┏━━━━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━━━━┓
-ˋˏ THE WRITING ˎˊ-
-ˋˏ STYLES OF PRISM ˎˊ-
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Heya! The other day I was binging MIDNIGHT's discography (as you do) when suddenly SUNSET by EQUINOX came up. I was bored, so I decided to scroll through the credits and saw GUNO's name in the composing credits and went ??? how the fuck did these sounds come from GUNO's brain?? The GUNO I know?? How was I not informed??

After that, I decided to do a little digging into the PRISM members' composition credits to see if there were any common themes...and if I'd missed anything else as mind-boggling as tsundere GUNO composing SUNSET. Here are my findings, please enjoy!

PRISM as a group has shared credits on the following songs:

mikrokosmos
pied piper
a song written easily
love talk (lyric credits only)

Not much to say here other than they either become ridiculously emotional or cheeky bastards when they write as a group. There's no in-between. I won't linger too long here because there's no real way to know how much or what parts each member wrote, but just know that technically all of the members have these four songs under their belts!

Let's proceed in order from least to most credits!

YANG has his name listed for 1 composition credit

mad city (co-composed w/ jason)

Honestly, this is unsurprising! YANG has done plenty of choreographing and other work for PRISM and not everyone has to be a songwriter.

Assuming he wrote his own raps in MAD CITY, YANG's use of rhythm and perspective is so interesting?? Perhaps it was just because he was still learning Korean when he wrote MAD CITY (the song was written pre-debut), but YANG's use of choppy sentences and simple rhyme is both dizzying and jarring all at once. It robs you of your breath and leaves you dazed, switching topics and perspective quicker than I thought possible. A welcome distraction from JISUNG's own endless and emotive flow, YANG's lyrics are angry and passionate and his delivery is so much more heartfelt when he writes it himself?? I'd love to see more of him in writing credits, especially alongside some of PRISM's more intellectual songwriters–I think they could strike a wonderful balance if a good match is made.

Next up is JAEHYUNG with 6 credits.

ullalala: poisoning
dead or alive
trust my love
highway to heaven (lyric credits only)
jindo arirang (arrangement credits only)
fever (lyric credits only, co-written w/ jason)

JAEHYUNG's lyrics just SOUND good. He has an advantage over many PRISM members in that he was actually born IN Korea and has been surrounded by these sounds all his life; he has an innate sense of when phrases sound their best. The way JAEHYUNG's vowel choices melt together in a song is just so perfect, and boy does he know how to use it to his advantage.

Listen to the chorus of ULLALALA: POISONING, for example, and just HEAR the way the diction wraps itself around the instrumental. he writes for the composition: he doesn't build melody around lyrics, rather, it seems to me that he builds his lyrics around melodies.

JAEHYUNG's lyrics are sensual and slick, he does not hesitate to go down the deep end and absolutely will pull everyone else down with him.

Sometimes JAEHYUNG's lyrics lack form and structure, but he usually gets away with it by underwriting and letting heavy synths and bass do the talking instead. Take, for example, DEAD OR ALIVE. He never overwrites, but sometimes the lyrics don't have any shape. He more than makes up for it with his inter-line rhythm choices: chopping off words and phrases in a way that makes them sound ragged and sharp, embodying the overarching message of the song. Either way, the artistic quality of his writing is never lost, no matter the genre or content.

JAEHYUNG heavily refined his writing by the time TRUST MY LOVE came around. His rhymes became refined, but not predictable. Compared to the simple similes in DEAD OR ALIVE, TRUST MY LOVE took the shapely quality of ULLALA: POISONING and catchy hook practice of DEAD OR ALIVE to craft a catchy but still very JAEHYUNG song. His imagery improved massively in that song as well! JAEHYUNG's lyrics are slick but upfront: his narrator tells you exactly what he'll do, but then spit beautiful metaphors that have him contradicting himself. JAEHYUNG writes to explore his feelings, he writes to understand, and I respect that massively!

Next up is KYU with 8 songs credited to him!

PRISM -
moscow moscow
tattoo (co-composed w/ guno)
the truth untold (co-composed w/ ethan)
valkyrie (co-composed w/ j.y studios + mde)

SOLO -
un village
goodbye (co-composed w/ ko jinhyo)
losing you (co-composed w/ yeo ahri)

ANARCHY -
no diggity (co-composed w/ guno + jason)

KYU knows how to set a scene. His writing is so ambient (that's a word right?), it's like mood lighting?? He writes as if he's talking to an old friend, but with a driving, rhythmic prose. I think he gained a lot from working with other composers like ko jinhyo and yeo ahri, allowing him space to search for that sweet spot between sentimental and catchy, while also having a supporter to guide him back on track in case he went too off the rails.

