This is deforestedmusic’s The Quarter Report. Every quarter, we present the newest trends, innovations and the top records that defined the past 3 months.

Enjoy the lists for the top Artists, Albums, Songs, B-sides, Music Videos, Performances, TrackScore of the quarter. Plus, a fun new prediction segment, which projects Award Season nominees (only for Daesangs) for the year. Enjoy!

Overview

Well, Q1 2021 was a great blast in the realm of music. Now that it is over, I seem to be more ecstatic and more nervous about the next quarter. Korean music thought this was the great time to reveal the real definition of pop music at the highest value. But neither did Japanese music back down.

In the land of Korea, Beautiful Beautiful wrapped the whole quarter with an astounding impact I’ve never seen since MIROH. SHINee killed the game both in sales and in critical acclaim. Garnering a lot of praise even from Western critics. (G)I-DLE, DREAMCATCHER and IU let us see what girl power and empowerment meant in an age still full of discrimination.

In Japan, My War let us bring a new renaissance of music. What it really meant and what its limits were? Shinsei Kamattechan alongside Wadachi ruled the scene with their personally creative pieces of masterwork that truly transcended music to its soul. To the tiny little particles in the galaxy.

To sum it up, this list that I’m about to present to you are what I think shaped the whole quarter. Not just in sales, not just in quality but in musical, lyrical and transcendental achievement. Not really looked upon by many. Q1 2021 was already a great start in a year where we all ascend from the depths of the pandemic. I’m giving the quarter a Strong standing. I hope the same happens to the next three months.

Quarter Rating: 74

Top Artists

Honorable Mentions:

SE SO NEON

Baekhyun

ATEEZ

1. SHINee

2. IU

3. SixTONES

4. (G)I-DLE

5. Dreamcatcher

6. ONF

7. Shinsei Kamattechan

8. Golden Child

9. CIX

10. Song Gain

Top Albums

Honorable Mentions:

LILAC

Dystopia: Road to Utopia

24 Part 2

1. 1ST

2. HELLO Chapter Ø. Hello, Strange Dream

3. Don’t Call Me

4. YES.

5. ONF:MY NAME

Top Songs

Honorable Mentions:

Rollin’

Abittipsy

KILLA

So Beautiful* – this song by DPR IAN was released last year. I was hooked to this song recently. So I want like to ward it a special citation here. Please listen to this masterpiece.

1. My War

Japanese, Experimental – Produced and Written by Noko (Pony Canyon)

2. Cinema

Korean, R&B – Produced by Stylaz Fuego; Written by danke, Anthony Pavel, Mitchell Rose, Kaelyn Behr, MZMC, Jay Kim (C9 Entertainment)

3. Jayu

Korean, Alternative Rock – Produced and Written by So!YoON! (POCLANOS)

4. Dream

Korean, Traditional Pop – Produced by MC Mong; Written by DE VIEW, EastWest, Duble Sidekick, MC MONG (Pocketdol)

5. Beautiful Beautiful

Korean, Pop – Produced by Hwang Hyun; Written by Hwang Hyun & Wyatt (WM Entertainment)

6. Moon Rider

Korean, R&B – Produced by Boombastic, OUOW; Written by BDC (Brand New Music)

7. WADACHI

Japanese, Rock – Produced and Written by KENTA, MOMIKEN (Sony)

8. LILAC

Korean, Pop – Produced by IU, N!ko, Woong Kim, Lim Su-ho; Written by IU, Dr.JO, N!ko, Woong Kim, Lim Su-ho (Kakao/EDAM)

9. Burn It

Korean, Electronic – Produced and Written by 13, Lee Jung-yeop (Woolim)

10. Tail

Korean, Pop – Produced by SUNMI and FRANTS (Abyss)

Top B-sides

Honorable Mentions:

Find You

PLAYER

Flu

1. Take Me Home

Artist: ATEEZ

2. The Realist

Artist: ONF

3. Reach out your hands

Artist: DRIPPIN

4. Breathe

Artist: Golden Child

5. Young

Artist: CIX

Top Music Videos

Honorable Mentions:

