Kpop: So Yumi (소유미)

For some reason, I am weak for trot, the traditional music style preceding the more popular korean pop known simply as kpop. So when So Yumi of disbanded Kiss&Cry does a solo debut with a trot sounding "Shake Me Up", I am interested. As they spices it up with some slightly modern dance beats too, I may keep this one.

• So Yumi - Shake Me Up (흔들어주세요)

Kpop: Dia (디아)

First it was Bella, which disbanded and was reconstructed as Kiss&Cry, with one of the additions being Dia. Kiss & Cry was also short-lived, and now Dia releases another single as a solo singer. Hopefully this is a more fruitful way to success for the singer who has a full voice put well to use in the new thriller sounding "Paradise".

• Dia - Paradise (Dream ver.)

Kpop: Kiss & Cry (키스&크라이)

After Bella was disbanded, Kiss&Cry was put together from the remaining members and some new additions (like Dia, hinted in her song with Kiss&Cry in October). I can't say the general production values seems to be more than average, but what struck me was not their attempt to hook onto the current sexiness trend, but rather the "latin" sound. This is what I imagine may be their opening and potential niche. The rhythms used in "Domino game" is actually quite unusual in kpop.

• Kiss & Cry - Domino game (도미노 게임)