I-dle is no stranger to being multifaceted, and they proved that in their most recent project, ‘We Made’. Released on June 6, their 9th studio album has a blend of everything. From rock sounds to slow jams, each song contains its own special essence. The album title, ‘We Made,’ was inspired by their 2019 album, ‘I Made.’ i-dle is known for having a boundary-defying discography and brought us five more songs to add to that: “Mono (Feat. Skaiwater),” “Gimme Dat Love,” “Morning,” “Crow,” and “Love Is Pain.” Each track explores themes of acceptance, growth, and societal pressures. ‘We Made’ appears to be a symbolic album, with each song tapping into a deeper meaning.
GIMME DAT LOVE: INFATUATION & ALLURE
“Gimme Dat Love” is exactly what it sounds like. It explores the feeling of desire for another person. Although it can be reckless and borderline toxic, when you know what you want, you can’t ignore those feelings. “So dangerous, got no hesitation. Ain’t no second guessing; I think I like you, baby.” Although short, the point of this song is clear; they want that same love reciprocated. The song is also paired with a high-visual music video. Filled with intense choreography, electric energy, and sultry vibes, it captures the essence of this song perfectly.
MONO: HARMONY IN HUMANITY
“Mono (feat. skaiwater)” Is the leading track on ‘We Made.’ This pre-release serves as the perfect intro to the album with an upbeat sound and inclusive message. The title “Mono” refers to its direct meaning of “one.” It also doubles as a reference to “Mono Audio.” In sound engineering, mono-audio is the combination of sound from multiple channels that end up in a joint stream. The audio “channels” are representative of people from all over the world, with various identities.
“You’re from the right or from the left, whether east or west, whether straight or gay, turn the effects down.” In the chorus, we can see the metaphorical connection between listeners and the various “channels” they may come from.
“Let it all fade out, play the whole world in Mono,” i-dle urges the listener to drown out the noise and focus on the importance of love and togetherness. For the world to be in “mono,” society must transcend their differences, whether it’s race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. “Mono” serves as the perfect introduction to this album and a good wake-up call to our humanity.
MORNING: BEING PRESENT/LIVING IN THE MOMENT
“Morning” is the third song on ‘We Made,’ and it’s the perfect wake-up anthem. It’s one of those songs you set as your alarm and get your day started with.
“Morning alarm rings at 8 A.M, I turn it off and get up, light stretching, take probiotics. With some ginger lemon tea, no phone check right now,” If you need that morning motivation to get things going, this is exactly where to hear it.
“My dopamine’s at twelve miles. No drama, no reels, no X, just life.”
Sometimes we forget to unplug, even fresh off the wakeup. It’s easy to reach over for your phone, wondering what you’ve missed overnight. However, i-dle sends a message that there’s joy in going about your day and typical routines. Sometimes you’ve gotta unplug and be your own best friend!
CROW: RESILIENCE/PUBLIC PERCEPTION
Written and composed by Soyeon, “Crow” carries an edgier rock sound. It explores the idea of resilience and owning your own story. The song was written in 2021 during the group’s hiatus, following the departure of former member Soojin.
The lyrics “Come on, Omen, do what you do best. We are born in the nest of the crow” suggest that Soyeon is challenging the perception of the crow and is willing to do whatever she can to reach her goals. In the West, it’s common for the crow to be associated with misfortune and death. However, Korean mythology suggests an interesting perspective. An example would include the “three-legged crow,” which is associated with divine power and strength. However, there’s still the looming superstition that multiple crows signify misfortune. That being said, the crow could symbolize terrible misfortune or great strength.
“We the omen, do what we do best. Keep chasing the flow until it cuts my tongue.”
LOVE IS PAIN: LOVE IS PAINFUL
The last song on this album is as straightforward as it gets. It explores the end of a relationship where one party has moved on while the other is still struggling with the aftermath of the breakup. “ I’m breaking down while you’re moving on. What am I to do?” There’s difficulty letting go, and the lyrics depict the conflict between knowing it’s over and wanting to hold on to the memories.
LOLLAPALOOZA
Not only did fans get a new album, but i-dle is taking it to the stage at this year’s Lollapalooza music festival. They’re scheduled for Friday, July 31, making them the only 4th-generation K-pop act to perform on the T-Mobile Main Stage this year. With ‘We Made,’ i-dle aims to continue breaking boundaries and reshaping the idea of what a global group could look like. Now, they’ll be able to shape that destiny for themselves this summer.
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Feature Image Credit: i-dle OFFICIAL X
