Red Velvet's 'Velvet Summer' Trades High-Energy Anthems for a Slower, Sultrier Sound

Red Velvet has returned with its first full-group release in more than two years, putting out the five-track mini album "Velvet Summer" on August 3 through SM Entertainment. The record's title track, "Surfin' Boy," leans into a noticeably slower, more mature sound than the high-energy summer anthems the group built its reputation on, and by the morning of August 4 KST, the album had climbed to No. 1 on iTunes Top Albums charts in more than a dozen countries and regions, including Denmark, Sweden, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, according to Soompi."Velvet Summer" is Red Velvet's first release as a complete five-member unit — Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy and Yeri — since 2024's "Cosmic," following two years in which members focused largely on solo and subunit projects. The comeback also lands during the group's 12th anniversary year; Red Velvet celebrated the milestone at a sold-out three-day fan concert, "A Day in Red & Velvet," held July 31 through August 2 at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul, where the group performed "Surfin' Boy" and B-side track "Hula Hoop" live for the first time. Where past summer singles such as "Red Flavor," "Power Up" and "Umpah ...