KYU brings a twist of old soul into the studio with him with a hushed, elegant style that I don't see matched in any of the other members. His default lyricism is all rich tones and gold trim, which is why I'm unsurprised to see his name stamped on the likes of TATTOO, THE TRUTH UNTOLD, and VALKYRIE.

KYU brings a personal touch to traditional pop songwriting–he's stylistically very distinct, but we rarely get solo credits from him. He has been more focused on choreographing as of recent, so I definitely don't blame him for the lack of new writing content, but I'd love to see how his style has evolved after working with so many other composers–his own members included. Working with others has allowed KYU to bring a more modern flair to his writing; he began to experiment outside of his sometimes too-deep and theoretical prose.

It might be surprising to some people that KYU is a more collaborative writer than JAEHYUNG, but I think it makes sense. KYU is open to learning throughout the process, as long as the final product is perfect. He takes his time to craft the perfect song, even if it means giving up some of his original vision. JAEHYUNG, on the other hand, is stubbornly determined to learn through trial and error. He's okay with little inconsistencies in his songs as long as the lyrics are raw and honest. He throws his feelings on a page and then hands it to the world; that way, every time he repeats the process, it becomes a little more refined and he grows in the long term. I think both are valid processes, but it's interesting to see the differences in PRISM's growing songwriters!

Now we get to PRISM's official songwriting line!

We start with ETHAN, who has 14 songs to his name.

PRISM -
bad idea
the truth untold (co-composed w/ kyu)
you can't hold my heart
2 fast (lyric credits only, co-written w/ jason)
not for sale

SOLO -
bump bump (co-composed w/ ryu subin)
zombie pop
dope lovers
movie (co-composed w/ 88rising)
cereal (co-composed w/ jason)
love
summertime
love die young

ANARCHY -
i&credible

So...ETHAN American pop debut when? No, but seriously, with his catchy hooks, feel-good melodies, and high replay quality ETHAN would absolutely thrive in the western pop industry. Even with songs like NOT FOR SALE and I&CREDIBLE which are arguably more mainstream kpop, ETHAN brings his signature fresh and clean-cut style that's vastly different from the heavy instrumentals and glittery after-effects we see so often these days.

Contrary to his position in the group dynamic, ETHAN as a songwriter seems to balance out some of his members' more dark, fierce, and sentimental instrumentals with bouncier and smoother beats. That's not to say he can't do sentimental (ie. LOVE DIE YOUNG) but for the most part, even when he wants to tackle more emotional or darker themes, he turns them into vibey, chill tracks rather than intense ballads. It's a refreshing take for sure, and certainly interesting when juxtaposed with the rest of his members.

I think ETHAN tried to fit the commercial kpop mold for a bit at the beginning of PRISM's career? And when joined by GUNO or KYU he can pull it off, but I don't think he has a natural affinity for that style. Lyrically, ETHAN is usually very straightforward. He doesn't waste time with pretty metaphors and deeper meanings. I mean, look at these:

"And I'm waiting for your arms to fall, you can't hold my heart no more" – YOU CAN'T HOLD MY HEART

"I think I might just leave the world, and go run into my mind" – ZOMBIE POP

"You're smiling, I'm sorry...She's tired and you're tired" – DOPE LOVERS

He's clear with his intentions, and it's an entirely different type of storytelling. ETHAN pulls from emotions he's either experienced or seen in movies, books, etc, and then successfully builds entire worlds within his songs. You can watch (or rather...listen to) relationships crumble, starry-eyed honeymoon phases commence, and pining ensue throughout ETHAN's vast discography. Each one of his songs pinpoints a specific point in time and then fleshes out an entire relationship, context, point of view, and narration style. From the outwardly cold boyfriend to the broken-hearted high school sweetheart, ETHAN does it all, and with style too.

I absolutely did NOT forget ETHAN's competency as a composer on top of his already fabulous lyricism. He arguably writes the catchiest hooks out of all the PRISM members and I catch myself humming the melody of one of his songs at the most random of times. He's a fresh, talented, and sophisticated writer, and I'm excited to see where this style takes him later in his career.

Next up is GUNO with 15 songs!

PRISM -
obsession
shadow (co-composed w/ jd)
monday to sunday
together at home
tattoo (co-composed w/ kyu)
calling your name
black swan
back all black (co-composed w/ mde, lyrics co-written w/ jason)
butterfly effect

EQUINOX -
highlight
sunset (composition only)
strawberry moon (co-composed w/ JD)

ANARCHY -
no diggity (co-composed w/ kyu + jason)
night air (co-composed w/ jd)
kingdom come

GUNO has the broadest range of emotional expression in his songs out of all the PRISM members (funny because he's literally the most emotionally constipated person I've ever seen). From dark, mysterious, electric songs like OBSESSION to light and bright MONDAY TO SUNDAY, GUNO's experience really shines, his comparative maturity allowing him to draw on several different emotions to produce diverse sounds and distinct messages.

