THE ESSENCE OF CIX

CIX WON’T EVER BACK DOWN FROM BEING COMMITTED TO USING MUSIC THAT WILL STIR FEELINGS OF INTIMACY WITH THE LISTENER, RATHER THAN MIMICKING PATTERNS OR ADHERING TO A CERTAIN PREDEFINED CONCEPT

- DEBASHREE DUTTA

CIX WAS ONE OF Our 10 Best K-Pop Debuts of 2019. The fourth generation of K-pop, this dynamic boy band of five-BX, SEUNGHUN, BAEJINYOUNG member of C (former WANNAONE), YONGHEE, and HYUNSUK-under C9 Entertainment makes and gives sensuous pop music with emotional clarity and topical issues steering their songwriting. Their flashy visuals, infectious energy, and catchy hooks often take center stage, but you love them most for what's within their songs-a full spectrum of feelings-letting one go on an introspective musical journey.

In 2019, CIX debuted with the EP Hello Chapter 1: Hello, Stranger. "Complete in X" (CIX) is all its members' uncertainties embraced and rolled into a cohesive unit. Each song in the act's catalog portrays the essence of that entity, spanning a variety of musical genres, from passionate and upbeat tunes to beautiful blues. Additionally apparent in their slick performances is CIX's commitment to honesty and the expression of feelings more directly. "We pay close attention to the emotions used to convey each song, the overall tone, and small details to deliver the message in our music," says HYUNSUK.

That's admirable-CIX won't ever back down from being committed to using music that will stir feelings of intimacy with the listener, a deeper bond, rather than mimicking patterns or adhering to a certain predefined concept. And that's what I like about their songs-the honesty, raw emotions, and all the resonating elements adding to those deft vocal deliveries.

Tracks like "Movie Star" explore the pressures and demands placed on individuals in the spotlight. A contemplative song like "Numb" exposes youth concerns, the young who turn numb, departing what they want and dream of-CIX takes on themes of youth, change, finding oneself, and finding strength in weakness-also vocalizing a mature self in the very meaning of love and the many feelings accompanying it-joy, anxiety, longing, pain, endurance, and inadequacy.