Last time Sunmi graced us with a summer song at the start of the season, it came in the form of the glorious Pporappippam. That’s a high bar to match, and new single Heart Burn (열이올라요) doesn’t really try. Rather than offer another retro banger, the track takes a subdued, moody route – two descriptors I’ve used endlessly when it comes to the current slate of K-pop releases.

If anyone is going to pull off “subdued and moody,” it’s Sunmi. Her evocative vocal tone is tailor-made for this vibe. She’s one of the few idols who can make sultry sing-talk totally compelling, and Heart Burn gives her plenty of opportunity to leverage this strength. It’s a solid song, and I imagine many are going to love it. The guitar-driven instrumental keeps the energy consistent and engaging. Quite randomly, its central riff reminds me of Belinda Carlisle’s 1988 hit Circle in the Sand — just less punchy. The melody swirls around this production with a single-minded, hypnotic approach. There isn’t much differentiation between verses and choruses. The song just slides forward on its hazy summertime aesthetic.

However, it takes something very special for a mid-tempo like this to stick out for me. I can’t fault Heart Burn as a song, but I don’t see it becoming something I play as often as Sunmi’s past work. It’s almost too hesitant – too reliant on soft “ooh la la” hooks without the diversity of melody that might make the song pop. But, Sunmi’s performance elevates Heart Burn immensely. Her charisma is unmatched, and keeps the track from fading completely into the background.