Zion.T is a vehement flame to the world of Korean hip hop (Kpop) and RnB. The smallest dose of him is enough to quadruple a song's memorability, energy, and of course....swag...(I won't say that again I promise). To this end, he has prolifically risen to fame within these genres with his zesty and playful singing voice. Whether he's nonchalantly tossing his voice around in groove-based melodies or taking a more emotional approach on tracks, Zion.T truly is a master of filling anything he sings with color.
While his debut album Red Light brought him critical acclaim with its tracks bearing harmonies and melodies that were hard to follow (due to Zion.T's improvisational and atmosphere reliant approach) yet catchy, it should be noted that record label restrictions would ultimately limit what he was able to produce.
After the release of Red Light, Zion.T would enter a cycle of releasing singles on a yearly basis. To this day fans have eagerly awaited another creative effort from the young talent, but had begun to lose hope with the restrictions his former label Amoeba Culture imposed on him. However, all hope is not lost as Zion has recently been singed to prolific label YG entertainment. The same label that has harbored massive critically acclaimed artists and groups such as Big Bang, Epik High, and 2NE1 to name a few. The label prides itself on allowing for artists to have full creative reigns when approaching their work. To this end, I can only imagine what this will mean for Zion both stylistically and musically looking forward.
Zion T's music is clearly influenced by American music. But instead of rehashing the American format, Zion has created a style that he has made uniquely his own. The healthy variety and diversity of texture featured on his tracks truly make me believe that Zion.T is an artists that is hard to dislike. To those who may not have ever given Kpop a try, I firmly encourage a listen through of any of the track recommendations I will include below. Zion.T is a unique talent with a gorgeous voice to back it up. His stylistic and melodic base approach to traditional Kpop song structures is refreshing and enjoyable. Give this man a listen and I'm sure you'll feel compulsed to adore him.
To all my readers who have never given music of another language a shot, I'll offer this. Ultimately, music is a universal concept that all cultures share. To this end, while it's nice to understand what the vocals are saying in a track belonging to a language you do not speak, I do not feel this to be paramount in appreciating other culture's music. Rhythm, tone, melody, and style are all aspects of music that we all can come to appreciate in the absence of understanding what the lyrics mean. As such, I encourage anyone to give a listen to any track out there belonging to a language that is not their own. To all my pop lovers...there is a reason why Kpop has traversed into the realms of excessive popularity. Just give it a try and have a wonderful day. Thanks for reading!
Track Recommendations:
-Nights Off
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