Welcome back to Fan Chant, a weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies alike. This week, I’m thrilled to welcome back the besties from P1Harmony. And don’t forget — if you love reading Fan Chant, you can subscribe to my companion newsletter to get it delivered right to your inbox each week!
The first thing that’s noticeable about P1Harmony‘s energy these days is that they’re clearly proud of their first full-length album, Killin’ It, which arrived this Monday, February 5th. This project saw a major uptick in creative involvement from the members, who ultimately ended up with writing credits on every song here — something of a rarity in K-pop these days.
The second thing that jumps out, even over Zoom from Seoul a few days ahead of their release date, is how proud the members are of each other, talking over one another and interjecting proper credit at any point credit might be due. “I composed and wrote some of the songs,” Jiung starts. “He did a lot, actually,” the group’s leader, Keeho, clarifies.
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There’s been something of a trend in K-pop over the past few years that has seen more and more groups lean into mini-albums in lieu of full-length releases. It’s also far easier for acts to be handed a concept than to dive fully into lyric-writing or choreography decisions; P1Harmony have done the opposite here.
“Out of all the albums we released before, this is the one where we had the most to say,” Intak explains. “It started from the smallest facial expressions in the choreography, to the dance itself and the music-making process. I tried to write my own lyrics and talked over the concepts a lot with Keeho.”
“Intak and Jongseob have a lot of writing credits on this album, and rightfully so,” Keeho confirms. “They write and rap their own verses.”
The title track off the album is a strong encapsulation of what helps P1Harmony stand out in an increasingly crowded field of talented artists: “Killin’ It” starts with a big, bright beat, which the members use as a foundation for throwback hip-hop elements, a certain amount of playfulness, and eye-catching, zany visuals. It feels like a natural progression from previous tracks like 2022’s “Back Down” or the absurdly catchy “Do It Like This” — and the energy doesn’t let up in the first three-track run of the album.
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