KILLA

On The Ground

Nerves

1. Thank U

Produced by: Gye Myung-hoon; Directed by: Kim Hyun-soo (U-KNOW)

2. Paranoia

Produced by: Na Hanul; Directed by: Yoon Rima, Jang Dongju (Kang Daniel)

3. Beautiful Beautiful

Produced and Directed by: SUNNY VISUAL (ONF)

4. Jayu

Produced and Directed by: Lee Suho; Additional Footage by Kang Moonsik, Song Eunhoo, N’Ouir (SE SO NEON)

5. Burn It

Produced by: Lee Haejin; Directed by: Hong Wonki, HYEYA (Golden Child)

6. Cinema

Produced by: Lee Kwangjin; Directed by: Kim Wooje (CIX)

7. Hwaa

Produced by: Joo Yohan, Kenny Choi; Directed by: Beomjin [(G)I-DLE]

8. Tail

Produced by: Joo Yohan, Kenny Choi; Directed by: Beomjin (U-KNOW)

9. Lose

Produced by: Kim Mincheol; Directed by: TANKBOY (WONHO)

10. Excalibur

Produced by: Ron*; Directed by: Lee Sagan (KINGDOM)

* means former BIGFLO member

Top Performances

Honorable Mentions:

IYAH

Lose

KILLA

1. My War

2. Wadachi

3. Dream

4. Universe

5. Bokuga Bokuja Naimtaida

6. Jian Zhen Jiang Hu

7. Beautiful Beautiful

8. Lilac

9. Don’t Call Me

10. Jayu

Top TrackScores

1. Beautiful Beautiful

Score: 95 (100% critic recommended) – Universal Acclaim

2. Breathe

Score: 92 (96% critic recommended) – Universal Acclaim

3. Lose

Score: 90 (98% critic recommended) – Universal Acclaim

4. MOON RIDER

Score: 89 (95% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

5. Burn It

Score: 89 (94% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

6. LILAC

Score: 88 (93% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

7. Tail

Score: 87 (92% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

8. Cinema

Score: 87 – (91% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

9. Young Blood

Score: 87 (90% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

10. Feel Like

Score: 86 (92% critic recommended) – Widespread Acclaim

Projected Award Season Nominees (Part 1)

Welcome to the part 1 of our 3 part prediction series where I predict the top nominees for this year’s biggest events in deforestedmusic. Golden Tunes, Music Critics’ Circle, Independent Noise, Oracle Awards and the Insider Awards.

Record of the Year

Golden Tunes (Media)

  1. Don’t Call Me by SHINee
  2. Hwaa by (G)I-DLE
  3. Beautiful Beautiful by ONF
  4. LILAC by IU
  5. Rollin’ by BRAVE GIRLS

Dark Horse: On the Ground by ROSE

Music Critics’ Circle (Critics)

  1. Beautiful Beautiful by ONF
  2. My War by Shinsei Kamattechan
  3. Jayu by SE SO NEON
  4. Dream by Song Gain
  5. Rollin’ by Brave Girls
  6. Don’t Call Me by SHINee
  7. Lose by Wonho
  8. Burn It by Golden Child
  9. Moon Rider by BDC
  10. Celebrity by IU

Dark Horse: Hwaa by (G)I-DLE

Independent Noise (Independent Labels)

Eligibility: January 1 – December 10, 2021

  1. Beautiful Beautiful by ONF
  2. Breathe by Golden Child
  3. Jayu by SE SO NEON
  4. Dream by Song Gain
  5. Rollin’ by Brave Girls
  6. Hwaa by (G)I-DLE
  7. MOON RIDER by BDC
  8. Tail by Sunmi

Dark Horse: Lose by Wonho

Oracle Awards (Japanese Industry)

Eligibility: January 1 – December 31, 2021

  1. My War by Shinsei Kamattechan
  2. Wadachi by SPYAIR
  3. Universe by Official HIGE DANdism
  4. Bokuwa Bokuo Sukininaru by Nogizaka46
  5. Bokuga Bokuja Naimtaida by SixTONES
  6. Aria of Life by Wagakki Band
  7. Backwards by Daichi Miura
  8. Grandeur by Snow Man

