K-pop must-listen releases in July 2021 from BTS, Taeyeon, Day6, Kyuhyun, AleXa featuring BM of KARD, and more

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation is set to score big with her new disco-pop single ‘Weekend’ and AleXa featuring BM of KARD has high hopes for funky pop song ‘Xtra’
‘Permission to Dance’, penned by Ed Sheeran, will be BTS’ follow-up to ‘Butter’, and (G) I-dle rapper Soyeon makes her debut as a soloist with ‘Beam Beam’

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

Tamar Hermanin United States

Published: 8:15pm, 4 Jul, 2021

Why you can trust SCMP

The hotter the summer days get, the more the competition among K-pop acts for eyes and ears heats up.

July will see major releases from many of the biggest ones, including new songs from superstars BTS and Taeyeon. Here’s what you need to stay tuned to this month.

AleXa featuring BM of KARD Xtra (July 1)

The Korean-American soloist returned with a fierce collaboration with the KARD rapper to kick off the month. Brash and brassy, the funky pop song explodes with charisma and energy.

Itzy with Second Aunt Kim Davi (Kim Shin-young) Break Ice (July 1)

The alter ego of popular television personality and comedian Kim teams up with the popular girl group in this summery, percussive number. The proceeds of Break Ice will be donated to those struggling because of the pandemic.

Even of Day (Day6) Right Through Me (July 5)

The three-member subunit of Day6 – featuring Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon – released their first album last summer, so it’s only fitting they share more music with the world.

Soyeon ((G) I-dle) Beam Beam (July 5)

The (G) I-dle rapper will make her formal debut as a soloist with the song Beam Beam, the lead song off of her first ever EP, Windy.

SF9 Tear Drop (July 5)

The lead single from their upcoming ninth EP Turn Over, Tear Drop is SF9’s first release following their impressive showing on the intense K-pop boy band competition show Kingdom: Legendary War.

Kyuhyun (Super Junior) Together (July 5)

The popular balladeer and Super Junior member arrives with the latest in his seasonal project series called Together, which is set to evoke the feelings of a bright summery romance.

Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation) Weekend (July 9)

The popular soloist is set to once again make her mark with her new disco-pop single Weekend, which is likely to become everyone’s favourite Friday to Sunday go-to listen.

BTS Permission to Dance (July 9)

The Ed Sheeran-penned follow-up to Butter will be released by the history-making septet as a B-side on the physical album of that hit song. They’ll be performing it during a special event on July 9 streamed live on YouTube across the world, described as “A Butterfly Getaway”.

Minzy Teamo (July 11)

Since she started out in the hit girl group 2NE1 back in 2009, the charismatic performer has grown in the spotlight from a teenager to the head of her own company. Now she’s back with her third solo single, Teamo (sometimes written “Te amo”).

Baek A Yeon Observe EP (July 13)

Female soloists are truly going to make July their own, with Baek joining the crowd with the release of her fifth EP, Observe. It will be her first album since the release of 2018’s Dear Me, and follows a series of singles and one-off appearances on K-drama soundtracks since then.

D.O. (Exo) Empathy EP (July 26)

The Exo singer previously revealed he’d be the latest among the boy band’s members to release his own album, and D.O. will make a splash at the end of the month with Empathy.

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