The era of Golden Child’s music dominating this blog came to an abrupt end when the group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2024 as most members left Woollim Entertainment. Since then, the agency has been largely inactive. Joochan’s new solo track Rise & Shine is the rare sign of life from Woollim — a far cry from the legendary run of singles the agency used to churn out with ease.
Without a doubt, Joochan is one of my favorite fourth gen vocalists. He has one of those effortlessly beautiful voices that resonates with such a rich color. Rise & Shine sees him trying on rock music in suitably anthemic fashion. the song’s uncluttered arrangement reminds me of an OST rather than a big, bold comeback, but I appreciate how the guitars give it some grit.
Now that I’ve been forced to move on as a major Golden Child fan, it feels strange hearing this song. It’s an echo of times past, rekindling sparks here and there but ultimately just makes me want to go back and listen to the group’s best material. Still, Rise & Shine would make a solid album track and acts as a satisfying launchpad for Joochan’s powerful, emotive vocal. I hope he can continue to branch out as a soloist in the future.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
