Stray Kids, BTS and Red Velvet all dropping new music in 2022 – the 5 K-pop releases to keep an eye on

This year is going to be major for K-pop. We tell you the five releases to listen out for

BTS are reportedly working on a new album, Stray Kids’ sixth EP, Oddinary, has just dropped and NCT Dream’s album Glitch Mode will come out on March 28

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This year’s upcoming single by BigBang (pictured) will be the K-pop group’s first since 2018’s Flower Road. Photo: YG Entertainment

Published: 6:15pm, 19 Mar 2022

While there are numerous releases from K-pop acts that drop each week, 2022 is gearing up to be a major year. Here are five releases that are must-hears for any K-pop fan.

BigBang

The group that defined much of the K-pop world for years is, after a lengthy hiatus and minus a now-imprisoned former member, returning with their first single since 2018’s Flower Road.

Nothing is known yet about the release, but BigBang’s label, YG Entertainment, confirms a music video has been filmed and it’s expected “in spring”.

BTS are reportedly working on a new album. Photo: YouTube

BTS

After releasing a slew of record-breaking, history-making English-language singles and Japanese-lalnguage album The Best last year, BTS are reportedly working on a new album that should drop before the end of 2022. It’ll be their first Korean-language album since 2020’s BE.

NCT Dream

This NCT group will release their second full-length album, Glitch Mode, on March 28. The LP follows last year’s Hot Sauce, which sold over 3 million copies, making it one of the bestselling K-pop albums of all time.

Stray Kids

Stray Kids’ sixth EP arrived on March 18, fronted by the single Maniac, and has gathered a lot of buzz.

The rising boy band’s new album, Oddinary, takes as its theme the idea of being “odd” and breaking out of the “ordinary” mould. Oddinary sold over 1 million copies ahead of its release.

Red Velvet

This quintet continues their ReVe Festival album series with their seventh EP, Feel My Rhythm, on March 21 – three years after The ReVe Festival: Finale. Drawing inspiration from German composer Bach and ballet, Feel My Rhythm blends modern pop sensibilities with classic music.

There are reports that groups including Aespa (above) plan to release new songs in the first half of 2022. Photo: @aespa_official/Instagram