Tomorrow X Together’s Yeonjun gets experimental on ‘GGUM’, but his new single doesn’t pop

Yeonjun of Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is standing on the brink of a new wave in K-pop. As the first few from the industry’s fourth generation of stars start to go solo, Yeonjun has a unique opportunity to set a precedent for those to come. As one-fifth of TXT, the singer has had years to hone his skills and tastes, having debuted in 2019 with a distinctive pop-forward sound that has come to define their record-breaking hits since.

• READ MORE: The 10 best Tomorrow X Together songs

Yeonjun’s debut solo release ‘GGUM’, which has been billed as a “mixtape”, takes its title at face value: the K-pop star employs plenty of bubblegum-related analogies in the lyrics. “Yeah I make it chewy like gum, chomp chomp / Hop on this beat, no time to dawdle,” he spits on the high-powered, confident single. No need to be humble when I’m on the floor / Even if my jaw locks, I’ll keep it pop and blow.”

The conviction Yeonjun embodies in ‘GGUM’ certainly makes it a memorable listen, and the same can be said of the very sticky hook, but the song leaves little to write home about beyond that. While the singer does what he can with the material at hand – he’s only credited as one of the seven co-lyricists – the track and its production ultimately suppresses what makes Yeonjun stand out: his vocal versatility.

It’s a pity that this quirky hip-hop track relies so much on voice modulation to give the song texture, which ends up drowning out Yeonjun’s own uniqueness. It all just ends up working against the whole point of the release, as a song that’s meant to spotlight the K-pop star. And at worst, ‘GGUM’ even strips Yeonjun of his individuality, with the song sounding like it belongs on the “neo” side of boyband NCT 127’s discography.

One line of ‘GGUM’, Yeonjun proudly declares that “this song’s now stuck in your head”, but we’re not too sure about that. TXT have always been consistent and well-aware of their identity and sound, but it seems Yeonjun has yet to find a sure footing on this new path he’s pursuing. Though, perhaps with more time, he might still come to find a sound that truly resonates with him.

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