Review: P1Harmony is Back and ‘때깔 (Killin’ It)’ With Their First Full-Length Album
THEY ARE BACK AT IT AND KILLIN’ IT AGAIN — Three years into their debut, P1Harmony has been capturing the attention and the hearts of many across the world. This bilingual six-member band has appeared across various media platforms, including NY Times, Vogue, Teen Vogue, HYPEBAE, Rolling Stone, NME, Forbes, PAPER, and Refinery29, and has been seen performing on stages such as The Kelly Clarkson Show, GMA3, The Daily Show, and The iHeart Radio’s Jingle Ball.
Since Completing the final stages of their worldwide tour, P1USTAGE H: P1ONEER, P1Harmony has returned with their first full-length album, 때깔 (Killin’ It), released today. They plan to capture your attention and get you out of your seats and dancing with what they have in store for their fans across the world.
If you’re new to P1Harmony, the group stands out with their distinct sound and style. They seamlessly blend hip-hop, dance beats, and melodic pop to create catchy, colorful, and exciting hits paired with fiery, compelling choreography. To pull it all together, the group has an infectious and radiating energy that exudes positivity, love, and light; each member has a charming, cool personality that’s captured the hearts of fans everywhere.
It’s very clear that in the three years since their debut, P1Harmony’s hard work has paid off, their music continuously making a global impact. As their sound and artistry transcend language barriers, the group is currently rising on the top 40 radio charts in the US. They have produced six successful mini albums and four digital singles, each project being bigger than the next.
Being part of the fourth generation of K-pop, in which elements of cinema and storytelling concepts became a staple in the genre’s groups, P1Harmony secured their legacy by releasing their pre-debut short film, PH1: A New World Begins, directed by Yoon Hong-Soon, in which each rookie idol plays beings from a different dimension.
With so much success throughout the years, P1Harmony never fails to impress as they come back strong with 때깔 (Killin’ It). The debut album includes 10 new songs written by the band members themselves. Jongseob co-wrote the lyrics for the entire album alongside collaborators; Keeho, Jiung, and Intak wrote and helped compose many of the other tracks.
Starting the album strong with its title track, the composition of “때깔 (Killin’ It)” is made up of an unforgettable 808 bass, as well as a fiercely executed rap verse and flow that pays homage to classic K-pop and ’90s hip-hop. This energetic and thrilling track is sure to get a crowd going, with energy that’s just as great as its music.
Leading into the next song, “Late Night Calls” takes a bit of a smoother R&B route. This sentimental, suave track begins with a head-nodding downbeat paired with an acrostic guitar melody that sways seamlessly in the background. The song then picks up into a dance beat and incorporates lighthearted, charming lyrics that talk about looking forward to having those sweet late-night chats with your crush.
“Everybody Clap” is a high-energy track that includes a free-styling chant and claps that offer the group a fun, uplifting way to interact with their fans live. With some lines in the chorus chanting, “Everybody hands up / If you're happy and you know it, enjoy the rhythm, show it,” it’s a track that anyone can enjoy and have a good time.
“꿍꿍이 (Love Story)” and “Countdown To Love” have two very different sounds but both carry a feel-good energy. “꿍꿍이 (Love Story)” is more of an easy-listening track, the lyrics expressing the feeling of wanting a love that’s like a story with the person they want to be with. This track serves as a palette cleanser before you enter into “Countdown To Love,” which is a more vivid, enthusiastic track expressing how love can conquer all the negativity. The track is a celebratory one.
“Emergency” will surely get your attention as the song starts with a faint siren. It’s a high-energy pop/hip-hop fusion track with electric guitar riffs in the background to give the song some edge. Its rap verses continue to bring that edgy feel as the harmonies of the vocals balance out the heavier energy.
As you continue to listen, you’ll notice that “2Nite” presents a newer sound for P1Harmony — it’s a track that you want to let loose to. More on the funky, R&B/pop side as opposed to their usual K-pop and hip-hop vibe, the lyrics explore the feeling of dancing the night away and enjoying yourself.
But both “Let Me Love You” and “Street Star'' stay true to the signature sound we all know P1harmony for. The chorus of “Let Me Love You,” catchy and witty, will stick in your head like clockwork. “Street Star” is described as a “confidence-boosting anthem,” as it expresses the confidence the group members feel when they hear the cheers of their fans combined with the beat of their music.
Last but certainly not least, “I See U'' is a track dedicated to P1Harmony fans, also known as P1ece. This touching and heartfelt song reads like a thank you letter to the fandom, as they continue to show their support for the group. They continue to drive up their stream counts, have racked up over 20M views in one night for their music video of “JUMP,” and sold out their US tour in less than 30 minutes.
때깔 (Killin’ It) is another strong and consistent body of work in P1Harmony’s discography. It’s as playful, energetic, and lively as it is heartfelt and sentimental. You can feel the passion and creativity they put into each track as they keep their signature catchy vibe all the while experimenting with different sounds. Each track is different, yet they connect well. The visuals for this album match the energy of the music: colorful, fresh, and amplifying of their glowing and animated personalities.
It’s clear that P1Harmony put a lot of time and dedication into this album alongside their collaborators, as they do with all their work. With only three years in the game, the group has already made such a huge global impact, and 때깔 (Killin’ It) both proves how far they’ve come and shows that they have much more to share with the world.
On June 8, P1Harmony will perform at the Gov Ball in New York’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In the meantime, they will continue to dominate stages across the world, break records, and capture the hearts of many.
