(Photo courtesy of Blue Brown Records)

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] Rookie girl group HEART OF WOMAN (H.O.W) has returned with its first comeback, showcasing a new musical direction. Having attracted some attention at debut with music and concepts that offered a modern reinterpretation of Y2K aesthetics, the group stood out for its polished music and visuals despite coming from a smaller entertainment agency. Much like RESCENE, which has demonstrated its growth potential through a well-developed concept and distinctive musical identity, attention is turning to whether HEART OF WOMAN can establish itself as one of K-POP's next rising girl groups.

HEART OF WOMAN, consisting of JIHYUN, CHAEI, AIN, RIRI, and RYUIN, released its first mini-album ‘ETERNAL FADE’ on November 5 at 6 PM KST. The release marks the group's first comeback approximately five months after debuting in May with its first full-length album ‘Heart Byte : LEGACY’.

The new album explores the growing pains experienced over the course of a season and the journey toward discovering one's true inner light. In particular, the group presents two contrasting musical styles through its double title tracks, ‘Melt’ and ‘LIT IT’. From dreamy sounds and delicate emotional expression to powerful hip-hop beats and confident energy, the album demonstrates how HEART OF WOMAN has expanded its musical identity beyond the Y2K-inspired sound introduced at debut.


The first title track, ‘Melt’, is a dance song that blends UK garage and drum and bass. Its distinctive rhythms and dreamy atmosphere portray the gradual melting of a once-cold heart. The members' delicate vocals and the song's gentle mood add to its charm, highlighting HEART OF WOMAN's pure and mysterious image.

The music video, pre-released on October 28, uses light and time as central themes to depict the growth and transformation of the five members. In the video, they follow a mysterious light into an unfamiliar space. By the end, however, they move beyond the light that had been guiding them and discover a light of their own. Their journey from following an external source of light to recognizing their own potential closely reflects the album's overarching message.
 


In contrast, ‘LIT IT’ delivers a powerful sound driven by heavy 808 bass and intense trap hip-hop beats. The track carries a bold message about overturning expectations and challenging the world on one's own terms, without being confined by standards set by others. While ‘Melt’ expresses the excitement and changes emerging within one's heart, ‘LIT IT’ reveals a more daring and free-spirited side of the group, highlighting new possibilities for its musical identity.

Notably, the music video for ‘LIT IT’ picks up where the previously released ‘Melt’ music video ends. The story follows the five members as they leave behind a familiar world and venture into a new space. Large-scale set pieces and shifting environments reinforce the song's powerful atmosphere. Although the two videos feature contrasting visual styles, they are connected through a single narrative of growth, bringing the album's concept into sharper focus.

The differences between the two tracks are equally evident in their performances. While ‘Melt’ emphasizes delicate expressions that complement its dreamy atmosphere, ‘LIT IT’ shifts the mood with dynamic movements and bold energy set against heavy beats. The members' ability to move between delicate elegance and powerful intensity is another highlight of this comeback.

In addition to the double title tracks, the album features ‘Footsteps’, ‘Blue’, ‘Glow’, and ‘Find U’, bringing the total to six songs. Spanning genres from R&B and dance to pop and hip-hop, the release further broadens HEART OF WOMAN's musical range. Member RYUIN also participated in writing the lyrics for ‘LIT IT’, personally expressing the group's determination to establish its presence on its own terms rather than follow standards imposed by others.


At debut, HEART OF WOMAN introduced its distinctive identity by combining the fresh, youthful charm of a rookie girl group with Y2K aesthetics reminiscent of the early 2000s. This time, the members have expanded their musical range by exploring genres including UK garage, drum and bass, and trap hip-hop. The concept's transition from the pure, lyrical atmosphere of white to the bold, free-spirited appeal of black also visually captures the group's transformation.

The polished execution across the music, music videos, and overall concept, along with the group's willingness to experiment with different genres, offers plenty of reasons to anticipate HEART OF WOMAN's next steps.

Having broadened its artistic possibilities through its first comeback, attention is now turning to whether the group can translate growing public interest into sustained success and move closer to becoming another "small-agency miracle" in K-POP.

Meanwhile, HEART OF WOMAN's first mini-album ‘ETERNAL FADE’ was released on various online music streaming platforms on November 5 at 6 PM KST.

 yeonwoo38@hanteo.com