A New Era

By Michael Luce

B rief history lesson real quick, because chances are something about this situation will be just as confusing and/or fascinating for someone else as it was for me: ODD EYE CIRCLE (LOONA) was founded as the second subgroup of 12-member LOONA before the larger group fractured due to several lawsuits against their agency and subsequent contract terminations. This resulted in several members founding the new group ARTMS, of which ODD EYE CIRCLE (ARTMS) is now also a subgroup. While sources seem to conflict on whether the members of LOONA will ever record or perform together, it seems like they aren’t quite ready to say the group is totally finished.

So, to recap: ODD EYE CIRCLE (ARTMS) is a group where all the members are simultaneously parts of two other groups that are not the same. Oh, and the old company that owns the name LOONA tried to have the members blacklisted from the Korean entertainment industry at one point. Fun!

Now that we have the context established, it’s no wonder the group has made it explicit with the title ODD EYE CIRCLE <Version Up> that this is a new version of themselves. The lineup might be the same, but after what these women have been through, they are ready to move ahead and explore what this new era holds in store for them.

"Did You Wait?" opens the EP with a mixtape of the group's previous work, as if to really drive home that they're building on the past and that this is the next level for them. It gives way to a mid-2010's EDM beat riffing on the next stage in their journey: "Air Force One". This first full track is an energetic ditty punctuated by slightly glitched-out drums, frequent use of pitch-shifting vocal effects, and an absolutely infectious beat. The next track, “Je Ne Sais Quoi”, dials the tempo back a bit, but keeps the groovy vibes established on “Air Force One” going. The song feels like quintessential fourth-gen K-pop with such positive energy, catchy vocal harmonies, immaculate production, and the obligatory blend of multiple languages besides Korean. Best of all, it feels like an authentic presentation of ODD EYE CIRCLE.

Before you know it, you’ve ripped through the softer tracks “Lucid” and “Love Me Like” and reached the EP’s finale. As cliché as it is to sing about liking music, I just can’t help relating to the closer “My Secret Playlist.” My personal shuffle is often overwhelming to my friends, yet I love sharing new favorites with everyone I meet. The energy of ‘hey I’m curious about your tastes; play me something unique,” absolutely resonates with me.

Complicated backstory and lineup questions aside, I'm glad these gals kept with music, because they sound great! They fill a great niche among girl groups – sassy without being too edgy, quirky, but confident. ODD EYE CIRCLE (ARTMS) uses the EP format to its fullest on this release, and I think other bands could learn a lot from the restraint shown here. The release is kept short at only 5 tracks plus an intro, which leaves the listener longing for more instead of begging for the EP to finish. This abbreviated length means the EP also has an incredibly cohesive sound without lingering long enough to become repetitive. The structure and flow of the release are also way better than they have any need to be (who listens to an EP start to finish in 2024?), as the peaks and valleys of energy and emotion are easily identifiable. My favorite part might be that the songs themselves are quick, but without the artificial brevity that has often come to songs during the era of TikTok. They feel finished, which is more than I can say about a lot of music recently.

It's been a few months since this release, but ODD EYE CIRCLE <Version Up> is one of the freshest sounds in K-pop right now. ARTMS won’t release their full debut as a group until later this year, but if this EP is any indication of their talent, we’re in for a treat.