K-Pop royalty Red Velvet have just dropped their new summer mini album: titled Velvet Summer, it features the luxurious harmonies of one of the Queens of K-Pop. One can always expect pure pleasure when it comes to Red Velvet, especially with the special way they approach their vocal projects.
This time, their newest record, is a fun-packed, sun-blessed journey through an eclectic mix of musical styles. Kicking things off, the first track, titled “Surfin’ Boy”, has a wonderfully happy, upbeat neo-bossa groove to it that captures the energy of the soundtrack to a TV show from the 1970s, when bossa was everywhere. Is the surfer a secret agent? It certainly has that vibe.
Seulgi herself said of the track, “The moment I heard the demo, I could already hear Red Velvet’s voices on it. The bossa nova genre felt so appealing. our past summer songs were intense and full of energy but this tiime, we captured a more ‘velvety’ summer mood, like watching the sunset over a beach rather than standing under the midday sun.” How lucky we are that the five-some lent their voices to such a summer-ready tune.
Next up is track two, titled “Hot Girls Cold Vibe”. This track reminds one of early ’70s-style funk with its more laid-back, sophisticated dance groove. A solid banger, one might say. Sorry not sorry, for my head won’t stop bobbing while I’m listening to it time and time again.
We all know that K-Pop is perfectly suited to funk and soul music. We all know Red Velvet can do this better than most.
They kicked this off a decade ago with the R&B classic “Automatic”, which today is still one of the finest tracks of its kind, full of sophistication. “Hot Girls Cold Vibe” has two different vibes to it, very much in line with the group’s signature style. Totally enjoyable, each part waiting to be tagged in by the other, like surfers taking turns catching a ride to the shore. Every transition to a new groove is punctuated by the next surfer climbing in and continuing the journey, everyone nodding along to the fine groove flowing from the open-top car radio as it cruises smoothly beneath the overlooking palm trees.
“Orchestra” is next. Again, this has that lush ’70s-style Bond movie soundtrack feel. Each one of the girls sounds like a special agent in their own right: elegant, dangerous. Wendy and Irene’s harmonies are a pure joy. The track has the same vibe as legendary producer Henry Mancini’s track “Lujon”. But all things get updated and remade, and in this new groove, “Orchestra” embraces the essence of both past and present with elegance and relevance for today’s ears, minds, and hearts.
Up next we have “Hula Hoop”. There’s an upbeat happiness to this song. I dare you all to sit still with absolutely no movement while listening to this one with its fantastic City Pop influences. Better yet, try not to sing the words “Hula Hula Hoop”: resist all you like, but you’ll eventually succumb in no time.
Finally, the album ends with “Hawaii”. Like the rest of the album, its energy is pleasing and fun-filled, making you feel energised and breezy, just as a top summer anthem should. It is indeed an anthem in praise of the album’s core theme: a joyful, happy summertime, having fun with your friends, Red Velvet, and their surfboards in Hawaii.
Reflecting on the album, member Wendy said, “”Summer has its hot, vibrant moments but there also days when you just want to do nothing and take it slow. This album captures that languid, mature summer sensibility.” In their newest record, they’ve certainly pulled it off, bottling up summer into these five tracks in order to give their listeners pure, sunny escapism.
Could this mini album by Red Velvet be the album of the summer for 2026? It sure looks like it might well be.
Velvet Summer is out now. Red Velvet can be found on Instagram here.