GUNO is the standard for a kpop composer: adaptable composition style, lyrics that are just vague enough to connect to a variety of experiences, and an ability to draw the audience in and keep them captured for the whole song. He can do weird, he can do fun, he can do nostalgic, literally, it's difficult to find something he can't do.

I feel like GUNO has a greater affinity for composing over lyric writing. I mean, look at all the heavy instrumental choruses he's done (OBSESSION, SHADOW, HIGHLIGHT, BLACK ALL BLACK) and even when it comes to songs with vocally explosive choruses (TATTOO, SUNSET), GUNO tends to focus more on the auditory effect the melody has on the listener, rather than trying to cram several words into the space. His choruses are less catchy, but more memorable if that makes sense? They always come in with swooping dramatics and are tailored perfectly for whoever sings them, unable to be replicated by anyone else.

Take the first chorus of SUNSET, for example, can anyone sing that first line like SEUL and SONG do?? No. GUNO knows that, and his attention to detail and custom tailoring of songs is admirable. Also, I don't know why it makes me emotional that every time GUNO composes for PRISM he includes both a high tone rap for JASON and a low tone one for YANG </3 idk why it gets to me so much but it's probably because when non-PRISM members compose for the group they usually only include space for one or the other. GUNO wants to showcase all of his members' talents and it shows. I don't know man, but music just seems like his love language to me.

(Can you tell that he's my bias? You can probably tell.)

One other thing I wanted to touch on is GUNO's deep understanding of concept and ambiance. Whatever music he puts out always matches the overall vibe of the album while remaining distinct and refreshing. His songs are always the ones that tie everything else together, bringing variety but cohesiveness all at once. GUNO is a true leader in the way he always seems to be looking out for these details, proven by the fact that he has such a deep understanding of EQUINOX's and ANARCHY's sounds despite not even being in those groups. He'd make a great director one day, just saying.

More than half of ETHAN's credits were from his solo album, and nearly half of JASON's credits are from his solo album as well. GUNO's written 9 songs for PRISM, JISUNG has 8, and ETHAN has 5. I'm just saying, this group is mighty impressive.

On to the finale!

JASON with...drumroll please...a whopping 21 songs. 21.

PRISM -
wow
red thread
what you wanted
mad city (co-composed w/ yang)
falling petals
fever (lyrics co-written w/ jaehyung)
2 fast (co-composed w/ 88rising, lyrics co-written w/ ethan)
back all black (lyric credits only, co-written w/ guno)

SOLO -
waterfalls
gotcha (co-composed w/ ryu subin)
action!
cupid (co-composed w/ jinyoung)
martini blue
100 degrees (co-composed w/ rich brian)
rebound
sweater (co-composed w/ hwang ryuji)
no rescue needed

IRENIC -
girls (composition only)
put it straight

ANARCHY -
no diggity (co-composed w/ guno + kyu)

OTHER -
cereal (co-composed w/ ethan)

I really can't believe that JASON's composer debut was with WOW. Like?? JISUNG?? I know GUNO's was OBSESSION but that's because he's GUNO.

On to more serious matters, here's a collection of first verses by HWANG JISUNG (you can skip this part if you want but...I highly recommend you get a look at this):

"In a blue color
The water spreading under my feet reflects the moon above
The watery mist
Its thick fog covers me in an instant and obscures everything
I'm alone in the dark
Even if I've been running for a long time
From afar I can hear you
A faint voice, but it must be yours
...
When I open my eyes, in the end I'm alone
My eyes get just a bit teary
My heart empties out with nothing remaining
Can you let me hear what you wanted?"
– WHAT YOU WANTED

"Close your eyes on this empty road.
Wandering as the wind blows
Will I hear you? Call my name.
As I walk in memories.
You will find out, it's all fate
I'll follow the thread, wandering in this maze.
Even if it takes a while. I will get you
Don't worry, you and me, for us it's fate"
– RED THREAD

"Eyes like ice, glaring red
Breaking me in two, shaking me
Standing in front of your throne
A fire burns inside me
What I gotta do, my burning hands
Reach out to you but I cannot have it
I cannot touch you, never
But I'm drawn to you
The more I hurt the more I want you"
– FEVER

"Love of mine, ever so beautiful
Turns white and falls to the ground
I look back and all of a sudden
I'm left behind all alone
Bewitched by your scent I embraced you
Awaken from it I'm left with nothing but cuts from thorns
Once a beautiful flower
You left me with nothing but a flowery language of delusion"
– FALLING PETALS

"Waiting for your ring all day, hearing your crying
'Til you fall asleep, you were mine
Addicted your scent, chasing your trace
I'm just one of them, you weren't mine"
– REBOUND

"Just say no
Just tell me that you don't love me
Like my heart is going to leave
Like I'm going to hate you

Just say yes
No, I mean tell me you're in love
Just like the good times
Can't you love me now?

