If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers.

Flow Blow & Hui

Years active: 2017-present

Associated Acts: Pentagon, Wanna One, Monsta X, JBJ

Their sound: Simple, melodic refrains laid on top of repeated instrumental riffs. Generally complex arrangements with a variety of tempos and dynamics. Prominent use of thick, heavy synths and hard-hitting beats.

Why you should love them: Flow Blow are the newest production team to be featured here, having made their mainstream debut just this year. But they’ve quickly become ubiquitous, and show great potential to remain so. Though they don’t always work with Pentagon’s Hui, I chose to include him in the mix because their collaboration has resulted in some truly incredible work this year. Flow Blow and Hui have a unique composition style, melding trendiness with a sense of experimentation that results in diverse, dynamic arrangements. I can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Examples of their best work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJlsUe1DUnQ