Welcome your new summer soundtrack!
H1GHR MUSIC’s Blue Tape could be your new obsession for this summer.
As a once K-pop enthusiast, I too followed the classic pipeline—evolving from a band-swooning and eccentric sound-loving listener into a firm admirer of the soulful world of Korean R&B and hip-hop. While the K-Pop industry took over the world with names like BTS and Blackpink, equating it with all Korean music can deny you a full picture. Having dabbled with many creators outside of the K-Pop realm, I have found my share of trustworthy ones—many of whom you’ll hear in this album. So, in reading this, I hope you broaden your horizons, expand your taste palette, and find an artist or two that you like.
Released in 2020, Blue Tape followed Red Tape, another LP by the H1GHR MUSIC FAMILY. Red Tape serves as the rap-heavy compilation and Blue Tape showcases their R&B talents. Together, the LPs display the versatility of the artists housed by H1GHR Music Records, a hip-hop and R&B label founded by musician and businessman Jay Park and singer-songwriter Cha Cha Malone in 2017. The label brought together many household names of the Korean Hip-Hop and R&B industries, and this compilation album pairing was the first time the label banded together—we can only thank them for doing so!
Playful in its nature, Blue Tape for me is the perfect summer listen: light-hearted, youthful and breezy. H1GHR MUSIC’s varying sounds and voices bring to life moments of a perfect summertime experience. With 14 songs stretching 45 minutes, it has been my go-to album as soon as the temperatures warm and the days extend. Stay with me—as you listen (you should be picking up your phones and headphones to follow along), you’ll see what makes Blue Tape your new summer soundtrack.
A summer band
I want to walk you through what makes Blue Tape special. And there’s no better place to start than the multitude of voices it passes the microphone to. Take the opening song “Champagne Diet,” which sets the bar high. It’s easy-going, each verse smoothly following the previous, building a conversation amongst the singers. With a steady instrumental and balanced bass, the track calls for a drink while the sun sets—in the warm weather of course. Perhaps, a glass of champagne? Throughout the LP, the selection of artists is remarkable, they bring the track to life, shaped by their own inclinations. Think: a brilliant combo of artists, each contrasting yet complementing the ones embracing it. And as if four voices on a track weren’t enough, the ad libs sprinkled here and there add greater dimension, making “Gotta Go” incredibly energetic. This comes full circle, with the LP’s finale, “Toast”; clean, light and dare I say it, the best combo of artists on the compilation! A perfect close to a cheerful album.
Let’s zoom in a little closer—what about the artists’ themselves? In some ways, the H1GHR label itself feels like a band, with multiple voices to listen for, yet inevitably letting listeners find their favorite. Take “Me&Bae,” for example. Bouncy yet sensible, “Me&Bae” is the track to walk and wander around to, no matter where you are. Sik-K owns the first third of the song and eases us into HAON’s verse, which—dare I say—is my highlight. Each tonal change reflects the artist taking over, is well-executed with light pushes and pulls, and amuses the listener—undeniably serving as a mood booster. I feel similarly about “RVSP Remix”. As the name implies, it is a remix of a Sik-K original track, reshaping the structure while keeping the same instrumental. Swaggy, high-quality rapping accompanied by Big Naughty’s captivating vocalizing on the third verse, “RVSP Remix” is a fun and smooth twist on the original. Plus, Big Naughty’s versatility is glaringly on display.
A summer surprise
Blue Tape as a whole also caught me by surprise—when I say I speak from experience, I mean it through and through. With more time on our hands, summer is the opportunity to explore beyond our comfort zone, whatever that may be. When I first listened to Blue Tape, though I knew most of the artists (my favorite being ph-1!), there were a few unfamiliar faces. The chorus of “Lean On Me” marked my discovery of Woodie Gochild, who debuted under the H1GHR label. Soft and fluid, the song may feel repetitive, but I instead see this as a source of comfort. It’s hazy in a good way, suited for a cool morning or waterside walk—I’m thinking back to London’s Southbank as I write. Contrastingly, “Last Song” proves that H1GHR MUSIC does not set boundaries at conventional hip-hop, as they draw on trap-like sounds, building a distinct atmosphere. Featured only on this track, Nuna nuances the album and lets “Last Song” be a free-flowing soft rap. Though not a song I personally gravitate towards, I appreciate the range. Another notable surprise, “Oscar” is not at all what I perceived it to be; instead of being a pop-like track, it is charming and polite. A kind of musical rom-com, revealing the excitement of the idyllic warm days with its upbeat pace yet calm nature. And, nothing says romance like the scenes August brings.
Though the LP features each artists’ capabilities, I was not expecting a solo song. Golden (previously known as GSoul) takes the spotlight as the only H1GHR artist on “Selfish.” This track is as Golden as it can get. Almost melancholy, especially with the mellow electronic ending, “Selfish” evokes a sense of longing, a longing for the summer to become immortal and deny the arrival of autumn.
A summer assortment
Summertime does not have one definition, and Blue Tape acknowledges this, accommodating for all the feels you may want. Simplicity is core to what summer is about, and “LIVE” embodies simplicity. The humble guitar strum paired with laidback vocals crafts airiness and an ethereal feel. Truly a refreshing listen, “Afternoon” is that midday pick-you-up. It is charismatic, it is strong, it is upbeat. It reflects the spontaneity that a sun-kissed afternoon is home to: go for a walk! Host a picnic! Grab happy hour drinks! Of course, don’t feel restrained to listen to it just around lunch though. Interestingly, H1GHR MUSIC also introduced a sense of vulnerability with “Back From 0.” Undeniably emotive, I must note that ph-1, Sik-K, Woodie Gochild, and HAON are a powerful combo.
Range in voices, range in sounds, and range in moods—what more could you ask for?
A summer dance
Did I unintentionally (completely intentionally) leave my favorite songs till the end? Oh, the end, you say? “End Of The Night” sets the scene immaculately—you have never heard an instrumental so compelling. While the drums remain throughout on this track, the keys bring out a playfulness that almost feels jazzy. Layered with remarkable vocalists, your mood begins to reflect the song, and you’re left grooving. “Shall we dance until the end?” Blue Tape’s got many songs to dance to, and they will keep pulling you in. To couple perfectly, “Swing My Way” is another groovy track, inviting a listener to move along, especially since the lyrics seem to converse with them. Its steady beat and sweet composition are another outstanding creation by Cha Cha Malone, a long-term much-loved musician of mine. Phe Reds’ sole voice, with ad libs of course, is captivating from start to finish. “Feelin' all this summertime magic with you”—truly.
I have never tired of this album, as every track fits into an emotional collage of the quintessential summer experience. The artists on this album each have so much more to say in their solo pieces of work, and they love collaborating with each other in almost every album they make. Whether you are used to the sound of K-Pop, R&B, or neither, I truly believe that if you’re looking for something flavorful and refreshing, you have it here. I play Blue Tape every summer consistently, but also outside the season itself. It represents to me what summer stands for: dreamy, free and laughter-filled, a time to look forward to, a time to savour, a time to remember.
edited by River Wang.
album artwork believed to belong to either the publisher of the work or the artist.