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.
In contrast to the bright, funky You Never Met, Storm takes a slightly edgier approach. But while its verses have a harder edge, the chorus is more melodic. This is a Kenzie and Andrew Choi produced track, and you can hear influences of that smooth SM R&B sound driving much of Storm. The hooks aren’t as memorable as I’d like and the song feels a bit underdeveloped, but overall this is a promising style for idntt.
Of the three songs released today, Storm probably has the strongest chorus. I especially enjoy the rugged synth that rumbles in to add extra weight. However, Storm‘s verses let the rest of the song down. They feel thrown together, casting melodic scraps here and there without much care for the song’s overall structure. This makes for a slightly unsatisfying whole that lacks the cohesive power of Kenzie’s best works.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
