DearALICE Bittersweetsummer CD

After making global waves with their breakout singles “Ariana” and “Sweet”, British-K-pop trailblazers dearALICE release their debut mini album, bitterSWEETsummer: a kaleidoscopic, emotionally rich pop project that captures the fleeting highs and heartbreaks of youth, fame, and summer love. Spanning seven tracks, bitterSWEETsummer is as much a sonic diary as it is a statement of intent — one that places dearALICE firmly at the center of pop’s global evolution. Brimming with contradictions and contrast, it reflects the experience of a summer that’s both euphoric and aching, intoxicating and uncertain. Just like the band itself, the record lives between worlds: British and Korean pop, emotional and anthemic, nostalgic and forward-facing. Formed through a groundbreaking collaboration between LA’s gamma., Korean powerhouse SM Entertainment, and Kakao Entertainment, dearALICE are rewriting what it means to be a modern boyband. Their 100-day training in Seoul — captured in BBC One’s Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience — led to history-making live debuts at SMTOWN LIVE in Seoul, Mexico City and Los Angeles. Now, with their biggest moment yet on the horizon — a homecoming performance at London’s iconic O2 on June 28 — the release of bitterSWEETsummer marks a new chapter. With Blaise Noon, Dexter Greenwood, Olly Quinn, James Sharp, and Reese Carter at the helm, dearALICE deliver more than just catchy pop. bitterSWEETsummer is a cohesive, creatively ambitious body of work heralding the band’s UK-pop genre — an exploration of youthful desire, uncertainty, and connection wrapped in world-class production. It’s the perfect soundtrack to a summer that’s already unforgettable.