[Dispatch=Reporter Lee A-jin] "Newtro" is now a familiar trend. Numerous artists have already reinterpreted past fads through a contemporary lens.

Because of this, when challenging newtro, what matters more than "what you bring" is "how you make it your own." KiiiKiii has shown strength at that very point.

They have asserted their Gen Z sensibility and brought past trends into the present since their debut. On their debut album "UNCUT GEM," they chose 1980s synth-pop. On "Delulu Pack," they summoned 1990s UK house and mid-2010s deep house.

On their new mini third album "WhyKiiiKiii," they turned their gaze to early 2010s electronic pop. Though the era and genre changed, KiiiKiii's sensibility grew stronger. Over a familiar sound, they added digital-friendly and increasingly free language.

"Dispatch" listened to the new album "WhyKiiiKiii."

"WhyKiiiKiii" is an album containing 24 hours of summer. The atmosphere of the songs changes with the flow of time from morning to dawn. It unfolds coolness, then excitement and impulse, and emotions that deepen toward nightfall in turn.

The first half evokes a summer morning. The opening track "Ever2Late!" is a house dance pop genre characterized by repetitive four-beat rhythm.

House is electronic dance music that began in Chicago, America in the early 1980s. It was influenced by disco. Kick drums fall consistently every 4/4 beat, and rhythms repeat. Rather than disco's rich instrumentation, it employs drum machines and synthesizers, presenting a simpler and more repetitive structure.

"Ever2Late!" is also based on repetitive rhythm. At the same time, bouncy synths and dynamic beats are added, giving it a refreshing atmosphere. While maintaining an ethereal quality, it unfolds differently from the house sound shown in previous work.

The center of weight then gradually shifts to other genres. If the first track is house, the second track "Hey Hi" is electronic house. It draws from disco, the genre that influenced house.

While maintaining lightness with disco-style drums, it added electronic color through light electronic synths. This naturally broadens the genre range from house to electronic pop.

This flow continues in the title track "Pop Off Pop Off." It directly brings the grammar of early 2010s electronic pop that was popular then. Strong electronic sounds reminiscent of pop star Kesha are mixed with EDM.

This choice aligns with recent trends in overseas pop. Currently, young pop stars like Slayyyter and Kate Moira are drawing again from the sounds and styles of divas of that era. KiiiKiii has also ridden this wave.

The chorus topline is simple. The note F is repeated. Like Eom Jung-hwa's "D.I.S.C.O," a single note repeats. Simple and intuitive melody heightened the excitement. Because it's familiar, it quickly catches the ear.

The period code extends beyond music. The point choreography is the shuffle dance that became popular through "Party Rock Anthem." The fashion also brought styles of that time through neon colors and leggings. The music video added a retro screen reminiscent of 2000s websites as a backdrop, along with the sensibility of the perennial game "The Sims."

On top of that, they layered a Gen Z sensibility. They actively utilized contemporary language in the lyrics. Instagram filter "Rio de Janeiro," and phrases that trended on Reels such as "Sorry for being cute," and others.

Music critic Kim Do-heon said, "Since it's a summer song, they focused on hedonistic sensation and a quirky, lively concept rather than grandiose messages," and "they added expressions like 'meow' and tempo control in the sound. They went beyond simply recreating 2010s sound and breathed life into the song."

As the album progresses toward the latter half, KiiiKiii's unique four-dimensional sensibility thickens. "Candy Pink Magic Hole Flip Phone" is precisely that. It's hyperpop drawing Y2K sensibility, with electronic synths and fast beats rushing in.

The lyrics were written by indie musician Epik. They list different images indiscriminately. They also mix sentences tossed out conversationally like "right now you're cute," "shocking girl," maximizing the quirky feeling.

Music critic Park Hee-ah said, "Though KiiiKiii's music has strong electronic sound, overall it approaches easy listening," and "it can be enjoyed lightly like a popcorn movie. The differentiation is created in the lyrics, at a point that is neither completely new nor stale. At least a phrase or two is sure to stick in the mind."

K-pop typically has multiple lyricists participate in a single song, yet completes the lyrics in one tone matching the set concept and speaker. However, KiiiKiii chose a different direction. They drew musicians like Sumin, Epik, The Deep, and Lilcherry—each with their own distinct color—as lyricists.

As a result, the breadth of expression expanded. Lyrical sentences, direct expressions, and everyday words coexist within one album. KiiiKiii digested lyrics of different characters according to each member's individuality.

It's particularly evident in "Blue Hour." A dreamlike line and a rough expression coexist. KiiiKiii connected these respectively to clear vocals and weighty rap, making them convincing as KiiiKiii.

Why should you listen to familiar melodies and once-trendy genres again as "KiiiKiii"? "WhyKiiiKiii" answers that question. By adding today's language and sensibility to past sound, it draws new fun from the familiar.

Ultimately, for KiiiKiii, retro is not reproduction but reinterpretation. It's about showing how they made it their own rather than what they brought. If they've shown that potential until now, with "WhyKiiiKiii" they've proved "Why KiiiKiii."

<Photo source=Starship, YouTube capture>