It is no secret that K-pop is quite a saturated industry. I remember seeing a post in reddit that outlines how the number of groups debuting over the years, especially after the popularity of BTS exploded and the potential of K-pop to global really manifested itself, has exponentially increased. As a result, it becomes much harder to stand out. Against these odds, the brand new Mystic Story boy group (subsidiary of SM Entertainment), ARrC, manages to stand out with their pre-release, ‘dummy’.
If I would have to describe the overall ‘flavor’ track in terms of the sound of other existing K-pop groups, it is like a boy group version of an NMIXX song that makes sure to incorporate heavy influence from NCT. If you listen to boy group music over the past few years, the NCT influence is quite apparent. However, more often than not, the tracks feel like a watered-down, derivative of an average NCT track. On the flipside, ‘dummy’ feels like a track that takes clear inspiration from NCT- but deviates slightly to a direction that still feels somewhat different from them. The full manifestation of the difference isn’t fully realized yet, but it feels like the beginning of something working to a progression.
What makes up the bulk of the song’s merits is the solid instrumental, vocal, and rap delivery. Particularly, the engaging bass line creates a very solid foundation throughout the track, and there are a few sprinkles here and there of fun musical choices, like a beat of silence, to keep it engaging. The pre-chorus feels like a manifestation of the best of SM Entertainment’s pre-choruses, filling out the space with luscious vocal harmonies and an interesting melody. It fits quite clearly into the box, but it has honestly been a while since I’ve heard this specific sound that despite its familiarity, I’m quite eager to welcome it. Throughout, the members deliver quite a convincing performance, which helps the engagement tremendously.
The beginning of the chorus starts off like a typical NCT chanted chorus, more specifically like ‘Baggy Jeans’, though the latter has a much more bare-bones instrumental and pitched-down vocal delivery. It may come off as grating and annoying to some listeners. However, it unexpectedly reveals a second part to the chorus, referencing itself as it happens as they sing, ‘switch it up, switch it up’, transforming into a much more melodic moment. In the grand scheme of things, it still isn’t a fully developed ‘melodical’ moment, but this in-between is not a space that a K-pop song often delves into, and that, to me, is refreshing.
The rapping on the second verse, while short, is a practically impressive moment with the amount of control the members had over their flow as they rode the beat effortlessly. I almost wished that it went on longer, something which I never usually say for rap verses.
The song’s bridge is where the song breaks the typical SM formula. Rather than slowing things down, stripping things back, and highlighting the vocal performance of the main vocalists, the song instead changes its pace slightly, altering the vocal rhythms just enough to feel like a nice progression but not to the point of dramatic contrast. As a song so very strongly influenced by hip-hop, the consistent pressing on of the beat despite some change-ups feels very much in-line with respecting the genre’s tendencies, yet ultimately feels packaged in a way that feels fresh.
Just as it feels like the song is coming to an end, there is another switch-up for a fun outro. It serves well to showcase the members’ skills and also another interesting musical element. I’m just not sure if it necessarily enhances the song overall.
Ultimately, ‘dummy’ by ARrC manages to carve out its own niche in the crowded K-pop scene by blending familiar influences with refreshing, unexpected twists. The solid instrumental foundation, combined with the engaging vocal and rap performances, creates a track that feels both familiar and new. The chorus and bridge, in particular, stand out for their creative deviations from the typical SM/NCT formula, showcasing the group’s potential to push boundaries while still honoring their roots. As a debut, ‘dummy’ hints at a promising future for ARrC, making them a group worth keeping an eye on.
Hooks – 7
Production – 9
Vocal Delivery – 9
Rap Delivery – 9
Overall – 8.5
K-pop Evaluated 
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