Next Episode (EP)

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Next Episode
AKMU - Next Episode (Digital).jpg
Digital cover
EP by
AKMU
ReleasedJuly 26, 2021 (2021-07-26)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length24:41
LanguageKorean
LabelYG
ProducerLee Chan-hyuk
AKMU chronology
AKMU 'Sailing' Tour Live
(2020) 		Next Episode
(2021)
Singles from Next Episode
  1. "Nakka"
    Released: July 26, 2021 (2021-07-26)
Alternative cover
Physical cover
Physical cover

Next Episode (stylized in all caps) is the second extended play (EP) by South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU. It was released digitally on July 26, 2021, and physically on July 27, through YG Entertainment. The EP marks the duo's first album release in nearly two years, since Sailing in September 2019. Described as a "collaboration album", it comprises seven songs, with each track featuring a different artist. "Nakka" serves as the lead single for the album.

Background and release[]

South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU released the single "Happening" on November 16, 2020. In a press release for the song member Lee Chan-hyuk hinted that it was a potential prelude to their next full-length album.[2][3] On June 27, 2021, South Korean news outlet Hankyung reported that the duo would be making a comeback in July, and had begun filming their new music video.[4][3] On the same day, their agency YG Entertainment confirmed that they were in the middle of filming a music video for a new track.[5][3] On July 12, the release of AKMU's new album titled Next Episode was announced for July 26.[3][6]

On July 14, the mini-album's track listing was published, confirming a total of seven tracks with seven different featured artists. The track list highlighted "Nakka" (낙하) featuring IU as the title track; other featuring artists included Lee Sun-hee, Zion.T, Beenzino, Jannabi's vocalist Choi Jung-hoon, Crush, and Sam Kim.[7] Two days later, a video trailer for the mini-album was released, with YG Entertainment announcing that each track on the album would be accompanied by its own music video.[8]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME5/5 stars[9]

Ruby C from the British magazine NME gave the EP a five-star rating out of five, and said, "Much like a mountainous expedition, there are always risks that come with collaborating with others, but those in 'Next Episode' work for the better: each track brings out the strengths of the collaborators, while still effective in showcasing Su-hyun's flawless, pristine vocals and Chan-hyuk's adept lyrical storytelling."[9] Tamar Herman, writing for South China Morning Post, said that "[b]etween the captivating musicality and the lyrics' compelling themes", the album is "worth listening to again and again."[10]

Track listing[]

Credits adapted from the official website and Apple Music.[11][12]

All lyrics are written by Lee Chan-hyuk, except where noted.

Next Episode track listing
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes[a]" (with Lee Sun-hee)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Millennium
  • Sihwang
  • Millennium
  • Sihwang
3:53
2."Nakka[b]" (with IU)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Millennium
Millennium3:32
3."Bench" (with Zion.T)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Lee Hyun-young
  • Millennium
  • Lee Hyun-young
  • Millennium
3:45
4."Tictoc Tictoc Tictoc[c]" (with Beenzino; lyrics co-written by Beenzino)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Peejay
Peejay3:56
5."Next Episode[d]" (with Choi Jung-hoon)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Lee Hyun-young
Lee Hyun-young3:12
6."Stupid Love Song" (with Crush)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Jukjae
Jukjae3:08
7."Everest" (with Sam Kim)
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
  • Jukjae
Jukjae3:15
Total length:24:41

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from YG Select.[13]

