Kpop: Bada (바다)

15 years ago, around the turn of the millennia, maybe the most popular girl pop group was S.E.S. and Bada (then Sea) was one of the members. Now she makes a comeback and both singles sounds really great and she gives of that kind of energy that feels very much summer.

• Bada ft Kanto - Flower
• Bada - Amazing

Mandopop/indie: Hello Nico

The voice of lead singer Zhan Yuting of Hello Nico from Taiwan was what attracted me to them last year with their first EP (Plankton of the City / 浮游城市) and the songs like "Barren" and "Tearless weeping", and I haven't quite found the same feeling from the new album this year, but hopefully that will come with new songs.

• Hello Nico - Barren (荒蕪)
• Hello Nico - Tearless weeping (哭泣的橄欖樹)
• Hello Nico - Now and Then (接下來如何)
• Hello Nico - Flower (花)

Kpop: Yong Junhyung (용준형)

Main rapper of Korean group Beast, Yong Junhyung releases a Christmas track that *thank gods* isn't either another Christmas caramel or boring ballad. Both the song and video got that nerve that makes all the difference.

• Yong Junhyung - Flower