Dark Horse: Birthday by DISH//

Insider Awards (Korean Industry)

Eligibility: January 1 – December 17, 2021

  1. Beautiful Beautiful by ONF
  2. Don’t Call Me by SHINee
  3. Rollin’ by BRAVE GIRLS
  4. Hwaa by (G)I-DLE
  5. LILAC by IU
  6. On The Ground by ROSE
  7. Why Why Why by iKON
  8. Cinema by CIX

Dark Horse: Odd Eye by DREAMCATCHER

Album of the Year

Golden Tunes

  1. SHINee
  2. IU
  3. DREAMCATCHER
  4. ATEEZ
  5. Chung Ha

Music Critics’ Circle

  1. SHINee
  2. Baek Yerin
  3. Golden Child
  4. U-KNOW
  5. ONF
  6. DREAMCATCHER
  7. (G)I-DLE
  8. YUKIKA
  9. IU
  10. Chung Ha

Insider Awards

  1. SHINee
  2. Baek Yerin
  3. IU
  4. ATEEZ
  5. DREAMCATCHER
  6. (G)I-DLE
  7. ONF
  8. Golden Child

Song of the Year

Music Critics’ Circle

  1. My War by Shinsei Kamattechan
  2. Beautiful Beautiful by ONF
  3. Coin by IU
  4. Jayu by SE SO NEON
  5. So Beautiful by DPR IAN
  6. In Dreams by MC The Max
  7. Hwaa by (G)I-DLE
  8. Dream by Song Gain
  9. Tail by SUNMI
  10. Lose by WONHO 

Dark Horse: Illusion of Dreams by WE ARE THE NIGHT

Oracle Awards

  1. My War by Shinsei Kamattechan
  2. Wadachi by SPYAIR
  3. Universe by Official HIGE DANdism
  4. Kaibutsu by YOASOBI
  5. dawn by LiSA
  6. Bokuga Bokuja Naimtaida by SixTONES
  7. Birthday by DISH//
  8. Hoshio Aogu by Masaki Suda

Insider Awards

  1. Beautiful Beautiful by ONF
  2. On The Ground by ROSE
  3. Coin by IU
  4. HWAA by (G)I-DLE
  5. Dream by Song Gain
  6. In Dreams by MC The Max
  7. So Beautiful by DPR IAN
  8. Jayu by SE SO NEON

Dark Horse: Tail by SUNMI

Artist of the Year

Golden Tunes

  1. SHINee
  2. IU
  3. BTS
  4. Chung Ha
  5. (G)I-DLE

Music Critics’ Circle

  1. ONF
  2. SHINee
  3. BTS
  4. Baek Yerin
  5. IU
  6. SE SO NEON
  7. Golden Child
  8. Chung Ha
  9. KINGDOM
  10. SUNMI

Insider Awards

  1. BTS
  2. ONF
  3. SHINee
  4. Golden Child
  5. IU
  6. ROSE
  7. DREAMCATCHER
  8. (G)I-DLE

Best New Artist

Golden Tunes

Eligibility: November 9, 2020 – October 29, 2021

  1. ENHYPEN
  2. ROSE
  3. aespa
  4. MIRAE
  5. Purple Kiss

Music Critics’ Circle

Eligibility: November 16, 2020 – November 12, 2021

  1. ENHYPEN
  2. MIRAE
  3. KINGDOM
  4. aespa
  5. ROSE
  6. Purple Kiss
  7. Rolling Quartz
  8. TRI.BE
  9. HYBE New Girl Group
  10. THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE

Independent Noise (Independent Labels)

  1. THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE
  2. KINGDOM
  3. Purple Kiss
  4. Rolling Quartz
  5. TRI.BE
  6. T1419
  7. B.I
  8. LILI

Insider Awards

  1. ROSE
  2. MIRAE
  3. KINGDOM
  4. HYBE New Girl Group
  5. THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE
  6. Purple Kiss
  7. Rolling Quartz
  8. T1419