Sunday Spin: New Releases from Dena, ILLIT, BILLKIN, Hikaru Utada, and Heize

This week’s artists are giving just enough autumnal kick to warm us up as the weather begins to build a winter chill. With songs that range from being struck with a crush to falling deep in love, these tracks follow those perfectly passionate moments. So, grab a hot beverage, snuggle in, and let yourself fall into the whimsical December mood.

Dena – “I’m Falling”

If the change of weather and sunlight hasn’t already shifted your mood, Dena’s sweet vocals and nerve-racking lyricism in “I’m Falling” are sure to have your heart swaying. “I’m Falling” is an anthem for hopeless romantics who let their insecurities hold them back. Dena opens the song by introducing the one that’s caught her eye – someone with a cool and relaxed style that radiates casual confidence. But as the song progresses, she admits to herself how strongly she feels about them as she battles with the thought that they could never like her back. Yet no matter how much she tries to resist, she’s not in control of her heart, and ultimately continues to fall for them endlessly. 

After having a breakthrough moment in 2024 with the release of her single “on read,” Dena has rapidly gained attention from fans and other artists such as Lauv and keshi. As a Berklee College of Music alumnus, her talent is undeniable and has resulted in her working with Grammy-awarded creators and LA-based producers for different projects. Though “I’m Falling” is Dena’s latest release, her discography has enough variety to satisfy any mood. 

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Heize – “Love Virus” (feat. I.M) 

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Heize is getting all of us in the feels this holiday season with the release of her 10th mini album LOVE VIRUS Pt. 1, including a special live performance dedicated to each song. For over 10 years, her signature K-R&B sound with unique and relatable storytelling has established her as one of the top Korean female soloists today. 

The title track “Love Virus” depicts the duality of love, with its ability to act as a virus contaminating the depths of your soul and a medicine to heal past wounds at the same time. It even features a familiar face – I.M of Monsta X. This marks the third collaboration between the artists, with “Distance” in 2022 and “Slowly” in 2024.  

The two of them go back and forth, with Heize singing for most of the song about how love is intoxicating in all the worst ways imaginable, while I.M tries to reason with her by reminiscing over the past. When the track reaches its climax in the bridge, Heize finally acknowledges how a broken relationship could be healing in certain ways by finding a sense of bliss in old memories, rather than the lingering pain they leave behind. As the two also participated in the song’s lyrics and composition, it’s safe to say the people can’t get enough of the all-rounder duo in this beautifully heart-wrenching love story.

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Shakira Jasmine – “mR.mELoDramAtiC”

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Shakira Jasmine (kira if you’re nasty) recently released her debut self-titled album, an eight-track journey through her emotional hills and valleys: yearning, heartbreak, failed romances, desperation. It’s packaged in her signature alt-pop rock sound that sits comfortably between Florence Welch’s folk-soul sensibilities and Lana Del Rey’s somber atmosphere. Still, she makes it her own by injecting a certain je ne sais quoi that only Indonesian pop artists have.

In “mR.mELoDramAtiC,” which the singer co-wrote with producer Josh Cumbee (the same mind who brought to life songs by Madonna, NCT 127, and the High School Musical series), she berates an ex-lover for being, well, melodramatic, a narrative that fans of Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter would be familiar with — “You’re just sick in the head, Mr. Melodramatic / Call your mom instead.” It’s angsty, punchy, and scream-from-the-top-of-your-lungs fun, the makings of a truly enjoyable pop song. 

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ILLIT – “NOT CUTE ANYMORE”

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Since their debut, ILLIT have been categorized in a dream pop bubble that they are ready to break out of. Consisting of members Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha, ILLIT have brought fans ethereal vocals and addictive girlie dance moves that have taken over social media every comeback. With their new single, “NOT CUTE ANYMORE,” they are not only filling our speakers with a bouncing, catchy beat, but they’re also announcing a possible sound direction and aesthetic change. 

The “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” music video starts with a strong statement defining this era for the girls: “Being cute doesn’t define who I am. There’s a lot more to me than that.” While attending the funeral for “cute,” they sing of coming into their womanhood, as they no longer resonate with what they used to love. Although the concept of change may make long-time fans uneasy, ILLIT is still delivering songs that sound like they were written with a pink glitter pen, and we don’t think that will ever change. 

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tripleS – “Bubble Gum Girl”

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On their new EP, Beyond Beauty, girl group tripleS proved they’re not afraid of switching things up. For the first time, the 24 members divided into smaller sub-units under the names Moon, Sun, Neptune, and Zenith, or MSNZ, to deliver their own standout songs. “Bubble Gum Girl” falls under the Sun unit, consisting of Xinyu, YooYeon, ChaeYeon, HyeRin, and Chaewon.  

