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What Is the Point of Mastering If the Mix Is Good? A Guide to Understanding Mastering's Role

August 26, 2024

For many newer producers, it can be confusing to understand the importance of mastering, especially when your mix feels polished and balanced. However, mastering is an essential step in the...

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Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

August 25, 2024

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive.

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Add FX and Ear Candy to Your Tracks: Tips for Taking Your Sketch to the Next Level

August 23, 2024

Adding FX and ear candy can feel like a daunting task, especially when you start to overthink the process. However, these little details are often what bring a track to life, adding depth, excitement.

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Recreate a Vocal Stutter Effect Like Skrillex: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 21, 2024

If you’ve just stepped into the world of music production, vocal stutters can be a fun and impactful technique to add excitement and energy to your tracks. You’ve heard that fast vocal stutter at...

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Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach

August 21, 2024

If you’ve been experimenting with synthesizers, you know the quest for a perfect synth sound can be a challenging but rewarding process. Whether you’re looking for something clean yet huge, or...

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Make Music Again: Overcoming Creative Burnout Like Pharrell Williams

August 21, 2024

Hey there, fellow music creators! Whether you’re balancing a day job, DJ gigs, and music production, or just feeling creatively stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us hit a wall at some point, where...

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Master Your Craft as a Beatmaker: The J Dilla Way

August 21, 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the most efficient ways to master your creative process as a beatmaker, and how you can learn from one of the most respected producers in the game: J Dilla.

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Bumbershoot Festival 2024: A Creative Celebration in Seattle

August 8, 2024

This Labor Day weekend, Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival returns to Seattle Center from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, Bumbershoot continues to be a...

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Ohana Festival 2024: A Must-Attend Event for Music Creators

August 8, 2024

As the summer winds down and the crisp autumn air begins to roll in, music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating one of California’s premier music festivals. The Ohana Festival, set to take place...

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Desert Daze 2024: A Creative Oasis for Music Enthusiasts

August 8, 2024

As the vibrant hues of summer give way to the golden tones of fall, the anticipation for one of California’s most eclectic music festivals begins to build. This October, the 2024 Desert Daze music...

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How to Create a Joyful Song Like "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

July 24, 2024

Creating a song that radiates joy and energy, much like Pharrell Williams' hit "Happy," is an exciting challenge for any music creator. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting out...

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Why Nas' Illmatic Deserves the Top Spot: Rap Lyricism at its Finest

July 17, 2024

Nas’ debut album, Illmatic, has been crowned the greatest rap album of all time by Billboard, and for good reason. Celebrated for its lyrical brilliance and profound storytelling, Illmatic set...

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STAYC’S YOUNG-LUV.COM -- defying genres and taking over the world

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Photo: High Up Entertainment, STAYC(스테이씨) 'RUN2U' MV

It’s been two weeks since STAYC’s third mini album release YOUNG-LUV.COM, and we took this time to soak it all in and live our daydreams vicariously through this album. YOUNG-LUV.COM gives us that familiar STAYC flair, while also being ambitious with new sounds that are confident and punchy, and we’re here for it.

After a quick rise to stardom with their debut EP STAYDOM, and second release STEREOTYPE, STAYC (otherwise known as Star To A Young Culture) makes their 2022 return with their third mini-album, YOUNG-LUV.COM – a collection of six songs about love and being in love, ranging from edgy and vibrant in RUN2U and YOUNG-LUV, to upbeat bubble gum R&B in SAME SAME, 247, and BUTTERFLY.

Leaving behind their iconic “STAYC girls, it’s going down!” catchphrase from their previous albums, YOUNG-LUV.COM shows listeners a more mature side to the Gen-Z group, showcasing the strength in each of the girls’ talents and a shift towards power vocals and R&B, while still keeping true to their roots in pop.

Photo: High Up Entertainment, STAYC(스테이씨) 'RUN2U' MV

Opener RUN2U closely follows the familiar formulas of viral hits ASAP and STEREOTYPE we all know and love – a funky build up that leads to a simple but unique catchy chorus, a punchy bassline, and meaningful lyrics that inspire us all to believe in ourselves and our passions.

SAME SAME is a sweet, dream-like pop love ballad that perfectly embodies the feeling of having a crush – oh, the days of passing by them in the halls just to get a glance, being shy to speak up, and hoping they’ll make the first move. Their angelic harmonies throughout the song feel like a daydream, coupled with the lighthearted melody and the trap-esque beat, STAYC’s R&B era is here and we’re all here for it. STAYC says all the words we wished we could, and did I mention, it’s the only song in this entire album we get a “STAYC girls, it’s going down!”

247, BUTTERFLY, and I WANT U BABY share a lot of the same R&B elements, but their vocals are definitely the showstopper of these songs. Something we’re noticing about this new R&B era is that the member’s vocals are more of the focal point in this album, and we’re hoping to see more of this from their future releases. Their harmonies work together perfectly in tandem and show how in sync the group is with each other. I WANT U BABY shines especially with its futuristic 808 drumline underneath its melody reminiscent of Y2K pop and R&B.

Title track YOUNG-LUV separates itself from each of the songs with its strong guitar and bassline, and groove that feels inspired by the 80s yet at the same time, like the early 2010s. It’s a side of STAYC that feels more grown-up and we’re so ready to see these girls continue to flourish!

For all lovers of STAYC’s previous albums and for newcomers to the K-pop world, their third mini-album YOUNG-LUV.COM is a must listen, and a great introduction into K-Pop, with its R&B elements, catchy-hard-to-forget hooks, and compelling vocals and we’re so excited to see more of them this year.