Buried Treasure: izna – Supercrush

A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

One thing’s for sure: the entire new izna mini album is stronger than its title track. It’s kind of amazing how that can still happen with K-pop. The album features a variety of composers and the best Teddy-produced track is undoubtedly Racecar, but my ears were immediately drawn to a different song. Supercrush opens the album in jubilant fashion.

I swear I’ve heard Supercrush‘s melodies before in other songs, but the way they’re punctuated by upbeat brass elevates the whole arrangement. This is slick, glossy pop music that’s a bit generic in places, but I’ll always be a sucker for this energy. Supercrush features a nice sense of build, climaxing in a final refrain that sends us out on a high note. However, my favorite segment is the joyful post-chorus, which blends the girls’ vocals with brassy exclamation marks at their biggest and brightest. It’s an irresistible rush of serotonin and the exact style of song izna should be recording.

Grade: B