I’ve long been fascinated by the story of Korean girl group The Ark. The girls debuted in the spring of 2015 with the very strong Light, but disbanded shortly after due to company troubles outside of their control. This is not a particularly unusual story within the k-pop industry. Rookie groups come and go all of the time. Yet, something about these girls inspired ongoing fascination. Over the years, fans have continued to lament their sudden demise. I’ve found this dedication surprising — not because the group doesn’t deserve it, but because it only took one song to secure this level of adoration.

Of course, Light was pretty darn good, setting expectations high for the debut of KHAN. This new duo is comprised of former Ark members Euna Kim and Jeon Minju, fresh off their stints on The Unit/Unpretty Rapstar and K-Pop Star, respectively. Take this untapped potential and wrap it up in a song composed by blockbuster producers Black Eyed Pilseung and you’ve got music worth waiting for. It’s a shame, then, that I’m Your Girl largely fails to ignite.

I’m happy that BEP gave the girls a more mature piece of pop/r&b, as their vocal color probably wouldn’t have been as successful on a quirky, Twice-like track. I just wish that I’m Your Girl pushed a bit at the seams to become as memorable as the duo’s story. Its chill, laid-back vibe feels right on trend, and allows for some pretty impressive vocal interplay. The chorus has a sweet lilt to it, underlined by faint traces of tropical percussion. But, stacked up against Light, this feels pretty forgettable.

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