Wave to Earth released their new album play with earth! 0.03 on September 6th. The date marks the release of the second album, and the band is currently on tour for the release. The album contains 7 songs, one being a remastered version of their song “pueblo” released in 2020. Though a remastered version, “pueblo” garnered attention from some Rancocas Valley Regional High School students.
Amaris Crandle, a senior at RV, comments on the 4th track of the album, speaking to the quality of the song. Crandle says,“‘pueblo’ has long been one of my favorites from them, so seeing the 2024 remastered version on their newest album really caught my attention. They made an amazing song even better.”
The band has three members, bassist John Cha, drummer Dong Kyu Shin, and singer-songwriter Daniel Kim. The Korea-based band debuted with their single “wave” in 2019, then released their first EP wave 0.01 in 2020, cementing themselves as a band with a unique and dreamy indie-pop sound. Their first album, 0.1 flaws and all., was released in 2023.
“are you bored?”
Bennett (5/10)
Shreya (5/10)
The first track of the album, “are you bored?” instantly intrigues the listener with its soft, playful vibe in the beginning. As the instrumental goes on, the guitar is a continuous instrument but the drums start to be incorporated more at certain points, emphasizing the playfulness and upbeat atmosphere. Also, near the middle of the song, layering vocals are introduced that intertwine with the instruments making the listener feel like they are floating while maintaining the same upbeat vibe. It’s a perfect song to use as background audio in a video or to blast in your headphones when you’re looking out of a window on the road. This song sets a summery, calming expectation for the entire album.
“play with earth!”
Bennett (9/10)
Shreya (9.5/10)
Maintaining a dreamy and soothing vibe, title track “play with earth!” captivates the listener by changing the flow of the music at some parts to immerse the listener and emphasize the lyrics. It purposefully slows the rhythm down just to build it back up, contributing to the dreamy, introspective feel. The tempo changes further enhance the overall listening experience. Not only does the rhythm and flow play a part in the song’s themes, but the lyrics significantly reinforce the messages. The constant symbol of the earth insinuates the lyrics’ intention to promote a connection with nature and encouragement to reflect on oneself. Daniel Kim highlights these themes of slowing it down and being in the moment when singing “Everything is ours– The shimmer of the waves– Echoes like our dreams” in lines 6-8. These lyrics connect nature with the message of appreciating and being grateful for life’s more intimate moments. Overall, this song is perfect for just enjoying and seizing the day.
“annie.”
Bennett (7/10)
Shreya (6.5/10)
Through the melancholic piano and steady guitar and drum beat, “annie.” entices the listener through its emotive lyrics and generally calm tempo and rhythm. The song explores the complexities of love, loss, and healing by the lyrics seeming to address a person named Annie. The lyrics convey feelings of anger and sadness, and in some parts, the instrumentals are cut out, leaving only the raw vocals, emphasizing the emotions of unresolved feelings.
The speaker begins to prioritize themself, which is indicated throughout lines 17-19 in the song: “Maybe I’m losing– Losing me to hold a smile, to bear it all– How can I fail, compromise and lose myself.” In these contemplative lyrics, the speaker reflects on a past relationship and how they might have lost a part of themself just to maintain a facade of happiness. This acknowledgment of losing oneself is the beginning of the process of healing. Generally, the instruments are very simple, inviting the listeners to engage and relate to the lyrics. It’s a very relatable song to most listeners. Although it continues the nostalgic, dreamy vibe, it is perfect for screaming the lyrics during a breakup or a falling out of a relationship or friendship.
“beck.”
Shreya (8/10)
Bennett (8.5/10)
Reminiscent of a rainy summer night, “beck.” intertwines melancholy lyrics with a slow refreshed sound. It’s bittersweet and is heavier on guitars to give it that crispness and nostalgic feel. The song is addressed to this person Beck in the chorus as Kim sings the line, “Hey Beck, do you think I’m a joke?” The song is about an individual who feels ashamed of themselves. Overall, it’s a well-written and produced song by the artist, great for at night driving with your hands out the window and stargazing. The song itself makes you feel like you’re dancing in the rain. It fits the mood of the album incredibly well and keeps you in that summery, nostalgic mood.
“slow dive”
Shreya (8.5/10)
Bennett (8/10)
Through soft vocals and its steady beat, “slow dive” enchants listeners through its dreamy bedroom pop listening experience along with its themes of vulnerability and healing. The instrumentation coupled with the vocals makes the listener feel like they are in a dreamy haze and reminds them of a light ocean breeze. But the feel of the music isn’t just the only thing that is well executed, the lyrics are extremely well-written. While there aren’t many lyrics as the song just contains an intro and chorus, each lyric was extremely vital and carefully thought out. Its calm and serene mood gives way to introspective lyrics that enhance the listening experience for the entire album. Altogether, the song is perfect for long drives and late-night studying.
“holyland”
Shreya: (9/10)
Bennett (9/10)
The last track of the album, “holyland” keeps the album consistent with its soft vocals and inclusion of guitar. The song details feelings of pining for a past you once had with someone, and looking back at said past. The speaker wants to be in the past as they say, “take me back to the old days with you” in the pre-chorus in line 5. The soft guitar gets heavier towards the end, but the slow and steady pace keeps consistent throughout the entire song. The song’s outro is incredibly beautiful with heavier guitar and raw, emotional vocals. Wave to earth’s “holyland” is not only perfect for dancing under the kitchen lights and late-night contemplations, but also for the wrapping up of their album, fully encapsulating the album’s unique sound and vibe.
Overall, wave to earth has a unique, signature vibe that resonates with many listeners. Amaris Crandle expresses her admiration for the band’s unique sound.
“Music’s always been a great element in my life, but I’ve never felt so connected to anything the way I am with wave to earth,” said Crandle. “Their songs are so versatile, I could listen to them anywhere and anytime. Simply listening to their songs isn’t enough, so I even took up the task to feel the same emotion they put into their songs by incorporating their music into my own instrumental practice.”
Not only has “play with earth! 0.03” continued with their classic sounds and soothing vibes, but they have also introduced variety and experimented with different instruments and rhythms, and in my opinion, making this one of their best albums.
Shreya’s Favorites
- play with earth!
- holyland
- slow dive
- beck.
- annie.
- are you bored?
Bennett’s Favorites
- play with earth!
- holyland
- beck.
- slow dive
- annie.
- are you bored?
