New Girl Groups MEOVV and P1Harmony Initiate Musical Transformations with New Albums

K-pop rookie groups are attempting musical transformations through the release of new albums. MEOVV, a girl group under The Black Label, released its first EP titled “My Eyes Open VVide” on May 12. This new album, produced eight months after their Debut, features six tracks including the pop-rock genre’s Title Track “Drop Top.” The EP also includes previous singles such as “Hands Up,” “Meow,” “Toxic,” and “Body,” along with a new song titled “Lit Right Now.” MEOVV has declared an image transformation through this album. Member Narin stated at the showcase, “When we first Debuted, we had a sleek black cat image called ‘Catty Titude,’ but for this EP, we wanted to show a wider range of colorful charms and identities. We aim to present a more vivid image, just like a cat with colorful patterns.” MEOVV is a rookie group that Debuted in September 2024 and is currently increasing its exposure to the public. Meanwhile, the six-member boy group P1Harmony released its eighth mini-album titled “Duh!” on May 8. P1Harmony (Kiho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, Jongseob), which Debuted in 2020 with “Siren,” significantly increased member involvement in the production of this album. Jiung, Intak, and Jongseob contributed to songwriting, while Kiho, Jiung, and Jongseob participated in composition. Soul and Theo added a “unique vocal color” to complete the music. P1Harmony spent approximately 10 months working on this album. Kiho explained, “We created much of it during our European tour. We wrote lyrics and conceptualized new ideas between flights and shows. Despite being extremely busy, we worked hard to meet deadlines, and I think that process left a deep impression on the music.” The album includes six tracks such as “Murmur,” “Over and Over,” and “Pretty Boy,” with the Title Track “Duh!” carrying the dance-pop vibe of the early 2010s. “Murmur” is composed of a fusion of 90s-style R&B and hip-hop. Member Jongseob spoke about the musical direction of this album, saying, “We wanted to experiment with old-school hip-hop sounds. Because we have respect for that culture and its origins, we wanted to honor it while adding our own style. Since it’s a very popular genre, we wanted to reinterpret it in a new way.” He added, “While incorporating that vibe throughout the album, we also experimented with new sounds not tried in previous albums. Fans will be able to hear a mix of various styles, inspirations, and influences.”