P1HARMONY Return With Confidence and Commentary in New EP, “DUH!”
P1HARMONY aren’t backing away from the mic and their message in their newest EP, DUH!, released on May 8. The EP contains six songs, each with their own commentary on viewers, society, and those who have had plenty to say about them in their five-year career thus far. Consisting of members Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob, each performer shines brightly in the work, separating time to show how every individual has accepted the success they’ve worked to build. DUH! is a release announcing P1HARMONY have always been the “top dogs,” though maybe some are just realizing this now.
PSA: Don’t Be Shocked
P1HARMONY debuted in the fall of 2020. Over the next three and a half years, they released six EPs and one full-length album. All six members radiate talent: singing live, producing their own music, and going viral for their outgoing personalities. However, one thing was missing: a music show win. It wasn’t until the lead single of their full-length album, Killin’ It, that they received their first win and, since then, they’ve been awarded multiple more.
In their newest single, “DUH!,” the group tackles the idea of their talent being overlooked and now recently acknowledged, despite it being a quality they’ve always possessed. The song takes a ‘90s hip-hop production with siren sounds, heavy percussion, and every member rapping or singing with a rap flare. “DUH!” is a spin on the group’s signature electrifying high-energy title tracks, though its message exudes a new feeling the group had yet to discuss in the past.
Intak starts the track before passing it off to Keeho, singing, “Please don’t be stupid / Boldly, late to this party.” Keeho has no problem commenting on their sudden rise in attention and fans after being in the game so long, and neither do the other members. Theo quickly follows these lines with, “Our stage never got any attention / Must be surprising / Cause I got it like that.”
The catchy chorus shouts at the listener that P1HARMONY’s swag has been around since the beginning, with their names on a “plain white tee,” their seats in first class, and them simply being the “G-O-A-T.” Who’s that? It’s P1HARMONY. DUH!
More On Their Minds
In their second and third songs of the album, “Pretty Boy” and “Murmur,” P1HARMONY tackle other industry hurdles they’ve faced as well. Though many of the members worked on the entire album, “Pretty Boy” has four out of six members on the writing credits, as the idea was something they heavily wanted to express.
The song combines a reggaeton and Latin music influence, a suave production, and a mesmeric vocal presentation. Deeper than the low percussion is the blatant meaning presented in the lyrics. The group’s leader, Keeho, spoke to the meaning online, stating, “It’s kind of a backhanded compliment when people call us ‘pretty.’ Especially when you call just boys pretty because it feels like you’re kind of saying ‘Yeah you’re pretty,’ but that also just kind of means ‘Oh, you’re not masculine enough’ or ‘You don’t look masculine enough.’ I kind of wanted to take that and confidently say, ‘Yeah, I’m a pretty boy, and that’s fine.’”
This message is ingrained in every word of the track, showing the pride they hold in their masculinity while also being pretty, and showing that no one has to conform to outside views of who they should be or how they should act. Though, the group knows people have plenty to say about them anyways, as they sing about in the third track, “Murmur.”
“Murmur” tackles the objectification that K-pop stars and celebrities face when they are negatively talked about online, often for no reason. The six boys sing and rap in front of an R&B infused hip-hop beat as they confront those who bash them behind screens. In the pre-chorus, Jiung sings, “You know the beat keeps playing / My boys keep slaying / That’s happening no matter / What you sayin’ now.”
Lyrics with this same theme are strewn throughout, with the group making it very clear that people can talk, but they won’t hear a thing. The song highlights the constant online scrutiny they receive, with a standout line being raspily spoken by Jongseob: “Mmm I hate these guys.” “Murmur” easily holds its own on the album before switching into the fast-paced rock anthem “Flashy.”
Turn Up the Heat
The latter half of the album increases with pace as songs pass. The fourth track, “Flashy,” exudes a confidence that only grows through each member boldly and sassily singing their lines. The title comes from both the feeling of proudly showing off your personal style while also talking about camera flashes.
The song contains an intense guitar with hints of EDM, making it into one of the lead dance tracks of the EP. “Flashy” is reminiscent of P1HARMONY’s early dance songs like “Follow Me” and “Black Hole,” while bringing a 2025 twist to the sound. The members seamlessly trade off verses before meeting to shout “I’m feeling flashy!” in front of a bold thumping beat.
“Over and Over” is another first for the group, with a funky saxophone at the introduction, laced into the chorus, and peeking through the verses at times. The saxophone takes centerstage alongside the voices of the group as they chant the lyrics as one during the chorus. The song blends different genres with hip-hop at its core, and every member encapsulates self-assurance in every word.
Quick in tempo, “Over and Over” is the shortest track on DUH!, but it packs a punch while it has a chance to. The members sing about winning again and again through their determination, wit, and individuality. Even while having a jazzy spin, the sound is pure P1HARMONY and the message is clear as Jongseob finishes his verse, rapping, “ I don’t even need to say it / You can check it / Everybody talkin’ about me.”
The EP’s finale, “Work,” is a striking difference to what the group’s last song typically is. While P1HARMONY have gained a lot of attention with their pop and hip-hop sound, they usually end their releases by slowing it down with a song like “Butterfly” or “Better Together.” This time around, they kept the energy going with “Work,” a dynamic dance beat co-produced by the youngest in the group, Jongseob.
The song’s speed matches the schedule presented, as the lyrics reflect the fast-paced life of a superstar. From work to shows to parties, their lives are nonstop, but so is their success. In the pre-chorus, Theo sings, “Sike, I like it, sippin’, drink it / Drink it faster, faster, faster,” before being followed by Jiung in the chorus singing, “Go get to work, I’m glowin’ / Now I’m pullin’ up to the show / No matter what, mind blowin’.”
The last line of the track ends the EP with the overall message P1HARMONY have been saying in all six songs: “This party you can find nowhere.” P1HARMONY is a one-of-a-kind group, creating their own sound, paving their own way, and constantly proving themselves with every release. DUH! is an EP of confidence, commentary, and context of perspective, and it may just be their best release yet. But we’ll let you decide that.
DUH! is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Make sure to stay up to date on all things P1HARMONY on their Instagram and TikTok.
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