Song Review: 3piece – Light Up

3piece are one of those very under-the-radar acts hampered only by their lack of notoriety and resources. Their debut single borrowed sonic touchstones from K-pop’s past (namely, tropical pop), which definitely appeals to me. However, the music missed the extra spark that a bigger budget could likely add. New single Light Up (피어올라) follows a similar trajectory but sets its sights further back into K-pop’s second and third generation.

On the surface, I’m delighted to hear Light Up‘s hearty vocal arrangement. We don’t hear girl groups sing this way anymore, layering their vocals into big, splashy centerpieces. This style had its heyday in the early-to-mid 2010’s but has become more minimalist and threadbare since. It’s due for a resurgence, along with the splashy brass that underlines much of Light Up.

But while I appreciate this approach and hear tons of potential in 3piece, the song itself could use some work. The hook is a little meandering and still relies too much on sing-talk in a way that doesn’t compliment this style of track. The effusive production is the star here, elevating a so-so skeleton of a song into something much more enjoyable. Hopefully this will be a stepping stone toward stronger things to come.

Grade: C+