Next Episode (stylized in all caps) is the second extended play (EP) by South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU. It was released digitally on July 26, 2021, and physically on July 27, through YG Entertainment. The EP marks the duo's first album release in nearly two years, since Sailing in September 2019. Described as a "collaboration album", it comprises seven songs, with each track featuring a different artist. "Nakka" serves as the lead single for the album.
South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU released the single "Happening" on November 16, 2020. In a press release for the song member Lee Chan-hyuk hinted that it was a potential prelude to their next full-length album.[2][3] On June 27, 2021, South Korean news outlet Hankyung reported that the duo would be making a comeback in July, and had begun filming their new music video.[4][3] On the same day, their agency YG Entertainment confirmed that they were in the middle of filming a music video for a new track.[5][3] On July 12, the release of AKMU's new album titled Next Episode was announced for July 26.[3][6]
On July 14, the EP's track listing was published, confirming a total of seven tracks with seven different featured artists. The track list highlighted "Nakka" (낙하) featuring IU as the title track; other featuring artists included Lee Sun-hee, Zion.T, Beenzino, Choi Jung-hoon, Crush, and Sam Kim.[7] Two days later, a video trailer for the EP was released, with YG Entertainment announcing that each track on the album would be accompanied by its own music video.[8]
Ruby C from the British magazine NME gave the EP a five-star rating out of five, and said, "Much like a mountainous expedition, there are always risks that come with collaborating with others, but those in 'Next Episode' work for the better: each track brings out the strengths of the collaborators, while still effective in showcasing Su-hyun's flawless, pristine vocals and Chan-hyuk's adept lyrical storytelling."[10] Tamar Herman, writing for South China Morning Post, said that "[b]etween the captivating musicality and the lyrics' compelling themes", the album is "worth listening to again and again."[11]
EP's lead single "Nakka" debuted at number three on Gaon Digital Chart for the week ending July 31, 2021.[12] The following week, "Nakka" rose to the number one spot, becoming the duo's seventh number one single on the chart.[13] It debuted at number 16 on the Billboard'sK-pop 100,[14] and peaked at number one for the chart issued on August 14;[15] and remained atop for four consecutive weeks.[16]
^Kim, Soo-young (June 27, 2021). [단독] 악동뮤지션, 7월 컴백…'믿듣' 음원 최강자의 귀환 [[Exclusive] Akdong Musician to make comeback in July… The return of the strongest singer in 'Believe']. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Naver.
^Choo, Seung-hyun (June 27, 2021). [공식] '음원 강자' 악뮤 7월 컴백설···YG "신곡 뮤직비디오 촬영 중" [[Official] 'Song source strong' AKMU's July comeback rumor… YG "New song MV is being filmed"]. Sedaily (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Hyo-jeong (July 14, 2021). 이들이 모두 한 음반에…악뮤, 아이유·이선희 등 참여 협업앨범 [They're all on one album… AKMU, collaboration album with IU, Lee Sun-hee]. Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Naver.
^Hwang, Ji-young (July 16, 2021). AKMU, 블록버스터급 컴백 "전곡 오피셜 비디오 제작" [AKMU, blockbuster comeback "official video production of all songs"]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^2021년 31주차 Digital Chart [Digital Chart – Week 31 of 2021] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
^악뮤 '낙하', 빌보드 케이팝 100 차트 정상 등극 [Akmu's 'Nakka' topped the Billboard K-Pop 100 chart] (in Korean). August 10, 2021. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^빌보드 케이팝 100, 악뮤 '낙하' 4주 연속 1위 & 레드벨벳, 전소미 톱 10 진입 [Billboard K-Pop 100, Akmu's 'Nakka' 1st for 4 weeks in a row & Red Velvet, Jeon Somi enter Top 10] (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
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