Back in 2022, when NMIXX first debuted, I remember a stir happening due to NMIXX branding their music as ‘Mixxpop’. As far as I know, they never claimed to invent it, but used the label to describe their musical direction, which I feel is good branding, it’s clearly worked to give their music a descriptor. When I introduce friends to the group, ‘Mixxpop’ is quick and easy way to get the idea across.
But, Mixxpop has obviously existed for a bit, and I’m not just talking about K-pop.
One artist that comes to mind is Rei Ami, her name is a mix of two sailor moon characters that have different personalities, one more guarded and confident while the other is more willing to be vulnerable. Just give her ‘FOIL’ Album a listen and you’ll get the vibe, there’s change ups in a lot of her music.
Another artist that comes to mind is Poppy, though she’s not so much Pop in recent years as she is metal/rock leaning. Specifically the ‘I Disagree’ album or her more chaotic tracks like ‘X’, ‘Say Cheese’, ‘Khaos x4’, are capturing the same style of Mixxpop with genre flips and sudden change ups.
Also, the more obvious K-pop acts that have delved into Mixxpop activity before it had the label: SNDS, f(X), and aespa immediately come to mind, I have no doubt NCT has done similar, I’m not as into boy groups but I’ve peaked into their catalog and heard the vibes. I think Red Velvet’s dabbled with ‘Zimzalabim’. There was also a plethora of groups debuting after ‘Next Level’ was so successful with the general public, the influx of Mixxpop among smaller groups debuting around late 2021/2022 is evidence of that.
All that to say…
This is what I found intriguing but also critique worthy of NMIXX in terms of music production at first. I’m very used to experimental music, but ‘O.O’, to me, still feels very clunky, ‘Dice’ too, neither grew on me as songs as much as performance pieces that I only return to to watch in performances. They aren’t bad to me, just not something I ever really go back to or feel like listening to. (The B-sides of both singles were good though!)
The time between, in 2023, their music wasn’t hitting for me besides ‘Love Me Like This’ and ‘Rollercoaster’ but they didn’t feel specific to NMIXX.
I think they really figured things out production wise with ‘Dash’. The whole Fe304 trilogy has been great, all the title tracks are solid to amazing. The B-sides have been mostly huge hits, but some unfortunate misses for me.
‘BREAK’ was near perfect, I only don’t go back to ‘Break The Wall’ but every other song is a 9 or 10 out of 10 for me. It’s such a perfect album, conceptually and musically. No notes, just good and interesting music.
‘STICK OUT’ was a bit of a rocky one. I didn’t like any B-side except ‘BEAT BEAT’. I don’t view them as a group that should lean into rap. ‘SICKUHH’, was really disheartening, lol, I don’t find them rapping to be authentic and rapping is all about authenticity to me. Jiwoo and Kyujin are the only ones I like hearing rap verses from, personally, it just felt forced to make the others rap so much.
‘FORWARD’ they FULLYYYY got me invested again. I loved every song on that EP, the title track was actually the weakest to me, which says a lot bc I like KAM, but I enjoyed all the B-sides so much this time around. ‘High Horse’ and ‘Papillon’ are the obvious standouts, I think, but ‘Golden Recipe’ has grown on me so so so much. ‘Ocean’ and ‘Slingshot’ obviously good too, I overplayed them already but they haven’t lost their touch still! I can still play them without getting bored.
To put such a long observation post to a conclusion- I think NMIXX is valid in coining and using the term Mixxpop. Giving them credit for ‘developing their own genre’ is weird though, they aren’t doing so but fans sometimes want to give them that credit. I’ve heard change ups before, they’ve existed before, that’s not what makes NMIXX unique.
What makes NMIXX special is the degree of vocal strength in the group and the strong performances they always give, and lately, the music has matched the talent. They still are continuing to bring the experimental music that I think a lot of fans have missed, that’s something they deserve credit for, continuing to put out experimental music even when the trend currently isn’t experimental.
TLDR: I’ve been so happy about the progression of NMIXX and I’m invested in their future releases. They’re getting soooo good in terms of musical production.
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