too. With tight production and an in-and-out runtime, it’s a laser-guided missile – a track that brings the club to you, whether you like it or not. ‘Mantra’ is a celebration of self-love so potent it should be bottled and sold.
The song refuses to sit still, moving forward with a strident strut, attitude for days. El Guincho, the mastermind behind Rosalía’s genre-bending sound, brings his A-game on production with more layers than a millefeuille pastry, but a sense of space that never overwhelms or feels bloated.
As you might expect, ‘Mantra’ has already been breaking records faster than Lightning McQueen on rocket skates. It topped Billboard’s fan-voted poll for favourite new music, snagged the #1 spot on iTunes charts in 47 countries (a first for a female K-pop soloist in 2024), and generally caused online hysteria. But beyond the numbers, ‘Mantra’ cements JENNIE’s status as an international star. By establishing her own label and steering her artistic direction, she’s commanding a limelight all of her own.
In the end, ‘Mantra’ is exactly what its title suggests: a battle cry for self-confidence, an anthem for JENNIE and her fans, and a tantalising glimpse into the future of one of K-pop’s brightest stars. JENNIE has the pop world at her feet – if she wanna, at least. And based on ‘Mantra’, it seems she definitely does.
LINKS IN BIO
THE NEW BOPS AND BANGERS THEY’RE TEASING FOR IMMINENT RELEASE
JADE – Fantasy
Release date: 18th October 2024
Jade Thirlwall’s third solo offering, ‘Fantasy’, looks set to cast a spell that’s both nostalgic and modern. From Little Mix’s hiatus to now, Jade’s found her feet in a sound that’s pure, shimmering pop genius. Influences of disco legends hinted at via teasing social media glimpses suggest she’s channelling her dreamy, larger-than-life energy into a track that’s destined to stick. ‘Fantasy’ stands to prove that Jade’s not just dabbling in solo work – she’s creating her own brand of magic, and this time, it’s personal.
Ellie Dixon – ‘Renaissance’
Release date: Wednesday 16th October 2024
Ellie may have ‘left’ her previous label, but she’s not taking it laying down. ‘Renaissance’ by name, cutting and determined statement of intent by nature, her wonky pop charge doesn’t look like coming to an end imminently, even if the big boy moneybags industry types can’t wait around for it to properly catch fire. This one’s good enough to make someone look very silly, very quickly indeed.
Shygirl – ‘Immaculate’
Release date: Wednesday 23rd October 2024
Shygirl’s about to shake things up again with ‘Immaculate’ – a track that promises to live up to its name while breaking every rule in the process. Known for blending club beats with razor-sharp lyrics, Shygirl’s latest offering suggests a flirtation with themes of purity, delivered in her trademark sultry style. After collaborations with Arca, HRH Queen Charli XCX and Mura Masa, she’s now creating a niche that’s wholly her own – somewhere between the nightclub and the confessional booth. ‘Immaculate’ is bound to be a mix of the holy and the hedonistic, another step in Shygirl’s journey towards redefining what pop can be in her world – provocative, unexpected, and always pushing the boundaries.
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