CRAVITY’s sonorous: Finding unity in difference
Cravity was back again on 30 September 2026 with sonorous, which is their ninth EP, produced by Starship Entertainment at 6 pm KST. Coming about five months after their last comeback, the seven-track project is headed by "LOUDER" and deals with some of the recent concepts that the group has been developing around such as hesitation, desire, recovery and change. Unlike previous concepts that were treated separately in previous albums, sonorous has brought these themes under one common framework: resonance. As a nine-member band whose songs have lately been influenced by personal inputs from each member, the theme of resonance provides a way of understanding the differences and similarities of voices.
In this regard, the members have been described as waves or different frequencies whose combination results in a greater resonance. Resonance also provides the EP with a sense because of the rich, deep sound it represents. Hesitation in particular has not been considered as a problem but rather as a natural aspect of the ongoing process that is represented by movements and emotions. In fact, according to KBS World, sonorous is described as an EP where different sounds are combined in order to produce greater resonance.
This premise is especially well captured by “LOUDER”. Starship describes the song as an electronic dance song with a dreamy and dark vibe, constructed using rough synthetics, drums and vocals, which gradually create an expanding sound experience. This effect is aided by the song’s arrangement, rather than starting out at full power, the song builds up gradually from a delicate melody into something quite different, resulting in a more assertive chorus. In this way, the production itself suggests a building-up process, as if the song builds up to the point when it is impossible not to say one’s thoughts aloud.
This impression is additionally created by the lyrics, which are quite literal in their description of an internal experience – breathing and heartbeat are evoked, and the theme is one of the gradual growth of an inner voice. Wonjin, Allen, Serim, Hyeongjun and Taeyoung have co-written the lyrics, thus tying in the theme with several Starship members who perform the song. It is in the nature of this song that the connection between the lyrics and the production is particularly powerful.
It is only the beginning of sonorous that strives to copy this particular structure in each track. According to KBS World, the EP is characterized by transitions from hip hop, electronic music, and dance pop. Officially, however, the focus is on the difference in texture and intensity between the tracks. “LOVE ME” created by Serim represents an emotional and extensive band sound, accompanied by hip hop music. “Fantasy” created by Woobin puts vocals of the group against a strong beat. “Odd One Out” written and composed by Taeyoung is based on complex rhythmic background and explosions of energy with tempo changes.
Such comparisons make sense in relation to the emotions expressed by the EP. “Pulse” starts with heavy synths and then evolves into a foundation of a hip hop song. Through the feeling of the pulse and the attraction prior to confirmation, “Pulse” sets the stage for the whole album with its physical feeling of something very real. In “LOUDER”, that physical feeling becomes an expressive one. “Lucky Charm” moves onto a more positive emotion, where everyday moments with someone else become lucky. “LOVE ME” adds some nervousness and the need to get out of one’s skin with its instruments being warmer than before. “Seize The Night” combines motion and dreaming synths, while “Fantasy” is about finding escape with those who understand you. “Odd One Out” ends the album with the realization of one’s uniqueness even though others may think otherwise.
If we consider the sequence of the seven songs, we will notice an easily identifiable movement of emotions: physical wake-up, internal pressure, connection, uncertainty, determination, escape and personal decision-making. Starship and KBS World detect a similar emotional palette of feelings on the album, including trembling, excitement, anxiety and firmness. The importance of such progression does not lie in the fact that all seven tracks represent the parts of the single narrative. It lies in the fact that the album continuously changes its emotional background while constantly staying loyal to the same notion of resonance. Thus, the changes in the style have a conceptual meaning, regardless of the fact that the tracks themselves are situated in different sonic environments.
The involvement of the members adds another aspect to this concept. Apart from the five members who participated in the creation of the lyrics of "LOUDER", Allen, Wonjin and Hyeongjun worked on the lyrics of the track "Lucky Charm". Serim, Woobin and Taeyoung personally participate in the writing of "LOVE ME", "Fantasy" and "Odd One Out", respectively. The creative contribution of the members is, thus, spread across the whole album and not just limited to its title track.
