Unless I’m forgetting someone, we have our first debut of 2026 with project group Latency. However, this is more like a re-debut for most members. This band consists of familiar faces (Loossemble’s Hyunjin and cignature’s Jeewon, Semi and Haeun), reinventing idols as rockers. Today, we get the first taste of their music via digital single It Was Love (사랑이었는데).
I’m not surprised to see an act like this emerge, especially as groups like QWER have proven so popular with Korean listeners. It Was Love takes a straightforward approach, offering a gentle band sound with pleasant melodies. It’s slightly louder than coffeehouse, yet lacks the powerful drive you might expect from a band. The exception to this occurs right before the song’s final chorus as an exciting guitar solo takes hold. I would have loved to hear more of this fire throughout the rest of the song, as too much of It Was Love comes across as a pleasant throwaway.
Charmingly, the song lacks some of the polish we’ve come to expect from K-pop. It’s unveiled through a bare bones “live” clip and the vocals sound pretty unadorned. Perhaps this is why the production also feels so stripped back. It really does have a “project” feel to it, as if some friends came together to write a song and excitedly release it to the world.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5
Grade: C
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