Over time, every K-Pop group develops a signature style within their music, performances, and promotion. NCT 127 is known for their experimental, in-your-face sound that develops with every comeback, while Red Velvet is known for their sweeping choruses and quirky, sometimes creepy music videos. Having a signature sound doesn't mean they stick to just one genre, but it typically means it's easy to identify certain groups apart from others.

BOYNEXTDOOR is a rising K-Pop boy group who took the current fifth generation by storm with their debut mini-album, WHO!, in May 2023. The six-member boy group seemed poised to bring a sweet, energetic sound to an industry that fans felt was missing a consistently youthful concept. "But I Like You," "One and Only," and "Serenade" made their group name a reality, presenting them as the boys next door you can't help but feel drawn to, but their first comeback immediately showed that BOYNEXTDOOR wasn't going to fit into anyone's rigid box.

Their fourth EP, No Genre, is a collection of six songs that adds depth and personality to an already impressive discography. BOYNEXTDOOR's sound isn't just developing or evolving through each release into something that builds off of what came before. Instead, they appear to take genuine inspiration from their own experiences and the world around them to try their hand at the music they've always wanted to create. It's a testament to the team they have behind them and the potential this group has to surge forward onto a path all their own.

BOYNEXTDOOR Don't Fit Into Just One Genre

"No Genre" Reiterates What Fans Already Know

Every new BOYNEXTDOOR release feels different from the last, and their latest EP is no different. The cover art of No Genre shows the resting on a couch in black and white. It's also the first of their covers to feature every member. The songwriting and production team for No Genre are the same as previous BOYNEXTDOOR releases, including the youngest member, Woonhak, co-writing on every song, and additional like Jaehyun and Taesan popping up here and there. Zico, their company's CEO and member of third generation K-Pop group Block B, always helps to produce their title tracks.

If you listen to this EP from start to finish, there really isn't one genre you can tie it to. "123-78" brings in elements of swing and jazz, while "Step By Step" includes both a horn section and a guitar solo. "I Feel Good" leans into a purely K-Pop rock sound, "Is That True?" is a regretful song reminiscent of "That Should Be Me" by Justin Bieber, and "Next Mistake" is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it collection of each member's unique vocal tones.

I'll be the first to say that no one is making K-Pop like BOYNEXTDOOR right now. They aren't making music just for the sake of attracting fans and becoming the biggest stars in the K-Pop industry, although they have all the necessary assets available to do just that. I'll also it that a couple of the songs on this EP were too short for my taste, but they do a decent job of making them feel longer than they are with how quickly you'll go back to each of them.

Block B's Influence Finally Shines In "I Feel Good"

They Lean Into The Boisterous Sound And Styling Of K-Pop's Past

In their own unique way, BOYNEXTDOOR's latest title track, "I Feel Good," brings back aspects of older K-Pop while also introducing new sounds to their own generation. Zico's fingerprints are all over their title tracks, from "But Sometimes" to "Nice Guy," but this one holds the most obvious inspiration from his own time in K-Pop. If you're not familiar with Block B, give "HER" a listen and then pick this article back up where you left off. Their outrageous styling and contagiously fun sound was a signature that hadn't been recreated until now.

When I learned that KOZ Entertainment was founded by Zico after I became a BOYNEXTDOOR fan, I was immediately excited about what their future held. It's clear that the young have more creative control over their releases than most groups, especially those in bigger companies. They write their own music, pitch ideas for concepts, and always seem right at home on stage no matter which song they're performing. "I Feel Good" feels like they have finally allowed their mentor to influence their sound in a way that works for them.

What a lucky day (Everyday vacay), take their harsh words (Block it out)

Not a drop of alcohol, we're drunk on the vibe (Yeah, that's right)

Meaning? Theme? Who needs stuff like that?

Even the styling in the music video feels like watching a K-Pop video from the 2010s, when the "bad boy" idols were clad in cuffed skinny jeans, striped knee-socks, and chunky boots for some reason. The choreography is exhausting in a way that leaves you out of breath from just watching it while also making you want to learn it as soon as possible. Overall, I can't think of an active group from K-Pop's fourth or fifth generation that has leaned so heavily into a sound and style like this in such an authentic way.

BOYNEXTDOOR is a group working in a unique environment. They're a K-Pop boy group, but they're also under the supervision and mentorship of someone who's been in the industry for over 14 years, someone who's been through the ups and downs of the K-Pop world and seems determined to give their own idols the freedom to create the music they're ionate about. Jaehyun, Sungho, Riwoo, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak are young idols poised for superstardom in the most bona fide way that I can think of.