Korean R&B songs give you the best of both worlds: a mix between slow ballads you hear in K-dramas and trendy music in K-pop. It can also be your newest study companion if you’re looking for new songs to listen to besides lo-fi music. Here are 11 Korean R&B songs you can consider adding to your playlist.
Image credit: Spotify
instagram is a song that talks about how people tend to compare themselves with others, no thanks to the social media boom. It also touches on how social media users tend to hide their true feelings behind a fake exterior while suppressing negative emotions.
Image adapted from: DEANTRBL
DEAN wrote this song after taking a step back to observe some of his habits, only to notice a major one being scrolling through Instagram late at night. This resulted in him harbouring feelings of inadequacy as he compared himself to others.
You’ll be treated to DEAN’s soulful voice in this song. His voice and smooth delivery of the lyrics will help provide a sense of relaxation as you complete your work.
Watch the MV here:
Video credit: DEANTRBL
Image credit: Spotify
Jasmine has vulnerable lyrics that are easily relatable when you’re chasing a person you like.
A snippet of the MV.
Image adapted from: Dream Perfect Regime
With verses such as “You’re the perfect chemical” and “Missing a puzzle, I swear it’s you”, the song conveys feelings that are relatively accurate when you have pent up feelings for someone.
Catch the MV here:
Video credit: Dream Perfect Regime
Image credit: Spotify
You, Clouds, Rain is perfect to listen to while studying on a rainy day. With the added sound effects of rain in the background, the song’s atmosphere and vibes are enhanced.
This song depicts how one would feel after a breakup, as well as moving forward in life after that.
Image credit: @heizeheize
Following the success of this album, Heize made a breakthrough in the Korean R&B industry and became one of the most recognised female R&B artists in the country.
Check out the MV here:
Video credit: Stone Music Entertainment
Image credit: Spotify
Sam Kim is here to be your study buddy with the song If. Sam’s honey-like vocals and the solid instrumental in this Korean R&B song help amp up the ambience in your study area.
Image credit: @leegititssam
If is part of his first full-length studio album, Sun and Moon, and this album is full of Korean R&B songs worth playing in the background while you study.
Watch the MV here:
Video credit: 안테나 Antenna
Image credit: Spotify
Okinawa by 92914 is a song that helps to calm your mind with the slow strum of the guitar in the background and vocals that give off vibes of being at the beach.
Image credit: @at92914
Let your mind drift away for a bit as you take a break to listen to the song and make space within yourself to take in new information. Okinawa is also great as an accompaniment during strolls in the park, or when you’re on the way home from work after a long, exhausting day.
Catch the MV here:
Video credit: 92914
Image credit: Spotify
POOL by WOODZ offers you a slightly more upbeat tune to lift your mood as you’re studying. The addition of sounds of bubblegum popping and its dreamy instrumental will help give you some positive energy as you take notes while studying.
Image credit: Allure
WOODZ debuted as a soloist in 2016 and was previously promoting under the stage name Luizy. He primarily releases songs under the Korean R&B genre and often experiments within it.
Check out the MV here:
Video credit: 1theK (원더케이)
Image credit: Spotify
If you’re looking for a groovy song to listen to while you study, you might want to check out Sometimes by the Korean R&B singer Crush.
It’s one of his classics, and the added electric piano and upbeat bass licks in the instrumental will be of great help in lifting your mood.
Image credit: @crush9244
Crush is famous for his soulful voice that compliments the R&B genre. He’s also known for lending his voice to iconic K-drama OSTs for popular shows, such as Beautiful for the 2016 hit drama Goblin.
Watch the MV here:
Video credit: 1theK (원더케이)
Image credit: Spotify
WHENEVER IT RAINS by Dept is a chill Korean R&B song you can consider adding to your study playlist. The piano and sick beats in the instrumental help relax your mind and enhance your focus while studying.
Image credit: @dept113
This song is perfect to listen to when it rains, especially when the downpour occurs in the evenings, allowing you to wind down a little and look back at the events that happened as the day comes to an end.
Image credit: Spotify
As the title suggests, FR:EDEN’s If you can’t fall asleep is perfect for times where you’re studying and, well, can’t fall asleep. The soothing music, with its mood-lifting beat, strikes a balance between being too slow and too upbeat, which makes it great for midnight study sessions.
Image credit: @frieden__92
If you prefer a slightly more upbeat song, check out FR:EDEN’s other song called absence. The electric guitar and soft tapping of the cymbals also make for good study music.
Image credit: Spotify
Cloud by Rad Museum, Colde, Punchnello, and Miso is a chill, laidback song with vocals and instrumentals that are so dreamy that it makes for great background music for study sessions. Although there are 4 artistes participating in this song, their vocals complement each other seamlessly.
Image credit: Spotify
Your Dog Loves You is one of Colde’s most popular songs, and the song lives up to its fame with Colde’s buttery vocals. In addition, the soothing guitar instrumental makes this song a great track to have in the background as you study.
Image credit: @wavycolde
Colde wrote this song with his dog, Samna, in mind. Through this song, Colde reminisces about the times when Samna stood by his side, especially at his lowest points, and the unconditional love his dog has given him.
Catch the MV here:
Video credit: WAVY 웨이비
Lo-fi music is great, but you can also spice up your playlist and study session with Korean R&B songs. These songs may not only be your new bangers, but their chill beats and tunes also make them great tracks to play to maximise your productivity.
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Cover image adapted from: Juan Pablo Machado
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