@Tài Nguyễn Tấn

Born in South Korea but classically trained in the UK, Yiruma has developed a unique musical voice with softly spoken, lilting piano music that blends the worlds of cinema, jazz, classical and pop. Here you can discover the most beautiful of these miniature piano works, including “River Flows in You” from his 2001 album <i>First Love</i>, and “Reminiscent”, one of his most enduring and popular pieces. This is piano music for the soul.

The stylish singer tells dramatic stories with catchy pop hooks.

Cigarettes After Sex distill the art of seduction into velvety dream-pop fantasies that are as evocative as the band’s name. On early songs like 2012’s “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” and their 2015 breakout hit, “Affection,” Texas-born frontman Greg Gonzalez veils his hopeless romanticism in moody erotic storytelling, intoning sweet nothings through a cloud of reverb-soaked guitar that lingers long into the night. But for all the smooth come-ons, there’s the inevitable comedown, too, as detailed on the softly swaying “Sunsetz” and “Apocalypse,” both minimalist in sound yet cinematic in scope.

Even when the mood dips, you can expect Dua Lipa’s euphoric pop to land back on the bright side eventually. After her 2017 self-titled debut established her as an outspoken, effortlessly cool face of pop’s future on airy tracks like “New Rules”, 2020’s <i>Future Nostalgia</i> and its funky calling card “Don’t Start Now” provided a uniting force of positivity at the dawn of global lockdowns. Her nonchalant confidence has made her a versatile collaborator with everyone from DJ superstar Calvin Harris (2018’s “One Kiss”) to reggaetón royalty J Balvin (2021’s “UN DIA [ONE DAY]”), and 2023’s <i>Barbie</i>-inspired hit “Dance the Night” built naturally upon her savvy disco revisionism. By the time of 2024’s <i>Radical Optimism</i>, Lipa had her absolute pick of creative partners—and she chose Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. While their team-up retains the glide and snap of classic dance pop on “Houdini” and “Illusion”, the lyrics probe deeper into her personal experience, bringing an unmistakable glint of honesty to diva-level pop radiance.

K-pop icons BTS are no strangers to big beats, sleek grooves and killer rhymes. But there’s also an unapologetically tranquil side to the septet—the group can go tender when they want on ballads and mood-setters that showcase delicate vocals but don’t cut back on their undeniable charisma. Explore their softer side with these relaxing, heartfelt gems.