It’s a tragic state for Ok-pop producers this technology, because the overwhelming majority of latest songs are collaborations between armies of creators, making distinct voices a lot tougher to highlight. The times of a “tremendous producer” with their very own devoted fanbase appear to be over, making this checklist nearly inconceivable to compile. Due to this, I’ve lower my traditional variety of honorees in half… and even then it was troublesome to search out 5 producers whose work actually felt idiosyncratic.
2025 Yr-Finish Masterpost
5. COLLAPSEDONE
Collapsedone has been key to JYP Leisure’s musical success for years now. This yr, he primarily labored with band Xdinary Heroes and helped solidify their sound. Nonetheless, what actually caught my eye was his involvement in RIIZE’s wonderful Ember To Photo voltaic. He doesn’t usually work with non-JYP artists, however he must discover this bombastic sound additional.
2025 Highlights:
Xdinary Heroes – ICU, Misplaced And Discovered, Love Tug Of Warfare, Lovely Life, Diamond, Supernatural
NMIXX – Spinnin’ On It, Excessive Horse
RIIZE – Ember To Photo voltaic
Yeji – Can’t Gradual Me, No
Twice – Heartbreak Avenue
4. KENZIE
Kenzie is a fixture on this countdown, remaining energetic yr after yr and actually holding issues down for SM Leisure. She’s branched out as properly, working with artists throughout the trade. Not every little thing she labored on was nice, however she’s at the very least partially liable for music I beloved from RIIZE, Hearts2Hearts, NCT Dream, Key and ZEROBASEONE. That’s a fairly good observe report!
2025 Highlights:
Hearts2Hearts – The Chase, Model, Focus, Flutter
RIIZE – Ember To Photo voltaic, Inside My Love
ZEROBASEONE – Blue, I Know U Know, Lengthy Means Again, Further
NCT Dream – BTTF, Chiller, Chilly Espresso
Key – Hunter, Glam, Infatuation
NCT Want – poppop, Soften Inside My Pocket, Colour, Cheat Code
Seulgi – Child, Not Child
Crimson Velvet – Irene & Seulgi – Tilt, Woman Subsequent Door
WayV – Your Tune
idntt – Storm
ITZY – DYT
aespa – Angel #48
Twice – ME+YOU
ALPHA DRIVE ONE – System
3. E.ONE (JUNG HO HYUN)
e.one is without doubt one of the solely “traditional” Ok-pop producers we now have left, and thank goodness he’s caught round. He has a really identifiable, uniquely Ok-pop sound that works properly for each boy and lady teams. This yr, he developed NouerA’s core sound, composing each of their title tracks.
2025 Highlights:
NouerA – N.I.N (New Is Now), N (Quantity Of Instances)
ME:I – That is ME:I, Muse
KickFlip – Like A Monster
Boys II Planet – How To Fly
2. JIN JEON (PRISMFILTER)
Many creators work on TWS’s songs, however one title at all times stands out to me. Jin Jeon has been related to a lot of the group’s finest 2025 work (in addition to co-composing my favourite track of 2024) and appears to convey an anthemic rock edge to their sound. He’s obtained an important ear for pop melody and a knack for crafting instrumentals that hit with actual punch.
2025 Highlights:
TWS – Countdown!, Fortunate To Be Beloved, Random Play, Go Again, Now Taking part in, Overdrive, Head Shoulders Knees Toes, Overthinking, Right here For You, Sizzling Blue Sneakers, Hajimemashite
Seventeen – HBD, Shake It Off, Harm, Jungle
Seventeen CxM – 5, 4, 3 (Fairly Girl)
Seventeen HxW – 96ers, Echo!
Baekho – Off-Street, By The Line
QWER – Expensive
1. EL CAPITXN
This was a very simple selection for primary. I imply, the man composed three songs in my high 15 of the yr! His foremost position was writing for AHOF, whose whole catalogue has been steered by EL CAPITXN to this point. Nonetheless, he additionally co-write NOWZ’s wonderful Everglow and standout b-sides for Yoon Sanha and ZEROBASEONE. His penchant for older Ok-pop sounds matches my style completely and he genuinely appears like one of many trade’s few visionaries for the time being.
2025 Highlights:
AHOF – Rendezvous, Pinocchio, The Little Star, The Universe, Cosmic Underdog, Incompleted, Every thing Is Love, Run At 1.5x Pace, By no means Lose You, The Sleeping Diary
NOWZ – Everglow, Day_And
Yoon Sanha – 6PM (No person’s Enterprise)
ZEROBASEONE – Merciless
idntt – You By no means Met, BOYtude, New
Seventeen – 99.9%
Beomgyu – Panic
