From the album teaser to album cover, handlewithcare is everything you envisioned an indie soul/R&B album to sound and look like. It has the childlike aesthetics, the amateur textures and creative absurdity that is the stop-motion music video. In fact, the refreshing visuals and ZIN CHOI’s charismatic voice is what makes this EP so special and uniquely hers.
The one-minute opening track ‘“Instrument” features an acappella intro by ZIN CHOI herself, while the nonchalant topline sings corny lines like “I’m a flipping instrument” and “I can mimic a kicks and drums.”
The instrumental comes in the latter part but does not match ZIN CHOI’s deadpan delivery whatsoever, yet somehow the harmonies in the background sound really satisfying to the ear, creating this eccentric but catchy piece, perfect for setting up the EP, a collective of delicate and soft sounds that requires us to indeed — listen with care.
Then we have “2016.” Title track of handlewithcare. The track features a revolving, muted early 2000s disco-house dancehall beat, ZIN CHOI’s vocal topline auto-tuned against a rather fast-paced but subtle drum and bass. The chorus is addictive, but the best part is the talk-rapping verses which feel intimate and scratch your ear (in a good way).
“2016” has an interesting concept as it really makes us think — how ZIN CHOI, a 17-year-old singer-songwriter sings about nostalgia and the time before AI. As ZIN CHOI says, “This is why we need to feel nostalgic again and look back on what we valued in the past.”
Both “elf on the shelf” and “ROCK” are atmospheric, moody bedroom-pop with some rich production. Especially with “ROCK”‘s last chorus which features an extended session of layered harmonies, guitar riffs, and a heavy bassline. “elf on the shelf” swims in a bittersweet minor chord, while ZIN CHOI’s breathy vocals breeze through the humming woodwind percussion in the background. The melody is beautifully sad. I specifically love the fairy tale quality to the storytelling,
actions set free
i’m your favorite action doll
glitter coded fairy dust
look don’t touch the magic
let be dust
– elf on the shelf
“New Recording 285” is a 11-second purely dialogue from ZIN CHOI, ending the EP on a silly little voice note for the receiver to call me back, perfectly wraps up the magical journey that is “handlewithcare.” One could say the EP resembles that of a children’s book, it is simple, magical but eerily beautiful in its own way.
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Written by Jammy Chun for Korean Indie.