“Surprise, you’re lucky to have found me” – Translation from “Killin’ It”
P1Harmony, also known as P1H, just released their first ever studio album Killin’ It. You may have heard the South Korean boy band from their popular EP singles “Fall In Love Again” or “JUMP.” However, Killin’ It is a new and exciting leap for the group’s career. P1H consists of Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob, each filling the stage with their collaborative singing, rapping, and dancing skills. This debut album was released through FNC Entertainment and promoted with a pre-released title track.
Right off the bat, “Killin’ It” proves that P1H is ready to communicate with international fans. The beat takes an upbeat clap as Intak prepares to mix Korean and English rap lyrics. Jiung is up next with a hyped-up rap cadence that emphasizes each ending syllable. The mood of “Killin’ It” is erratic and exciting as each member hops in with their specific tone and flow. Before entering the chorus drop, vocalists Theo and Soul release any tension with a smooth lyrical and melodic swagger. They harmonize, “I’m a superstar, already know that / As I was, never wanna go back.” Somehow P1H successfully blends their six individual energies while finding rhymes within each language and flows within each frontman.
Like any “Late Night Calls,” the second track finds itself in the home of rhythm and blues. While listening one might hear trap, maybe even Afrobeat, clicks sprinkled around. Production wise, Killin’ It experiments with a variety of instrumental and synthesized arrangements. Some effects mirror real-life sounds; for example, a siren, like in “Emergency,” a handclap, like in “Everybody Clap,” or a car engine, like in “Street Star.” Other effects are so generated that it becomes hard to pinpoint anything familiar.
“Let Me Love You” is a bass heavy song that starts with a rare voice effect and then gets funky. Reminiscent of a Gorillaz song, “Let Me Love You” uses techno pitches to outline the vocal melody. This track is one of three songs that mention the word “love” in its title. The other two, “Countdown To Love” and “Love Story” take on two additional styles. “Countdown To Love” is P1H’s headbanger. It is infused with classic rock formulas that highlight guitar and drums. Still, the group finds space for rap fills and catchy choruses, “Counting, five, four, three, two, one, we’re going up.”
P1H proves that there is always room for a love ballad on a dance album. No matter, “Love Story” fulfills this role on Killin’ It; “Why can’t I sleep because of you / I’m feeling something I’ve never felt before.” With a melody similar to Justin Bieber’s Christmas song “Mistletoe,” this track sounds as if it came straight from the early 2000’s. Each song plays around with the concept of genre and best of all, P1H has fun discovering their sound.
The closing track “I See U” uses electric keys to emulate a chill Lofi beat vibe. Even though P1H has stepped into fame and become, themselves, a “Street Star,” there is still something missing; “Being with you, to me / Now it’s my biggest dream.”
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