Your eyes give me an answer
I'm just sighing as if I'm sorry
That's how it collapses
I'm falling apart

I'm gonna stop time with you
But I can't see the future I drew
It breaks like a dream
It's all broken"
– PUT IT STRAIGHT

...Yeah. And those are just the first verses, don't even get me started on the way he writes bridges...

JISUNG's lyrics and his compositions are so emotional. He's slowly perfecting the art of tugging at the heartstrings and ooo  boy once he reaches his peak potential it's over for us. I always see SPECTRUM on my tl ranting about how emotional JISUNG's songs are, and I always agreed just based on the way they sounded, but after reading the lyrics I understand so much better. He's written songs in every font of sad imaginable: regretful, bitter, hopeless, hysterical, trapped, the list goes on. JISUNG's explored so many different perspectives on the same subject of being left behind, I find it so interesting.

There's always a glimmer of mystery even when JISUNG tells us what his song is about. There's a touch of fantasy and surrealism in a lot of his songs (RED THREAD, FEVER, FALLING PETALS) either through the reference of old folk tales (the red thread of fate in RED THREAD), dramatic imagery (thrones, crowns, fire, and ice galore in FEVER), or references to literature (beauty and the beast imagery in FALLING PETALS). The way he writes is just so effortlessly beautiful and sometimes he pairs such deep emotional lyrics with a slick EDM track and completely alters the vibe! He straddles the line between ballad and dance track in several of his songs, and crosses that line whenever he deems fit without it sounding awkward or out of place.

Now, I don't mean to box JISUNG in and make it seem like he writes one style and one style alone, because that's just not true! He's written incredibly flirtatious, fun music and has some of the coolest rhyme schemes and most fun wordplay I've seen (ie. most of his solo album and CEREAL). It probably comes with being a rapper, but JISUNG's ability to take advantage of every beat and spin rhymes out of thin air without it being too cheesy just blows my mind.

ACTION! is such a fun song, and I definitely see some of ETHAN's influence there (as well as in MARTINI BLUE...and WOW...and NO RESCUE NEEDED, ETHAN and JASON are literally brothers). However, I also see GUNO's influence in songs like GIRLS, PUT IT STRAIGHT, or GOTCHA. He's really learning from both of them, just like they're learning from him. With both of these influences, I can really see JASON succeeding in whichever industry he chooses to go with. We saw him and ETHAN have the time of their lives at HEAD IN THE CLOUDS, but we've also seen JISUNG reaching out to work on songs for other MIDNIGHT artists under GUNO's guidance. Honestly, for now, I'm just interested in seeing how his music grows. JISUNG is such a multidimensional artist with the ability to write in so many different ways, I'm just eager to see what sort of stuff he puts out next.

–

Over the course of this video, I began building connections between different members and their writing styles, so I thought I could give you a couple of groupings that I personally would love to see work together more often.

1) ETHAN and JAEHYUNG: Underrated. Both of them have the ability to write slick, jazzy, and vibey music so why not do it together?? Why do you deprive us of this pairing??

2) GUNO and KYU: I feel like GUNO brings a more free, modern writing style out of KYU and I want to see more of it! TATTOO was great, NO DIGGITY was great, give us more!

3) ETHAN and JASON: I mean they've given us a lot but please don't stop. The music that comes out of these two is so distinctly western and bouncy and fun mm mm mmmm ETHAN, make JISUNG write happier songs with you please and thank you.

4) GUNO and YANG: Oh they'd conflict so much but it would be amazing. Please give it to us. YANG's dizzying and powerful style compared to GUNO's meticulous structure UGH I just want to see what sort of music they'd make.

5) JAEHYUNG and JASON: I mean...they gave us FEVER...do I really have to say more? I don't know, they just get along so well and write so well and bring out different sides to each other in writing?? JAEHYUNG drags seductive, catchy lyrics out of JASON, and JASON in turn pushes JAEHYUNG for deeper meanings in his lyrics.

Collaboration! I love it!

Welp! That's the end of my 30-minute rant! If you really got this far, thank you so much and I hope you enjoyed and maybe learned something. Please leave your own thoughts and observations about the members' writing styles below! I'd love to read them.

Remember, stay hydrated, wash your hands, and don't catch a cold. See you...at some point. If I ever get to a normal uploading schedule again...Peace!

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