15 must-listen rookie K-pop acts of 2020, from Enhypen to Aespa to Treasure, to keep an eye on
- This year heralded the dawn of a new generation of girl groups, with sleek StayC, winning Weeekly, 7-member Cignature and AI-enhanced Aespa making their debuts
- Solo acts made a splash too, from Monsta X’s Wonho to the addictive Ong Seong-wu, Demian – and Victon’s Han Seung-woo, once of X1, with alt R&B album ‘Fame’
This year has felt a bit like an episode of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror that we’ve all had to collectively live through – but there have been some bright moments in 2020.
The K-pop world, although it has plenty of its own troubles, has remained a stalwart bubble of entertainment and bright moments. Many artists have remained active and have rapidly adjusted to the new norms.
Many of K-pop’s biggest stars made waves with amazing albums and singles, but 2020 was also a very good year for rookie acts. Numerous bands and soloists marked their beginnings with debut releases of outstanding creativity, setting the bar high for a new decade of K-pop rookies.
Here are some rookie K-pop acts to keep an eye on, and must-listen releases.
DKB
This boy band is produced by Brave Entertainment, with production team Brave Brothers guiding their sound. They began their promotions last year, but made their formal debut in February, and released high-quality music throughout the rest of 2020 that has endeared them to fans across the globe.
