Shortly after dropping an album in Japanese, ITZY surprises us with their third release of the year: a new mini-album titled TUNNEL VISION (stylized in all caps). This return to the Korean language marks the eleventh mini-album in the group’s career.
Regarding the album’s title, TUNNEL VISION is used as a symbol of maintaining absolute concentration on a goal with personal determination.
Chaeryeong, a member of the group, commented in an interview that, “It is about immersion. Like the meaning of the word “tunnel vision”, you follow that single ray of light you see in the distance. That light could be your goal, or a dream.”
The mini-album features an interesting use of Afrobeats and articulate electronic pop with touches of hip-hop, although other musical genres are explored as well. At times, the sound can be dark and somewhat chaotic, especially considering the short runtime of barely 17 minutes across the 6 songs that make up the collection.
A short introduction titled Focus, a dark and percussive track, prepares the listener for the mini-album’s title track: the eponymous TUNNEL VISION This song leans into an Afrobeats groove driven by hip-hop, layered with brass sounds that provide extra intensity. At moments, it can sound a bit monochromatic due to the heavy emphasis on the percussive element.
This song boasts production by acclaimed American hitmaker Dem Jointz, whose resume includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in K-pop. The chorus lyrics reflect that determined focus, the main theme of the mini-album:
“Nothing's gonna put me off,
빛이 날 비춰.
I know what the hell I want,
don't need permission.
어둠 속 나를 넘어,
my motivation.
Focus on my level up,
I got tunnel vision "
My favorite track on the mini-album is probably DYT, a synth-pop track with an electro twist. It’s an energetic song with a catchy, melodic chorus, and feels much more colorful and traditionally musical than the track preceding it.
Flicker, a song with a UK Garage sound, is lighter and has a less serious vibe. A welcome break from the intensity of the previous songs. The vocal production is a great example of how well ITZY’s members’ different voices merge. There are vocal harmonies everywhere and small background arrangements that could easily go unnoticed if you aren’t paying close attention.
Nocturne is an R&B track with hip-hop influences. It’s a moment of moderate energy with a somber and perhaps slightly claustrophobic feel.
The last track on the mini-album is highly entertaining. 8-BIT HEART is the most chaotic and experimental moment of the entire collection. It’s a hyper-pop piece accompanied by synthesizers that recall video game sounds. It’s the song with the greatest number of different parts, which can be a little disorienting. In my personal opinion, it’s a great track.
The energy and intensity are consistently high across all songs on TUNNEL VISION. I have little to criticize. The collection’s sound is quite versatile, and while some listeners might find it a little inconsistent, that is part of the beauty of K-pop, especially in mini-albums. I anticipate that all MIDZYs will be satisfied with this new release from ITZY.
