It’s said that good artists copy while great artists steal. However, the best artists are often the ones that transcend taking others’ work and can blend a bunch of good things into something new. Such is the case with EVERGLOW. While K-pop in general is already a blend of styles and genres, EVERGLOW has managed to hit the sweet spot by mixing the popular styles of EDM, girl crush, and synth-pop.
EVERGLOW was introduced to the world in February 2019 by Yuehua Entertainment. The group included multiple members who had competed on shows for spots in other groups, some of them multiple times. This experience definitely helped them find their footing as rookies, and EVERGLOW was even called “monster rookies” by media outlets.
From the beginning, EVERGLOW has had a very EDM-centric sound. The genre, while having existed for decades, rose to global popularity in the 2010s, and events like Ultra Music Festival popped up around the world, including in Korea. Although other groups, like BLACKPINK or Stray Kids, certainly include EDM-inspired elements in their music, EVERGLOW really leans into the sound, with most of their songs including heavy trap beats and massive drop-like choruses.
The group also adopted the popular ‘girl crush’ aesthetic. Girl crush concepts often feature the performers in a light that makes them powerful, popular, or desired. It creates the sense that “you should have a crush on me because I’m so awesome” instead of the feeling like “I have a crush on you” seen in groups like Twice. This empowering image contributes to EVERGLOW’s presence as it couples powerfully with their EDM style and creates a very striking personality for the group.
Lastly, the group relies much more on synth-pop than other groups. This left them in the perfect position to capitalize on much of the 80s nostalgia happening right as the group began. For example, their song “LA DI DA” still carries a lot of the EDM influence previously mentioned, but also has a classic synth-pop beat and instrumentation similar to tracks like “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
The group has found this blend of styles to be quite effective, and have won over many fans in the five years of activity. Their unique sound certainly helps them stand out, and in 2021, they were awarded the Best Music Video Award at the Asia Artist Awards for their MV “First.”
EVERGLOW is far from the first act to mix styles, concepts, and genres like this, but they have certainly proven to be one of the best at it, and future groups are sure to take notice. Who knows what impressive combinations will come next from K-pop? If EVERGLOW is any indication, it’s sure to be an exciting ride.