ILLIT simply held a funeral for his or her signature idea. There’s actually a pink tombstone within the music video that reads “CUTE IS DEAD.” Delicate? No. Efficient? Completely.
That is the group’s first single album, dropped on 24 November 2025, and it’s most likely the most important curveball they’ve thrown since debut.
Anybody anticipating one other “Magnetic”-style hyper-pop banger is in for a shock. “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” strips again to fundamentals: a reggae-pop bassline, lo-fi beat, minimal manufacturing. The entire thing appears like ILLIT wandered right into a coffeehouse and determined to remain.
Minju and Yunah open the monitor with this cool detachment that units the tone instantly. Their vocals sit proper within the pocket, not pushing, simply present within the area the manufacturing leaves for them.
Wonhee actually will get to shine right here too, her voice suits this relaxed tempo higher than their earlier materials ever let on.
The refrain is sort of aggressively easy: “I’m not cute anymore.” Simply that, again and again. No vocal gymnastics, no ad-libs attempting to persuade you. They’ve made their level.
The lyrics are tongue-in-cheek. Preferring jellyfish to puppies? Not liking cherry coke? It’s all a bit random, which one way or the other makes it really feel extra real than in the event that they’d tried to put in writing some deep lyrics about rising up.
There’s a line about five-minute excellent make-up tutorials that feels very 2025, very TikTok-core, and Wonhee arguing with a police officer within the MV is genuinely one of many 12 months’s finest visible moments in Ok-pop.
Talking of the video, it seems quite enjoyable. Sports activities automotive chases, pink monsters, costume adjustments that veer into camp territory, after which these utterly blank-faced dance breaks the place ILLIT simply refuses to provide the cute expressions you’re most likely anticipating.
One scene has a member completely towering over metropolis streets like Godzilla. The entire visible seems like somebody gave the inventive staff a much bigger finances and fewer supervision.
The choreography seems quite easy, but it surely works with the managed, virtually bored-looking actions. Head tilts in unison, minimal gestures. It’s the anti-thesis of their earlier work, and you may inform it’s intentional.
Right here’s what would possibly throw folks: this sounds nothing like their discography so far. If you happen to’re listening for that first time, ready for the monitor to blow up into one thing larger, it by no means does.
The manufacturing, dealt with by Jasper Harris, Sasha Alex Sloan, and Youra, retains every thing tight and sparse. There’s classical parts buried in there, slight reggae affect within the rhythm.
Followers of “Pimple” would possibly recognise a few of this territory, ILLIT have dabbled with extra subdued sounds earlier than, however “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” takes that idea to a different degree.
ILLIT aren’t the primary Ok-pop group to do this mature sound, however they’re promoting it higher than most rookies would.
The Ashley Williams collab (British vogue model) provides the entire thing this quirky visible identification, kitschy patterns, bizarre equipment.
Now, playing cards on the desk: this track is brief. Too brief, actually. It fades out proper when it ought to be constructing to one thing larger.
No bridge, no ultimate push, simply… accomplished. Possibly that’s the vibe they needed, depart you wanting extra, very “cool lady” vitality.
However I consider followers could be genuinely irritated as there’s not one other 45 seconds right here. Yunah described it as Pyongyang naengmyeon throughout press rounds (that chilly noodle dish that tastes bland at first however will get addictive), which is definitely spot-on. This isn’t a track that grabs you instantly.
What ILLIT are doing right here is dangerous. Their core fanbase liked the intense, energetic stuff. “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” would possibly alienate these listeners utterly.
However props to them for attempting one thing totally different quite than operating “Magnetic” into the bottom with 5 variations.
Whether or not this turns into their new sound or only a one-off experiment, I don’t know. Proper now, it’s a stable single that exhibits vary.
Good for December playlists if you need one thing chill however nonetheless Ok-pop.