The track follows a classic love story about a crush, featuring lyrics like “The things you do, feel too good to be true” and “I’m hooked on you” as a play on words with how addictive bubblegum can be. It’s everything reminiscent of old K-pop, from the signature bubblegum pop sound to the music video’s pastel visuals. Each member truly paints color in every lyric, making it a lighthearted, playful track that’s fun from the first listen. If tripleS Sun proved anything this year, it’s that cute concepts don’t just die, they just reinvent themselves.  

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JAIE – “tropical downpour”

For this week’s weather, the forecast reads a chance of drizzle with a side of identity crisis. “I love it when it rains in the morning,” Malaysian singer-songwriter mused in the opening lines, and it feels apropos for the mood set up by this song — a perfect soundtrack to wake up to a hazy downpour. Her vocals, equally laidback and soulful, undulate over a chill R&B groove, harmonizing with themselves to create an ambient sound without relying too much on instrumentation or flashy productions.

As the chorus progresses, however, her lyrics transcend their simple beginnings. “It’s easy to know me better than I know myself / ‘Cause I really don’t know myself anymore,” she laments, a nod to her shifting identities as a result of moving between Malaysia and New York. This earnest heart is the cherry on top of the moody ambience.

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RIIZE – “Fame” 

The award-winning K-pop group RIIZE are back with a three-track single album, Fame. The title track, “FAME,” unleashes a sound that’s brand new to the sextet. The song is a sharp, rage-style hip-hop track that fuses pounding beats with electric guitar, creating a bold and adrenaline-charged sonic atmosphere.

Lyrically, “Fame” explores the idea of searching for something real in a world obsessed with surface-level success. It captures the group’s struggle with uncertainty and the emotional toll of navigating constant attention. Do accolades really equal success? RIIZE question what fame truly means, and whether it’s something worth pursuing without sincerity and genuine connection. The chorus transforms their vulnerability into determination as they “run” toward someone who grounds them, who can really “see” them as they are without the glimmer and shine. WONBIN closes the song with a final, resolute “Ain’t ‘bout the fame, nah,” letting the song’s message linger in your eardrums. If you’re looking for more RIIZE content to ponder about, check out EnVi’s full single album breakdown of Fame here!

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BILLKIN – “Grow With The Flow”

Thai multi-hyphenate Billkin returns this week with “Grow With The Flow,” the reflective title track from his newly released sophomore album. Known for his clean vocals and sentimental delivery, Billkin leans into realism and honesty in a way that feels grown and grounded. The track feels distinctly personal, driving home the album’s theme of learning to move through life instead of fighting it. 

The song opens with a simple piano accompaniment and Billkin singing in English, “Cause nobody knows / so we just grow with the flow / whatever happens just know / sometimes we’re lost in the night / sometimes we find ourselves in the light.” It sets a tone that feels almost like a late-night confession before easing into a warmer, more familiar rhythm. Co-written and produced with longtime collaborators Bell Supol, Janpat, and Julian Cary, “Grow With The Flow” moves between English and Thai as he sits with acceptance and the idea of letting life unfold without forcing it. Billkin’s crooning vocals are steady throughout, and the gospel choir in the outro lifts the song in a way that feels earned and ends it on a hopeful note. 

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Hikaru Utada & Yaeji – “Mine or Yours (Yaeji Remix)” 

Japanese pop star Hikaru Utada reimagines her May release of “Mine or Yours” on her new Mine or Yours EP, releasing five new versions that include an instrumental and an intimate first-take recording. The second track of the EP, “Mine or Yours (Yaeji Remix),” is one of the three new collaborations on the album. 

In this standout collab with Korean American DJ and producer Yaeji, the original slow, whimsical pop track is transformed into a vibrant fusion of EDM energy and house-infused beats. Yaeji spins the track into a hypnotic, danceable rhythm, layering new textures that give the song a playful yet edgy new life. The remix preserves the song’s intimate lyrics as Utada’s vocals mingle with Yaeji’s dynamic production. For those who loved the original “Mine or Yours,” this new EDM take is a refreshing one that’ll jumpstart your day with infectious energy. 

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Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “Clear Anarchist Elements” by Recca Varg, “Heart Drop” by RESCENE, and “SUGAR” by JUNGWOO. Listen to everything mentioned and more, curated by Team EnVi only for you on Spotify.

Want more of the latest releases? Check out our previous Sunday Spin here!