Visualizing the idea involves the creation of the idea without using a particular storyline. In the “Echo” idea, Cravity is put in white and clean spaces with objects that are resonant, such as instruments, swings, and spirals. Individual and group pictures are used to show various ways of viewing the same idea. The “Muse” idea uses a completely different and very fanciful environment for Cravity, where they are placed around a spring and rock in pictures of mythology. Different stylistic features, makeup, and accessories distinguish the members from one another. Silhouettes created through long exposures seem to blend in with the surroundings.
“LOUDER” music video teaser extends the language of imagery even further. While a Pegasus is featured against the background of an unrealistic nature, the forest, the spring, and ropes joining the members create continuity both physically and symbolically. Then a picture of the ground growing from beneath them and of the powerful light shining over an urban landscape is presented. Both pictures can have a number of interpretations; however, there is no definite symbolic meaning given to them officially. It is possible to trace the increase of scale – the pure abstraction of “Echo”, the mythological atmosphere of “Muse” and the transition to the next level in the title track.
Such development also shows how the modern K-pop projects are becoming more and more interconnected audiovisual works. “SONOROUS” includes not only music itself, but also concept photography, a highlight medley, music video teasers and a concert with the same name. Two concerts “SONOROUS” are going to take place in November in Seoul and Busan and are going to continue the imagery of the album, including the pictures of Pegasus and waves. As KBS World says, the concert is the continuation of the story told by the EP.
Sonorous should be seen as a continuation rather than a statement of reinvention in relation to Cravity’s discography. The band was formed by Starship Entertainment in April 2020 and this year the group is already releasing its ninth mini album. Previously CRAVITY’s discography focused on the issues of desire, uncertainty, and recovery, as well as on member participation. Sonorous continues that process but shifts its scale from the inner conflict of one individual to the interplay between the various emotions and sounds.
The reason is that the variety of sounds on sonorous cannot be considered as an innovation per se. The genres like hip hop, electronic music, dance pop and arrangements are traditional for K-pop. What makes sonorous special is the effort to combine the mentioned sounds into a concept. It is best illustrated by the song “LOUDER”, where the sounds, lyrics and vocal progression are aimed at reflecting the transition from internal feeling to external expression of oneself.
Nevertheless, there is an inherent limitation in this approach. Sonorous includes seven songs, and its duration equals about 20 minutes. The diversity of textures and moods present in the EP makes it dynamic; however, at the same time, it means that not all concepts can be developed. This situation is not a proof of any kind of flaw, as the sources used for this review did not point out any kind of repetitiveness. It is a good topic for discussion: whether the rapid change of moods creates enough developed sequence of events or leaves some possibilities unresolved.
The song “Odd One Out” answers the main concept of the EP most clearly. Composition of Taeyoung includes changing rhythm, interesting beat, and explosive energy. The repeated use of the word “sonorous” makes the album name appear in the final song of the record. Moreover, its theme, the choice of one’s own way of life even if it is different from the way chosen by others, makes the theme of resonance not equal to similarity. It means that there is no need for individuality to disappear for the collective.
This could very well be the best approach to comprehending sonorous as a concept. It is not important for the EP to mark a turning point or act as a defining moment in the band's career in order for the concept to be meaningful. What the EP does provide more tangibly is a concrete example of a group playing with different sounds and emotional tones as well as making more tangible individual contributions in an intentionally created conceptual construct. “LOUDER” defines that construct immediately, but what becomes more interesting about the album is what takes place surrounding it.
In the case of Cravity, resonance is, therefore, not just a theme that is associated with an album’s name. Instead, it is a framework that helps to structure the relationship between seven songs and nine artists behind them. Every song is unique on its own but this album constantly connects these different spaces in a new way. As a consequence, it is not a collection that revolves around one sound but one that is characterized by the tension between different sounds, which are supposed to exist within one piece of music together. In Sonorous, Cravity focuses on the tension and makes it the main feature of their album.
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