[Album Review] DUSK (1st Mini Album) – YOON SAN-HA (ASTRO)

8 hours ago 6

YOON SAN-HA was a close contender for a nomination for Best New Male Soloist in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, but he ultimately missed out on a nomination. Had DUSK, YOON SAN-HA’s solo mini-album, been promoted on the music shows, I think he could have clinched a nomination. This would have helped it stay more prominently in my mind for when it was time to decide on the nominations. Anyway, if you can’t tell, I am reviewing DUSK today. It is a 6-track mini-album, featuring the title track Dive. As indicated throughout the mini-album, YOON SAN-HA focuses on R&B and ballads on his solo release, with one song earning itself a deserving 10/10. To find out which song that is, keep on reading below.

1. Yeowoobyul (여우별) – Yeowoobyul makes for a decent start to the mini-album. The first word that comes to mind when I revisit the song is tender. The acoustic guitars and soft percussion that comprise the instrumental for Yeowoobyul evoke R&B vibes, but SAN-HA’s vocals are as soothing as expected for a ballad. The presence (or feeling) of both these genres essentially sets up for what is to come on DUSK. While it is a vocally pleasant track with really nice, swaying melodies, I don’t recall much about this song when compared to the others. (7/10)

2. Losing My Mind – I recall when I first checked out the mini-album, Losing My Mind unexpectedly surprised me for being all in English. And even months on from the release, that unexpected feeling remains. Losing My Mind leans more towards the ballad side, featuring a piano-only instrumental. What gets me is how heart-wrenching SAN-HA sounds. Yes, he sounds stunning throughout “Losing My Mind,” but you can definitely feel the emotions pouring out of the song and his vocals. A memorable 10/10 for me. (10/10)

3. BITTERSWEET MISTAKE – BITTERSWEET MISTAKE moves the album into R&B territory and is the first to feature a prominent beat. It also features some dreamy synths and some sensual energy that I associate with the R&B genre. SAN-HA sounds very mature in this number. If you are unfamiliar with SAN-HA or ASTRO, I don’t think you would have guessed that he is the youngest in the group based on this track. I would have liked to hear a bit more in BITTERSWEET MISTAKE, as it is very linear, lacks development and ends abruptly. (8/10)

4. Dive (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Dive. (8/10)

5. BLEEDING – Shortly after the release of the mini-album, SAN-HA dropped a performance video for BLEEDING, which I have linked below. As for the song, BLEEDING keeps us in the R&B territory, but the vector is a dance track with textural synths. I liked the crunch those synths give BLEEDING. When we get to the chorus, SAN-HA really hits his stride vocally in the song’s centrepiece, and the drop has this slight boldness to it, which I enjoyed. I just wish there was something more to BLEEDING that kept it from being so neutral from start to end. (8.5/10)

6. Rain Down On Me – Finishing off the mini-album is Rain Down On Me, which is a slight step up in terms of dynamism compared to the previous song. It continues with the R&B sound, but with a smoother dance vibe. I really like the guitar work in the background and how fitting the whole instrumental felt for a rainy day. I also appreciated the profound quality of SAN-HA’s vocals in this song. (9/10)