EDITOR’S
PICKS

A rhythm-first opening

Start with the rhythm. The New Jack Swing foundation gives this selection a clear opening idea, with ILLIT’s bright harmonies bringing a lighter touch to an older rhythmic vocabulary. We put it first for that sense of invitation: a groove-led introduction to the month that leaves plenty of room for the changes of mood ahead.

2026-09-21 · Swingin’ Magic

Motion with a softer edge

Forward motion and softness make an appealing pair: an upbeat pulse, atmospheric synthesizers and lighter vocals. Moonride brings those ingredients into the nighttime stretch of our sequence. The Kia collaboration supplies the setting, while the contrast between rhythmic movement and a gentler vocal character gives us a musical reason to include it.

2026-09-09

An invitation to stay out

A pop-dance song about enjoying someone’s company gives this sequence a clear centre of gravity. Its melodic focus and buoyant rhythm connect naturally with the opening selections. Listen for the individual vocal personalities within that shared mood. We chose it as the sociable heart of the playlist, before the next track moves further toward house music.

2026-09-11 · Made My Night

Another side of the night

The B-side gets its own space here. House music and a playful melodic idea offer a different entry into the same release, with Kid Milli and sokodomo among the contributors. We placed AEIOU beside the title track to invite comparison: two approaches to attraction, and two ways of organising a song around movement.

2026-09-11 · Made My Night

A change of pressure

Here the sequence changes pressure. The bass-heavy foundation, rap delivery and repeated hook give TALK a sharper edge after the brighter opening run. We chose it for that contrast and the distinct personalities gathered within one group. The full music video arrived on September 21, a week before CRASH, giving the track its own moment ahead of the EP.

MV pre-release · 21 Sep; EP due 28 Sep

Two voices, a different scale

A unit release changes the scale of a group’s music. Matthew and Gun Wook’s EMP project puts the exchange between two performers at the centre of attention, making Pina C a useful turn after TALK. We included it for that closer focus on individual identity, with the official sketch film offering a way into their first mixtape together.

2026-09-21 · EMP Mixtape Vol. 1: We the Extra

A warmer turn

Despite the title, this is a September release. Band instrumentation and HAN’s involvement in the writing give it a place in the warmer stretch of our sequence. The Pepero collaboration explains the occasion; our interest is the gentler setting for the group’s melodic side, and the everyday affection at the centre of its message.

2026-09-10 · 11월 11일

A new setting for a familiar group

LIGHTSUM’s Japanese debut opens a new setting for the group, and Doshite is our entry point into it. The song leads Re:idol, an album built around new Japanese material and a deliberate change of presentation. We included it for that moment of transition: an invitation to follow the group’s musical identity into a different pop context.

2026-09-23

Leave room for the voices

Acoustic guitar, bass and drums bring the sequence down to a smaller scale. The linked live clip pairs JOSHUA with WeiBird, placing two voices in conversation rather than presenting the separate English solo version. We chose this for the closing stretch because its restrained musical setting gives the promise of comfort room to carry the song.

2026-09-22

An ending that leaves the door open

Four members helped write this medium-tempo song, connecting its words about distance and reassurance directly to the performers. It closes our selection because that idea reaches beyond a release-day announcement: people can take different paths without losing what connected them. The writing offers a gentle point of departure, with the possibility of meeting again still open.

2026-09-23 · Milky Way