East Meets West in VIXX's New Song 'ShangriLa': Watch the Video

publish date: 2017-05-16
source: billboard

Since its early days, K-pop has blended western pop with Korean sensibilities, and VIXX delved into this duality in their latest song, “Shangri-La.”
Released Monday, the single is an East-meets-West alt R&B track that incorporates traditional Korean instrumentals with future bass synths. Haunting strings, courtesy of the zither-like gayageum, and a hazy beat drive the atmospheric sound of “Shangri-La,” blending with the members' layered vocal delivery.
Unlike many K-pop songs, “Shangri-La” has no prominent English hook and instead favors poetic lyrics (“The color dyed with you feels so far away/ And it dazzles”) to relay the East Asian vibe of the song.
VIXX released “Shangri-La” alongside a fantastical, floral-filled music video that played up the song’s dual natures. Drawing on historic imagery, the six men don modernized hanbok, traditional Korean outfits, while singing their way through a variety of boldly colored, aesthetically pleasing sets.