Letter 1 - Adaeh by Fatou

K-pop is one of the most popular genres in the world, yet within the internet “serious music appreciator” community it’s often overlooked at best or demeaned at worst. Why is that? As someone who isn’t a K-pop listener, the K-pop fan base seems more insular and mostly separate from the rest of the broader music scene. Additionally, K-pop fans are typically young women, a demographic whose taste is often disregarded by patronizing music bros. And if you’re primarily interested in artists who are rejected by the mainstream music industry, it’s off-putting that, by design, there is no room for an independent or underground scene within the K-pop industrial complex. 

But as popular music tastes become increasingly global, it only makes sense that the reach of K-pop would spread. K-pop itself also becomes influenced by a wider variety of sounds and cultures. And at this intersection, a number of up-and-coming K-pop artists are garnering more much-deserved international acclaim. Fatou is one such rising star. Originally from Senegal, this artist has been breaking barriers within the industry as part of the BLACKSWAN girl group since 2020. But it’s on her new mixtape Letter 1 - Adaeh that Fatou proves herself as a solo artist worthy of attention from those outside the K-pop bubble. Trading the sparkly bubblegum pop sound for something grittier, this 5-song EP pulls influences from 90s rap, r&b, trap, and neosoul. Fatou’s range is impressive, from her smooth jazzy vocals on “The other side”, to her energetic triplet flow on the title track “Adaeh”. Her self-written lyrics focus on themes of anxiety, doubting others, and doubting yourself, giving us a rare glimpse into her personal life and struggles that are typically hidden behind her tightly-controlled idol persona. Unfortunately, this short release is just under 15 minutes long, leaving listeners wanting more–but if the title of this release is any indication, we only hope that more letters are on the way. We may not be full converts to the world of extreme K-pop standom, but we’ll be keeping our eyes on Fatou as her career continues to blossom. -Kalen