When GFRIEND debuted ten years ago with ‘Glass Bead’, they soon became notable exponents of K-pop’s “powerful innocence” niche. Amid guitar solos and lofty orchestral melodies, Sowon, Yuju, Yerin, SinB, Eunha and Umji built an instantly recognizable discography – hopeful, soaring, and unrelentingly sweet. As the six-piece grew up, they also explored different genres – like the synth-techno of ‘Fingertip’, and the disco spark of ‘MAGO’.
Their sudden hiatus in 2021 was shocking for fans, even if the members never considered GFRIEND as having disbanded. Yet, they all invested in separate careers, with Sowon becoming an actress, Yuju and Yerin releasing solo music, and SinB, Eunha and Umji teaming up as the trio VIVIZ. They have finally come together – a long four years later – for a grand reunion in the form of ‘Season of Memories’, which celebrates their 10th anniversary.
As far as K-pop group reunions go, ‘Season of Memories’ thankfully looks beyond uninspired ballads. Comprising the title track and B-side ‘Always’, the release brings out the best of GFRIEND, with lively melodies giving us a taste of what made them so mystifying. Although not as impactful as masterpieces like ‘Navillera’ or ‘Apple’, the new tracks are solid additions to a stellar discography, blending their rosy beginnings with decade-long experience.
Lead single ‘Season of Memories’ opens up with the group’s trademark guitar riffs, bringing back all the nostalgia from their golden years. Meanwhile, lyrically, the six members take a poetic approach to their everlasting bond: “Connected as one / Engraved as one / Within our kind season / We will stay together forever.” It’s a touching statement, and certainly one that fans will love to hear (and hope will continue on).
They echo the same feelings in the groovy ‘Always’, with verses like: “No matter what we are still the same / I’ll be by your side, never wavering”. The track is elevated by a beautiful violin drop underlined by synths – a display of GFRIEND’s inventiveness, seen before in songs like ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Labyrinth’ – but could be even stronger if it’d made use of a fully-fledged, dynamic chorus to bulk it up.
The brief ‘Season of Memories’ feels more like an afternoon breeze, as nostalgic as it is fleeting, rather than a whole period. It honours GFRIEND’s bond and essence, and reassures fans that they remain together – even if they aren’t around as often as they once were. As they kick off their tour, the possibilities for their future as a group widen even more. One thing is certain, as they sing in ‘Always’: “Sunrise, moonlight / Our story is far from over / What’s next?”