Keeping up with K-Pop: There are more than “28 Reasons” to listen to Seulgi’s first solo album

Red Velvet’s Seulgi released her first solo album, “28 Reasons” on Oct 4. This album shows a new, darker side of Seulgi, with this album being anticipated by fans for quite some time. 

Seulgi is the third out of the five Red Velvet members to go solo, following Wendy and Joy. The two solo releases prior were more upbeat, and ethereal, but Seulgi has gone to the dark side for her album. 

“28 Reasons,” the lead single for the album, starts off with a stagnant heartbeat sound. This instrumental is what carries most of the first verse, with the isolation of Seulgi’s vocals being all that listeners can focus on. 

Graphic by- Rachel Fratt

This first verse sounds like a predator stalking its prey, waiting for the right time to attack. As the song starts to build, more tension rises, and finally Seulgi attacks her prey in the chorus.

The introduction of violins in the chorus adds drama to the song. As we get more vocal variety, a whistle intervenes halfway through the chorus, which goes along to the tune of the heartbeat sounds we got at the start of the song. 

With this addition, the song gets elevated, and after Seulgi’s first victim after the first chorus, we go back to stalking the prey, just waiting for the right moment to attack again. 

In the bridge, a chorus of different orchestral instrumentals help build the song again, but comes to a quick halt for Seulgi to lead us all to safety with her lyrics, but as it continues, there is no longer safety promised in the words that she is saying. 

“You in danger, but it’s ok, you’re a grown up.”

After this threat, Seulgi then makes her final attack, combining all of the elements of the song into a show stopping end. 

The song ends with the lyrics, “The more you break, the more you’ll want me.” Seulgi has torn listeners apart with this song, but promises that we will always come back for more. 

Seulgi has “28 Reasons” to share with us, and her debut album is only reason one, and I will be back to hear more of this sound.

Thankfully, the album sticks with this devilish tone throughout. The songs “Dead Man Runnin’,” “Bad Boy, Sad Girl,” and “Crown” all share a similar style to the lead single, “28 Reasons.”

The other two singles from the album, “Anywhere But Home” and “Los Angeles” are even more alarming. The songs have more upbeat instrumentals, giving a false sense of hope, with deeper meanings underneath the happy facade.

The title “Anywhere But Home” gives way to the meaning of the song, but it is also how Seulgi gets listeners to believe that they, too, want to be anywhere but their current lives.  

This song is a fantasy. It starts with an almost slow-motion distorted sound, which could be reminiscent of how it feels to fall asleep. The second it ends, we are welcomed into the bright world of one’s dreams, with chimes and bass guiding the instrumental to be more of a city-pop sound. 

While this song may be very simple, it has to be the best on the album. It is a complete shift from all the other songs on the album, but still gives a darker vibe, which helps fit it right in. Pure pop perfection right here. 

Also, if you are a fan of “American Boy” by Estelle, this song has elements that make it feel like an elevation of that song.

“Los Angeles” is a journey within a song. The sense of urgency is back, and it seems as if Seulgi is telling us a secret as she whispers through the first verse of the song. With synth beats that could be placed in any spy film, it feels like we are on a top-secret mission with Seulgi in Los Angeles. 

The whole verse starts to grow in sound, but still does not introduce any new instrumentals. Eventually, the song switches gear, and the beat drops, feeling as if we are speeding through the Los Angeles undergrounds, on our way to solve crime. 

A part of the beat drop I found unique and enjoyable was the sound of water dropping in a pipe. For me, it really helped convey this secret mission feeling.

Whether or not Seulgi and I solved the crime together, “Los Angeles” is not just a place on a map, but now a unique experience for those who listen to the album. 

“28 Reasons” introduces new sounds for Seulgi, and does it almost perfectly. Each song adds variety, and builds off the last one to create a cohesive story through music. Seulgi captivates listeners, and is correct, I want more now.