ONF come back with their new mini album “ONF: MY SELF”, which tell the stories of pain and love. Photo credits to ONF, KI Entertainment.
ONF, pronounced “on and off”, have been a distinct staple in K-pop since their debut in 2017. With their unique melodies and some of the most distinct and recognizable voices in the industry, their consistent yet unique sound has captured the hearts of their fans. FUSE– their fandom — have stuck by the groups’ side for nearly a decade, and after changing from their debut company to another this year, the boys are on a mission to simultaneously return to form and reinvent themselves in the current scope of K-pop. Having gone viral for various things since their enlistment, ONF return to enchant people with the intricate musicality that their members hold. The 6-member group continues to capture the hearts of fans, new and old alike, with their newest album ONF: MY SELF.
Without hesitation, the album begins with the title, “Open the Door”, which is a call to open the door to a shadow and face one’s self. The lyrics describe someone who is in constant pain and goes back to the place the pain began in an effort to resolve it and move on. As they stay there, staring at the door, they remind themselves they have to open the door in order to end the pain and start again. They had almost lost hope, with that light fading more and more every day, not being able to “tell hope from illusion” as they describe their despair. The MV for this track may seem simple, but the framework and effects add to the complexity of one’s own mind and how we can easily fool ourselves. The scenes depict the members facing shadows and various fears they have, but all being pushed to open the door to free themselves from their self-made prisons. The track itself is reminiscent of their previous tracks “Bye my Monster” and “We Must Love”, with orchestral additions and the unique way they build their harmonies with each other. This track inspires the listener to open the door to the next stage in order to move on without fear.
Following this grand title track is a track that portrays what it would be like if they didn’t walk through that door to end the pain. “Bad Dream” describes someone who is actively choosing a bad dream rather than letting go of their pain. They don’t want to be without someone and refuse to leave the painful dreamscape, despite knowing it will not end well. The backtrack of the song sounds like dreamy hyper-pop with heavy synths and high harmonies, ricocheting off the vocals with reverb. Opposing “Bad Dream” is the next track, “Escape”, where the lyrics describe breaking free from the things holding the group back. In this narration, the speaker turns a complete 180 from the previous track, wanting to charge ahead and escape the chains of their pain, just like in the title track. This time there is increased emphasis on running forward without thinking. The music hits the ear with intense electronic sounds that call back to ONF’s previous electronica phase in the early 2020s before their enlistment. This accentuates members Minkyun and Wyatt’s voices, both becoming more prominent with the dichotomy of their voices on full display. The relationship of these two tracks clearly shows the choice we all have to either stay in the dark and in our pain, or to run towards the light with no hesitation to better things, no matter how long it takes.
As “Escape” is a driving force to move on and focus on the light, “Mirage” describes being left behind in a relationship. The melody and music sound as though they would befit an OST for a K-drama with strong falsettos from various members accompanied by an acoustic guitar and soft drums. This track sounds like one that would play when a couple has broken up at a cafe, and the singer is the one looking out the window as it starts to rain. The longing in the lyrics is one of lost hope and acceptance, with the end of the relationship being inevitable and somewhat expected by the speaker. The lyrics reference their love as being a finite story with a set number of pages in a book, and then describe a densely packed book with erased letters, which fills this melancholy track with sorrow. Minkyun’s ad-libs and high notes add to the slow acceptance and loneliness of the lyrics.
“Silver Lining” is a straightforward track that can be interpreted one way: things cannot always be the same and change is inevitable. This track is full of hope and emits a light that is hard to describe. The members all have melodies and lines that are inherently inspiring, but when put together in this way, it makes the listener feel they can do anything. This is the ultimate feel-good track when you need a pick-me-up. You can feel the members uplift you with their voices, launching you into an elevated space. In comparison, their final track, “Once in a Red Moon”, describes the feeling of excitement and companionship as they continue moving forward with their fans. This track has a clear 3rd generation sound, as do most of ONF’s tracks, which make the music and lyrics sound nostalgic. Except for a few ad-libs, the lyrics of this track are entirely in Korean, which follows their usual trend of having more Korean lyrics than English. This track has a driving beat that brings a certain uplifting and encouraging feeling to the listener’s ear, making it a perfect ending to this album of self-discovery and love.
ONF have continuously pushed their own limits with their never-ending creativity and integrity, only comparing themselves to their own track record and never to anyone else. Because of this, they have been able to continue to grow as musicians and performers with true self-reflection. Their music continues to light up the ears of Fuse and hopefully bring in new fans to follow them on their journey as idols. All members of ONF have a say in the content they put out and will continue to be a light in this dull world.