Bite Review: A2O Lite’s “Neon” Recaptures the Essence of 2010s K-pop

In today’s K-pop landscape where shorter and hook-heavy songs designed for viral TikTok moments are the norm, A2O Lite relieves this fatigue with “Neon”. Like a breath of fresh air, “Neon” showcases what former SM and current A2O founder, Lee Sooman, does best: standing out. One way to describe “Neon” is visionary yet nostalgic. Doesn’t this draw a similarity to a certain Neo-coded group? Of course, that’s no coincidence. Having conceived NCT, it’s no surprise that Lee Sooman wants to recreate a tried-and-tested formula with his own nine-member girl group. Hand in hand with former SM director Yoo Youngjin, the genius behind hits like “Sorry, Sorry”, “Lucifer”, and “The Boys”, much of the familiar SM sound is injected into “Neon”. “Neon” evokes the energy of Girls’ Generation’s “The Boys”, the hypnotism of Shinee’s “Lucifer,” and the experimental sounds that defined f(x) throughout the 2010s. There are also shades of NCT Dream’s “Ridin’” and Aespa’s futuristic sonic identity. Not just that, the high notes, layered harmonies, vocals that build towards an addictive bridge, a dance break, and an underlying lore that invites listeners to look beyond the surface. It feels familiar withou...