sumMERGED 2026
2026’s summer feels like it went by in a flash. Revisit all the memories by listening to our personal songs of the summer, and read on to see why these tracks were chosen.
My Work
articles written and ideated by me
Golden Hour Continues for ATEEZ
Golden hour continues to shine bright for eight-member K-pop group ATEEZ. Just four months after their last release (which we reviewed here), ATEEZ has returned with GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5: five brand-new tracks all poised to climb to the top of your summer playlist.
An Endless Golden Hour for ATEEZ
After wrapping up a highly successful leg of their In Your Fantasy Tour, eight-member K-pop group ATEEZ is back with their 13th mini album, Golden Hour Pt.4. Composed of 5 tracks, this album is the first release since the group resigned their contracts with their current company, KQ, promising more years of music and memories made with each other and their fans, ATINY.
Innings Fest Survival Guide
What do Spring Training and music have in common? Tempe, Arizona’s Innings Fest. Nestled along Tempe Town Lake with breathtaking views of the adjoining Rio Salado and nearby Papago Mountains, this stunning backdrop lends itself to the beauty that is the celebration of live music, baseball, and community.
A New Era For Quarters
The dream of childhood friends turned rockstars is a reality for Attila Anrather, Jasper Harris, and Ben Roter; the trio that make up rock band Quarters (FKA Quarters of Change). Formed from their high school days breaking into their music classroom after hours, Quarters is known for their electric live shows, intense guitar solos, punchy drum beats, and an undeniable trust and belief in their art.
For ____ : A Review of eaJ's Newest Single
Singing eaJ’s praise is something I will never tire of. With every new teaser, I know I’m in for something amazing, and the subsequent release that comes always blows my expectations out of the water. After dropping his EP 1, then releasing “LA Traffic (/)” and his collab with MICO on “Ever After” (both of which Merged Media reviewed here and here), 2025 is shaping up to host an incredible run of releases from eaJ, and his recent single “put it on me” only furthers
Seeing Color with PRYVT
Canadian indie-rock duo PRYVT amassed a huge following of listeners after opening for one of South Korea’s biggest indie bands wave to earth and releasing their first full album &Scene. Characterized by their atmospheric blend of alt-rock and bedroom pop sounds, PRYVT’s latest single “PALETTE,” released on September 5th ahead of their sophomore album BACK TO REALITY - releasing in November.
MICO and eaJ Collab in New Single “Ever After”
In what is arguably the team up of the century (at least, to me specifically), singer/songwriters MICO and eaJ have released their long-teased collab single “Ever After.” From the title, it is easy to assume the track is a love song about finding your happily ever after, but that would be an incorrect guess. “Ever After”, an upbeat dreamy pop track with heart-aching lyrics, tells the story of a relationship gone sour.
“Hip Hip! Hooray!” For Stray Kids’ Fourth Album
Fresh off their 2024-2025 [Dominate] World Tour run, eight-member K-pop group Stray Kids has returned with the recent release of their fourth full-length album titled KARMA. Consisting of 11 tracks majorly written, composed, and produced by 3Racha—the in-group producing team comprised of members Bang Chan, Changbin, and HAN—Karma is a culmination of everything Stray Kids is known for: exciting beats, playful yet heartfelt lyrics, and tracks that immediately make my “on repeat” playlist.
Meeting Too Late & Not Knowing What You Want
Maybe you’re getting over your last heartbreak, or maybe you're daydreaming about that one person you saw at the airport for a few fleeting seconds. Whatever it is, the matters of the heart have always been something that musicians of all genres have tackled and explored throughout the centuries. Two artists that excel at expressing the turmoil of what the heart wants are singer/songwriters eaJ and keshi.
A Multi-Sensory Experience: Rozzi to Collab with Ki Smith Gallery
After over 500 global submissions, 26 artists were selected by Rozzi and gallerist Ki to participate in the exhibition, with each track being represented by two different artists. Each artist had the opportunity to speak with Rozzi directly about their selected song to gain inspiration for their own work.
sumMERGED 2025 : Merged Media Songs of the Summer
With summer coming to a close, there’s often debate on which song takes the cake. From recent releases to classic throwbacks, take a listen to some of our personal favorites, and read on to find out why they’re our personal songs of the summer.
ALL(H)OURS Burns Brightly with Their Third Mini Album ‘Smoke Point’
Coming hot into the new year, EDEN Entertainment’s seven member boy group ALL(H)OURS has released their third mini album Smoke Point. After debuting in January of 2024, members KUNHO, YOUMIN, XAYDEN, MINJE, MASAMI, HYUNBIN, and ON:N have received multiple award nominations and praises for their music and performances, and have been on a steady rise since the beginning.
keshi Drops Deluxe Version of ‘Requiem’ Featuring Three New Song
In the midst of his 2024-2025 world tour, Vietnamese American singer-songwriter keshi has released three brand new songs on a deluxe version of his sophomore album Requiem.
ONEUS Gifts Their Fans With Special Album ‘Dear.M
Following their teased schedule from December, ONEUS has released their first album of 2025 entitled Dear.M. With a combined total of 17 songs between brand new and re-released tracks, the members truly fulfilled their wish for this album to be a gift to their fans, TOMOON.
SEVENTEEN Wins First BBMA for "Top K-pop Touring Artist”
Amidst their ongoing tour, 13-member boy group SEVENTEEN—comprised of S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINO—brought home their first BBMA for “Top K-pop Touring Artist.”
Introducing 2025's Newest Boy Group: XLOV
Seven days into the new year, rookie boy group XLOV are already capturing listeners' attention and hearts with their debut song, “I’mma Be.” The first group from their company, 257 Entertainment, XLOV consists of four members: Wumuti, Rui, Hyun, and Haru.
ONEUS Create a Winter Wonderland with 'Rupert’s drop'
After releasing a reprised version of “Now” by Fin.K.L and a stellar run on Mnet’s Road to Kingdom : Ace of Ace, five-member boy group ONEUS is back with a winter-themed single, “Rupert’s drop.”
CHUNG HA Embodies the Christmas Spirit in New Digital Single
For her first release in four months, soloist CHUNG HA has dropped a special Christmas themed single album, [Christmas Promise]. Containing two songs, this release brings a feeling of warmth, excitement, and fun to this holiday season.
BADVILLAIN “ZOOM” Into Their First Comeback
Debuting in June 2024, girl group BADVILLAIN is the first original group from their company, BPM Entertainment. Their debut mini-album OVERSTEP featured three songs, and they released their follow-up track “HURRICANE” a few weeks later.
VIVIZ Return With Their 5th Mini Album 'VOYAGE'
After four months of touring across the globe, K-Pop trio VIVIZ have returned with their fifth mini album VOYAGE. Composed of five tracks, VOYAGE truly lives up to its name—taking listeners on a sonic journey in just fifteen minutes.
Omega X Captures the Feeling of Youth in 'Cool My Head'
“Cool My Head” offers a refreshing and youthful energy to break up the monotony of day-to-day life. The chorus is catchy and cathartic — the chant-singing style can be difficult to pull off but in a song that is about longing and wanting, it works perfectly to enhance the messaging.
THE BOYZ Become Vanguards in Their Ninth Mini Album ‘導火線 (TRIGGER)’
Seven months after their last release, 11 member K-Pop group THE BOYZ are back with their latest album 導火線 (TRIGGER).
From the Desert to Mawazine — A Reflection on ATEEZ's Six Year Rise
Headlining an international festival with 2.5 million viewers after starting out at a company that had only 20 employees sounds like a heartwarming movie plot — but for ATEEZ, an eight-member group from KQ Entertainment, it’s reality.
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