ILLIT worked up a storm as they entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their debut track which is a first for a K-pop group. Producer VINCENZO has been right by ILLIT from the JTBC survival show R U Next? to the release of their debut album SUPER REAL ME. This is the man who has led the K-pop world as he collaborated with many artists including Highlight, (G)I-DLE, and Chungha.

ILLIT - “My World”
VINCENZO: This song is the opening to ILLIT’s album, and the track that best illustrates their unique colors. Adorable and beautiful words are arranged into lyrics that blend the traits of each member. The groove that comes from the simple arrangement with highlighted drums and bass, the witty choir that comes in at the chorus all add to the fun of listening to the song.

ILLIT - “Magnetic”
VINCENZO: This is ILLIT’s first lead single. The mystical chord progression, done in half arpeggios, forms the texture of the sound, while the house rhythm adds energy. Additionally, the lead sound and vocal chops contribute to a pluggnb feel in this hybrid dance tune. It’s the trend at the moment to increase the BPM and mash up different genres together, but I think this is a symbolic track that demonstrates the perfect balance of diverse genres. 

ILLIT - “Midnight Fiction”
VINCENZO: I am really fond of the lyrics to this song. Imaginations you might have late at night are portrayed from the perspective of the members in elegant sentences.The organic harmony that is built by the instruments are combined with the elegant lyrics to express the magical feel.

ILLIT - “Lucky Girl Syndrome”
VINCENZO: A lot went through my mind when I directed the vocals for the verses. I remember having extensive conversations with the members to convey an innocent perspective of good fortune without it sounding too cheesy.This song features a charming whistling sound, and the members exchanging glances with each other while dancing during the bridge looked so fun that I couldn’t help but anticipate the performance and the music video.I hope that this song brings luck to everyone who listens to it!

Nia Archives - “Sober Feels”
VINCENZO: This song is a blend of jungle rhythms and bossa nova. We’re seeing a lot of songs that use break beats, and I find myself enjoying this song a lot. We’re also seeing a lot of hybrid songs which is why I’m drawn to the jungle rhythm. Today I've chosen a song by Nia Archives a.k.a. “junglist.” Her music has jungle rhythms at the core with added Jamaican sounds, and it also has roots in various British music. I wanted to choose one from the latest album, and I chose a soft track which I think goes well with the nice warm weather these days.

Towa Tei, Pascale Borel - “A RING”
VINCENZO: Trends always come back, from Y2K to GXSC. I've been rediscovering late 1990s and early 2000s music. I lived through these times and was influenced by them as well.. It was when “Shibuya style” music and artists began emerging. Among them, I chose Towa Tei’s song. We see a lot of Brazilian influences in his album, and this song is no exception. I love how this particular period is back in style, and I’m trying to incorporate bossa nova, punk, jazz and many other genres into ILLIT’s music too. I hope that you look up other music that has branched out from this song, and really get a feel for the period.

Jai Paul - “Str8 Outta Mumbai”
VINCENZO: Jai Paul might have been the biggest beneficiary of My Space during its heyday. He first became known when Drake and Beyoncé took samples from “BTSTU” which Jai Paul uploaded to his page. The album he was working on at the time got leaked, pushing back his release indefinitely. Recently, some of his demos were revised and officially released. I've forgotten about him from time to time, but I always go back to his album whenever I feel like I'm slacking off. I was inspired then, and I'm still inspired now by this song, both for my sound and vocal production. 

Aphex Twin - “Avril 14th”
VINCENZO: There are these kinds of artists—it makes you look cool if you say you like them... To me, that is Aphex Twin. This eccentric artist, who has a significant influence on ambient music and IDM, can even make t-shirts with his face printed on them feel hip and trendy. I have most of his albums, but I haven’t been listening to him all that much for a while for some reason. But I started listening to him again last year when I was feeling down, and I found peace of mind. The album offers a diverse range of tracks, which may present a slight learning curve. However, this particular track, featuring a piano and the artist's pursuit of velocity, is exceptionally beautiful.

VINCENZO’s recommendations
DJ Shadow - “Midnight In A Perfect World”
Sheena Ringo - “Koko De Kiss Shite (ここでキスして)”
Sleigh Bells - “Rill Rill” 
Stereolab - “Miss Modular”
Caribou - “Can’t Do Without You”
The Avalanches - “Since I Left You”
Kool & The Gang - “Summer Madness (Live)”