As spring approaches, the warmth of the new season transposes students forwards into the summer break, allowing them to forget about the nearing final exams. Whee In’s “coco water” is the ultimate addition to the summer playlist, perfectly embodying the story of two lovers spending their summer together on the coast. 

The K-pop group Mamamoo, well-known for their best tracks “HIP”, “Décalcomanie”, and “Starry Night”, regularly unleash top-tier music as a quartet and as independent solo artists. Jung Whee In, the second youngest, continues to exceed the expectations that Mamamoo has set by adding fresh nuances, enhancing the lavishness of the group’s overall discography. Despite her instant cachet as a member of Mamamoo, this acoustic masterpiece is still a sleeper hit, with only about 1,178,000 streams on Spotify. Hidden behind the labels “K-pop” and “summery pop,” the song is secretly the wave that lifts the sand from beneath your feet and guides you into the oceanic realm for two minutes and thirty-eight seconds, with a tinge of R&B.

Although the song is sung Korean, it still accurately conveys the essence of the midsummer love story. The track begins with what one would imagine the sun’s rays glistening on the gentle ripples of the Mediterranean would sound like: a dreamy electric guitar riff and the artist’s soft humming to the main melody. Yet, what really makes this single so special, is the singer’s voice – it can heal a heart that wasn’t even broken to begin with, with its airy, sugary breeze hitting your ears. The fusion of the glimmering ocean riff and Whee In’s sweeter-than-honey vocals inspire even those who are love-naïve to live vicariously through the mellow tenderness of Whee In’s seasonal amour.

“coco water” presents the world in which two lovers have the freedom to enjoy their holiday stress-free, reminding the listener of how it is like when life feels like an opportunity to appreciate, not a torment to live through. Bottle Paik and Woo Sang Park, the main writers and composers of the song, put together a lyrical work to match Whee In’s story of an ideal summer fling: “Smiling all day until my cheeks hurt, it’s all so funny; I want to dive deeper into our summer journey.” While the English translation does not do justice to the original, the message is clear. Whee In’s incandescent escapade from everyday worries captures an entrancing yet temporary experience.

For most, the flavour of “coco water” may just be a reverie. However, it is safe to say that even in the current capricious spring, this masterpiece transports you into the balmy summer feeling of being among palm trees. While listening to the melody, you’re guaranteed to envision the gleaming crests of a wave meeting the coastline, taking you away from looming end-of-semester assessments.