KINDLE - JACOB (MIXTAPE EP)

 As a new fan of The Boyz, I've been eagerly watching their performances on the show Kingdom: Legendary War. I've also been listening to their music and albums in my spare time.

This morning, fellow Canadian member (and Torontonian!) Jacob released his self-composed mixtape, KINDLE. The mixtape is titled KINDLE as Jacob hopes that it will provide warmth and comfort to listeners and fans. Here is the link to the mixtape: KINDLE - JACOB .

Without further ado, here is my review.

With U: The opener of the mixtape is a chill, upbeat song that evokes memories of spending time with a loved one at the beach. This is the perfect summer song to play, especially as the weather is getting better (and hotter). 

Happy : The three main themes in this song are of thankfulness, appreciation, and self-love. Jacob expresses gratitude and appreciation for the ones who have supported him since the beginning of his journey as a singer. It is also evident to see how he has grown in self-confidence, and it's beautiful to see. I truly believe that this song is a pretty good summation of who Jacob is, at his core.

Where Are You Now :  This track is beautifully heartbreaking. The lyrics tell the story of an ending of a relationship, where one person is fighting to salvage and make sense of what's left, while the other has drifted away. Jacob mentions on his vlive that this song was inspired by a movie he had watched. I would love to hear this song playing in the background in a k-drama soundtrack!

Melatonin : Melatonin is a hormone in our body that helps regulate sleeping patterns. Jacob compares the people who support him to melatonin, which helps him to sleep well at night. He feel comfortable and at ease around them. Overall, it is a sweet song with a unique metaphor. In addition, Jacob switches between singing in Korean to English and back seamlessly. 

Birdcage : Jacob reminisces on his childhood memories, especially the ones he had before moving to Korea. His lyrics talk about the pains of growing up, and how they have affected him. One thing that really stood out to me was his interpretation of a bird cage. Often times, bird cages are a symbol of being stifled of freedom and are seen as restrictive. However, Jacob has turned the metaphor on its head, so to speak. He interprets a bird cage as a safe place that provides familiarity and comfort. He mentions that he wants to first be comfortable with where he is now, and to step out of his comfort zone when he feels ready to try something new.

My favourite tracks in this EP are: Happy, Melatonin, and Birdcage. As someone who is keenly interested in self-expression through writing, Jacob paints wonderful word pictures that are relatable and comforting, especially as we all try to navigate and make sense of the world around us.

Through his KINDLE mixtape, listeners get a glimpse into the inner workings of his mind. In turn, he is able to express himself, not just as JACOB of THE BOYZ, or as Bae Jun Young, but as he truly is at his core - as Jacob.