In a year already stuffed with competitive boy group debuts, it’s time for another new act. idntt (pronounced “Identity”) is the brainchild of Jaden Jeong, the man behind LOONA, tripleS and ARTMS. The group follows the same interactive system as tripleS, with twenty-four members split into sub-units based on fan input. The agency is also letting fans decide which of idntt’s three debut title tracks becomes the “super title track,” meaning all three music videos have dropped today. I’ll give each a separate post, which might as well be considered my “vote” for the victor.
First up is You Never Met, which was co-written by EL CAPITXN (the guy responsible for my top two songs of last month). Built upon a catchy chant, the song unfolds over a glitchy beat that melds old-school hip-hop with more modern electronic touches. Similar to tripleS’s title tracks, this song feels overly dependent on one repetitive idea and is much more successful when it strays into more adventurous territory. The song ends with a promising melody that I wish had been threaded throughout the entire thing.
At times, You Never Met comes dangerously close to feeling like style over substance, struggling to match its aura with equally addictive melodies. But of all three title tracks, this one has the most bounce. This energy buoys its appeal, especially during the moments surrounding the central sing-song chant. Still, with so many great tracks coming from rookie boy groups this year I’m not sure if You Never Met does enough to stand out.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
