PlayAsia #7: Back-to-School Season

As summer fades into fall, new Asian music of various genres memorializes the changing atmosphere. This installment of PlayAsia encapsulates our sonic experience of the transition between seasons, and we hope these three albums can accompany you on the increasingly chilly walk to school at sunrise. 

bad pieces - wave to earth

wave to earth is a Korean indie rock band known for their dreamy, nostalgic soundscape. They debuted in 2019 with the song “Light,” followed by their first EP wave 0.01 (2019). Since then, they have maintained consistent quality and a consistent sonic identity—one that feels both romantic and melancholic. Their most recent album, bad pieces (2026), is a solid mid-summer release, combining the sentimental and fleeting nature of the shift between seasons.

bad pieces starts off by showcasing a more experimental side of wave to earth; the band even acknowledges this divergence in an interview, with producer Daniel Kim expressing, “everything that we tried on this album felt so new and foreign to me.” The song “everything comes and goes” fuses energetic jazz with their signature style, featuring full instrumental sections between minimalistic, whimsical vocal mixes. Similarly, “skylark” is bright and optimistic, clearly inspired by Michael Jackson-esque rhythms. As the album nears its end, the production organically transitions into the band’s usual haziness and warmth. The rest of the tracks build up a reflective and intimate atmosphere as they slow down towards “closing,” almost entirely defined by its strumming guitar and soothing ambience. Overall, bad pieces truly fits the band’s own description of the album as “comfort, purity, and lazy”—perfect for the upcoming season.

second person - Yorushika

Yorushika is a Japanese rock duo founded in 2017 composed of N-buna, a guitarist and songwriter, and Suis, the duo’s vocalist. Known for their passionate production mixed with their heavier lyrical content, Yorushika continues this style in their newest album, second person (2026), through its emotional songwriting, layered instrumentation, and dynamic shifts between tracks. 

“Plover,” the album’s most popular song, opens with bright trumpet notes and piano that immediately give the track an upbeat, jazzy feel. Accompanying the image of two people admiring the beauty of nature and illustrated by lyrics such as “さぁ行こう東風を脱いで [Let’s go, take off the east wind] / 千鳥足の二人 俯瞰一面の花吹雪 [Two staggered people, a blizzard of flowers all over the place],” the song offers a bittersweet atmosphere that perfectly captures the essence of melancholic late summer. Other songs such as “The flowers are also noisy” and “Paddle” take on a calmer mood, featuring gentle acoustic guitar and soft piano accompaniment, yet still showcase the same dramatic theme that persists throughout the album. 

ICY BABY - Colde

Colde, or Kim Hee-soo, is a South Korean singer and songwriter. He debuted in 2016 as a member of the indie duo Offonoff, and is mostly known for his single “WA-R-R” (2019). While wave to earth and Yorushika capture the quieter, more reflective side of the transition into fall, Colde’s newest album ICY BABY (2026) offers a burst of energy before summer fully slips away. Driven by R&B and hip-hop influences, the album has a livelier and more rhythmic sound that provides a contrast to the atmospheric qualities of the first two albums.

The album starts off strong with “ICY,” a catchy song with dynamic piano instrumentals and beats despite its repetitive lyrics. One of the album’s more popular tracks, “PULL UP,” shifts towards a more electronic sound, showcasing a heavier emphasis on its production and rhythmic elements, incorporating reverbed electric guitar that adds to its energetic atmosphere. ICY BABY also features several guest artists, including popular Korean rapper Punchnello, singer Khakii, and artists DIMO REX, JJANGYOU, and Choi WonBin. Among these collaborations, “DRIPPY,” featuring Punchnello, stands out for its slow yet stylish beat and piano, which later mellows out as the drums drop away, allowing the bassline to take center stage. The last song of the album, “SHUT DA FXXKA AND GO,” offers a more melancholic melody, accompanied by heavy drums, electric guitar, and distorted vocals, matching the edgy, rebellious mood of the track’s title.