Indie Wonderkid adore Releases New Single “Antics”
adore has released his new single “Antics”. Photographed by Suhèr Chandi.
The promising Korean singer-songwriter adore has released his new single "어리광” (“Antics”) to streaming services today.
"어리광” follows the trajectory set by adore’s previous EP “closed eyes, daytime dreams”: It’s a dreamy, quiet ballad that plays best at night and demonstrates his poetic range as a songwriter.
Like many of adore’s songs, "어리광” traces the ambiguity of sadness. “They say that you can't fix the sadness you were born with,” adore sings in the second verse. “You said you could cry/ I have to let you go.”
“I hope my music is comforting and intimate for listeners," he told me in May. “But to be honest, most of my music’s topics are about anxiety. Anxiety about something that won't come to me is the main emotion of all my creations. And it's also cowardly.”
adore is careful to never reveal the meaning of any of his songs, once telling me, “I never directly reveal the topic and feelings for my music. I cover it up with metaphors, comparisons and expressions. I use disingenuous lyrics.” But "어리광” seems to examine heartbreak and the loss of someone he once knew. “I don’t think I’m going to be fooled anymore,” he tells a partner in the chorus. But then declares, “I don’t think I’ve grown up.”
Like all of adore’s music, too, the album art for "어리광” is mysterious. In the photo, a sparse studio apartment is seen in the middle of the night with a light emanating out from the right side of the photograph. Plants sit idly nearby. Taken in with other artisitc album covers, including several that feature oil paintings of still life and portraits, “어리광” reminds us just how much adore appreciates building meaning. into every dimension of his work
Since the release of “closed eyes, daytime dreams” adore has spent time revisiting his back catalog. He recently released several YouTube performance videos from his EP “2005”, which was released 3 years ago. The performances are intimate set pieces with adore standing center with his pink electric guitar. On tracks like “2005”, adore strikes viewers as an enigmatic performer who draws you in with his intensity and sensitivity.
The YouTube performance demonstrate why adore is an artist who’s remained impressively consistent since his debut. His lyrics, which often revolve around anxiety and displacement, are felt throughout each song, and become electric live.
"어리광” won’t be the last song we hear from adore this year, with more planned to trickle out over the next few months.
But "어리광” is an excellent place to start if you’re new to the isnger’s music. It’s elegant and raw, reminding us why adore is one of the most talented musicians working in Korea, all too worthy of receiving his flowers.
You can stream the track now here.