  • AKMU – vocals (all tracks)
    • Lee Chan-hyuk – vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), lyrics (all tracks), composition (all tracks)
    • Lee Su-hyun – vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
  • Beenzino – vocals (4), lyrics (4), chorus (4)
  • Koo Bon-am – bass (3, 5)
  • Crush – vocals (6)
  • Lim Heon-il – acoustic guiar (5), electric guitar (5)
  • Lee Hyun-young – composition (3, 5), arrangement (3, 5), keyboard (3, 5), synthesizer (3, 5)
  • IU – vocals (2)
  • Park Jae-bum – drum (5), percussion (5)
  • Park Jong-woo (PJnotreble) – bass (4)
  • Jukjae – composition (6, 7), arrangement (6, 7), acoustic guiar (6, 7), electric guitar (6, 7), bass (6, 7), drum (6, 7)
  • Yoon Jun-hyun - synthesizer (7)
  • Choi Jung-hoon – vocals (5)
  • Millennium – composition (1, 2, 3), arrangement (1, 2, 3), drum (1, 2, 3), synthesizer (1, 2), programming (1), sampling and editing (1), bass (2), keyboard (2), effects (2, 3), percussion (3)
  • Peejay – composition (4), arrangement (4), drum (4), keyboard (4), percussion (4), chorus (4)
  • Sam Kim – vocals (7)
  • Kim Seung-hyun (Shyun) – electric guitar (4)
  • Sihwang – composition (1), arrangement (1), electric guitar (1), electric bass (1), synthesizer (1)
  • Chung Soo-wan – electric guitar (3)
  • Lee Sun-hee – vocals (1)
  • Zion.T – vocals (3)

Charts[]

Sales[]

Sales for Next Episode
Region Sales
South Korea (Gaon)[e] 11,552

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for Next Episode
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various July 26, 2021
YG [11][12]
July 27, 2021 CD [13][16]

Notes[]

  1. ^ 전쟁터; Jeonjaengteo; lit. "Battlefield"
  2. ^ 낙하; Nakha; lit. "Falling"
  3. ^ 째깍 째깍 째깍; Jjaekkak Jjaekkak Jjaekkak
  4. ^ 맞짱; Matjjang; lit. "Fight"
  5. ^ Sales figure as of July 2021.[15]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Tizzard, David A. (August 1, 2021). "K-retrowave and AKMU". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Born-to-sing sibling duo AKMU keeps evolving in new single". The Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. November 16, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Yeo, Gladys (July 12, 2021). "AKMU release cinematic teaser for upcoming "collaboration album"". NME. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Kim, Soo-young (June 27, 2021). [단독] 악동뮤지션, 7월 컴백…'믿듣' 음원 최강자의 귀환 [[Exclusive] Akdong Musician to make comeback in July… The return of the strongest singer in 'Believe']. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Choo, Seung-hyun (June 27, 2021). [공식] '음원 강자' 악뮤 7월 컴백설···YG "신곡 뮤직비디오 촬영 중" [[Official] 'Song source strong' AKMU's July comeback rumor… YG "New song MV is being filmed"]. Sedaily (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Lee, Jae-lim (July 12, 2021). "Sibling duo AKMU to drop new album on July 26". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Kim, Hyo-jeong (July 14, 2021). 이들이 모두 한 음반에…악뮤, 아이유·이선희 등 참여 협업앨범 [They're all on one album… AKMU, collaboration album with IU, Lee Sun-hee]. Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Naver.
  8. ^ Hwang, Ji-young (July 16, 2021). AKMU, 블록버스터급 컴백 "전곡 오피셜 비디오 제작" [AKMU, blockbuster comeback "official video production of all songs"]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b C, Ruby (July 30, 2021). "AKMU – 'Next Episode' review: a star-studded collaboration album that doesn't disappoint". NME. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Herman, Tamar (August 2, 2021). "K-pop must-listen releases in July 2021: BTS, Taeyeon, SF9, AKMU and more". South China Morning Post. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "AKMU - Collaboration Album [Next Episode] Tracklist". YG Life (in Korean). YG Entertainment. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "NEXT EPISODE - EP". Apple Music (US). Apple Inc. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "AKMU COLLABORATION ALBUM [NEXT EPISODE]". YG Select. YG Select. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 31, 2021". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "2021 Gaon Album Chart – July". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "AKMU COLLABORATION ALBUM [NEXT EPISODE]". YG Select JP. YG Select. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
    "AKMU COLLABORATION ALBUM [NEXT EPISODE]". YG Select CN. YG Select. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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