BABYMONSTER Slows Down With 'DESERVE,' a Retro Ballad Built for Live Vocals

BABYMONSTER released "DESERVE," a pop ballad, on Friday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m. KST (midnight ET), YG Entertainment said, according to The Korea Times. The digital single is the group's first new music in roughly four months, following June's "Sugar Honey Ice Tea," Yonhap reported.

The label describes lyrical synthesizer melodies and a retro mood beneath lyrics that look back on old memories and wish a former partner happiness. The song builds in emotional intensity toward its chorus and breaks from the hip-hop and dance tracks that have shaped the group's stages, The Korea Times reported.

YG chief producer Yang Hyun-suk previewed the turn on the company's official blog, calling it a slower track that still hits harder than anything the group had released before, Yonhap reported.

The members pitched it as a step forward, in comments reported by allkpop:

"'DESERVE' is a song in a style we have never shown before. You will be able to see a more mature side of us than before," BABYMONSTER said. "We practiced while focusing on the flow of emotions rather than the high and low notes," the members added. "It is a song that suits autumn, so we hope you listen to it comfortably whenever you need a change of mood. Please give it a lot of love."

The rollout ran on teasers: a "D-1" poster at midnight KST on Oct. 22, allkpop reported, then a D-DAY image of the members in red light, their expressions held in check. The music video leans on cinematic visuals, linked character storylines and steadily escalating effects, according to The Korea Times.

The single arrives mid-tour. The group's second world tour, "2026-27 BABYMONSTER WORLD TOUR [CHOOM]," covers 31 shows in 18 cities across five continents, The Korea Times reported. YG also said a new BABYMONSTER album is in the works for early next year, Yonhap reported.

The first stages come this weekend: MBC's Show! Music Core today, Oct. 24, and SBS' Inkigayo on Sunday, Oct. 25. The members will sing on handheld microphones to put their live vocals up front, allkpop reported.