Maps of Music

Chill Kill (2023)

Where the lyrics of Chill Kill take you, and where it was really made.

The album was first announced as What a Chill Kill, then renamed Chill Kill five days later.

Key places

Recorded at doobdoob Studio (2023)

Recording site doobdoob Studio — Credit data lists doobdoob Studio as a recording location for this album. The point marks the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at SM Studios, Seoul (2023)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album page names SM Studios in Seoul as a recording location. The point is placed at the city centre, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Private company studio, not open to visitors.

Album story

Overview

• Chill Kill: third Korean studio album and fourth overall by Red Velvet
• Released by SM Entertainment on November 13, 2023
• Contains ten tracks, including the lead single of the same name
• Lead single 'Chill Kill': pop dance song with heavy bass, string melodies, dreamy synths and bell rhythm
• Second track 'Knock Knock (Who's There?)': dance song with sharp string rhythm and mysterious bell sounds under heavy bass
• Third track 'Underwater': slow-tempo R&B vibe with heavy, groovy bass and dreamy synth rhythm
• Fourth track 'Will I Ever See You Again?': energetic beats and a synth drop
• Fifth track 'Nightmare': medium-tempo R&B with heavy string orchestration and a retro swing rhythm
• Sixth track 'Iced Coffee': minimal R&B ballad with emotional strings and a calm guitar rhythm
• Seventh track 'One Kiss': fast-paced groove dance song combining powerful bass and synth sounds with an addictive hook
• Eighth track 'Bulldozer': dance song with heavy, powerful bass and catchy sound effects
• Ninth track 'Wings': up-tempo R&B combining piano, bell and synth rhythm with jazz
• Tenth and final track 'Scenery': ballad highlighted by a gentle guitar melody

Background

• September 18, 2023: SM Entertainment announced a third studio album for November 2023
• October 18, 2023: album announced as What a Chill Kill, with release set for November 13
• Five days later: album renamed Chill Kill
• October 24: promotional schedule released
• October 25: mood sampler teasers for Seulgi, Irene, Joy and Yeri
• A day later: teaser video for Wendy
• November 6: teaser trailer released
• November 9: highlight medley teaser released, followed by the music video teaser for 'Chill Kill' a day later
• November 13: album released together with the music video for 'Chill Kill'

Recording

• Credit data lists KLANG STUDIO as the mixing location
• Credit data lists doobdoob Studio as a recording location
• Credit data lists SM Studios in Seoul as a recording location

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed and managed by SM Entertainment in South Korea.
• Debuted on August 1, 2014 with the single "Happiness" as a four-member group: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy.
• Yeri joined as the fifth member on March 11, 2015, with the release of the EP Ice Cream Cake.
• Their sound reflects the group name: a pop-centered "red" side with electronic and funk experiments, and a "velvet" side built on 90s-influenced R&B with ballad and hip hop elements.

Members

• Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri.
• Solo debuts: Wendy (Like Water, 2021), Joy (Hello, 2021), Seulgi (28 Reasons, 2022), Irene (Like a Flower, 2024).

Career

• Korean discography includes three studio albums, one reissue, one compilation, and thirteen EPs; several topped the Circle Album Chart.
• Singles "Red Flavor" and "Power Up" reached number one on the Gaon Digital Chart.
• Japanese releases include the EPs #Cookie Jar and Sappy, and the studio album Bloom (2022).
• Won the Golden Disc New Artist Award (2015), Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Female Group (2017), and Asia Artist Award for Song of the Year (2019).
• Performed in Pyongyang, North Korea in 2018 as part of an inter-Korean concert.
• Continue as a five-member group with Wendy and Yeri's exclusive contracts ended in 2025 but staying in group activities.

Overseas

• Named among the most popular K-pop groups by Time and Billboard.
• Featured in the animated film Trolls World Tour (2020).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard: ranked the album at number 22 on its list of The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2023
• Billboard: noted 'Chill Kill' and 'Knock Knock (Who's There?)' for harking back to the group's earlier works such as 'Bad Boy' and 'Psycho'
• Billboard: called 'Will I Ever See You Again?' a Technicolor dream woven with dancing synths
• Billboard: called 'Underwater' one of Red Velvet's most satisfyingly sultry moments
• Paste: praised the record's composition and musical styles, ranking it number 12 on its list of The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023
• NME: ranked 'Knock Knock (Who's There?)' at number 9 on its list of The best 25 K-pop songs of 2023

Records

• Circle Album Chart: debuted at number two in the chart issue dated November 19–25, 2023
• Circle Album Chart: rose to number one in the chart issue dated December 17–23, 2023, Red Velvet's thirteenth number-one album on that chart
• Billboard Japan Hot Albums: debuted at number 45 (November 15, 2023)
• Billboard Japan Top Download Albums: debuted at number 12
• Oricon Albums Chart: debuted at number 25; Digital Albums Chart: number 14 (November 27, 2023)
• Billboard World Albums (US): debuted at number 14 (November 25, 2023)
• Billboard Heatseekers Albums (US): debuted at number 14
• OCC UK Album Downloads Chart: debuted at number 33
• ARIA Top 20 Hitseekers Albums (Australia): debuted at number ten (November 20, 2023)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Red Velvet held a live event before the release, aimed at introducing the album and connecting with fans, streamed on YouTube, TikTok, Weverse and Idol Plus
• The album's music video for 'Chill Kill' came out on the release day
• The album name changed from What a Chill Kill to Chill Kill five days after the first announcement
• Billboard linked 'Knock Knock (Who's There?)' to the group's earlier hits 'Bad Boy' and 'Psycho'
• Track 'Scenery' is a ballad about filling each day together to build up precious memories over a long time
• The album was ranked number 12 on Paste's list of the 20 best K-pop albums of 2023

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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