In a K-pop climate where everyone seems to be harnessing rock touchstones, EXO’s Suho has thrived on the genre for years. It’s been a sweet spot for his solo music and new title track Who Are You continues to paint him in this light. It’s a sprawling mid-tempo seemingly designed for road trip sing-alongs.
This isn’t a sound many would associate with K-pop, but solo releases tend to be a different beast than full-group promotions. This is a “stand behind a mic while strumming a guitar and emoting” type of performance and Suho has proven himself a great emoter. However, a track like this also benefits from build and development. I like the widescreen transition between verse and chorus, but even at three minutes in length Who Are You doesn’t give itself the chance to build toward a proper climax. Instead, the song repeats its same structure two times before simply ending. This dulls some of its overall effect, even though it’s a satisfying listen while you’re in the thick of it.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
