Is it better if groups explore different concepts and sounds with each cb or rather if they stick with one style that works for them?

Yes, I like groups that have a distinct sound and concept and then change it slowly over time.

If you are going to change concepts, it needs to be slow. Too fast can be too abrupt. An example is Weeekly with Venpara. I wanted my cute Weeekly still.

Different concepts all the time can lose my interest since I don't know what I'm getting.

Perfect example is (G)I-DLE. I never know what their next song could be like. So I have trouble getting as hyped.

I think Dreamcatcher does it well.

They do have a very core look and sound, but still manage to explore different styles and concepts. They go from rock, to EDM, to ballads while still staying very much Dreamcatcher.

They've had gothic concepts, sci-fi cyberpunk concepts, post-apocalypse, deep sci-fi and horror concepts but all still feel on brand for the group as a whole.

OTOH, (and yes I love them to bits) you have Itzy who still kept their big, brash, what I like to call "stadium pop" sound, but released tracks that moved away from their "I love myself" theme and lost support for doing so.

So it's probably a balancing act.

Quote from horizonshard

If you are going to change concepts, it needs to be slow. Too fast can be too abrupt. An example is Weeekly with Venpara. I wanted my cute Weeekly still.

I think even Weeekly and their label realised this. They seem to basically be ignoring Venpara era and leaning back towards cutesy again. Be interesting where they go with the next comeback.

Quote from ThePhantomThief

I think even Weeekly and their label realised this. They seem to basically be ignoring Venpara era and leaning back towards cutesy again. Be interesting where they go with the next comeback.

If they eased into it, it probably would have been fine. But it just felt like having whiplash.

If they really wanted to do a dark song, then why not do a double title track? You could have a bright bubbly one and a dark one, and tie them together in the narrative/marketing/whatever.

I would much rather have a group stick to a certain sound and style in their title tracks and explore different concepts in their b-sides.

I think it's best to try and change it up within the mix of your songs - an album is an album after all with multiple songs and opportunities to play with different styles. The main challenge I find is that either the changes don't allow the group to get traction or the fans won't allow the group to make changes.

For example, I think Purple Kiss' changing styles are one of the reasons its hard for them to get traction. They're great performers and vocalists and they've had good to great songs but I think it's hard for non-fans to pick out their style and people like to grab onto that.

With EXO and NCT, I see the second problem - fan expectations. EXO have had a core of experimentation running through their music since jump (Mama and Wolf, hello) and that's lived on in the b-sides but people freaked out about Lotto (which isn't even that different) and Obsession (which isn't actually that weird either). NCT 127 is the opposite side of the same coin - although they're most famous for their hip hop forward "noise music", there are two other major strands that make up the 127 style: energetic EDM four to the floor beats AND rich R&B flavors. People who freaked out about Superhuman not being Neo enough seemed to forget this is the same group that brought us Come Back, Good Thing and Back 2 U. (Honestly, it's so weird to me when people complain about this because the majority of 127's songs are R&B).

I think it depends on how's your debut received?

If it had a nice reception from gp and fandom then, stick to them and make it as your identity.

If it only had a nice reception only in fandom, then you could stick around 2 or 3 times, establishing your sounds, and then try to give it a twist so that you can capture back the gp attention?

If it didn't received well in both, then surely changed it on first cb

But, it's all coming back to the group's concept tho...

If they're decided to using rock/edm/something as their group's concept, then it would be funny if they changed it on their early career.

well to me it depends on the song...

I don't mind change in concepts as long as the song is good but that's subjective

I prefer consistency at first. I want the same style (if it works) each comeback. You have to establish an identity at debut.

For me, it's better to try every concept that they want, because not just the fandom, non-fans can tell which concept suits a group the most. Even if they stick with one concept, let's just say that typical EDM type song, people will get bored. Even as someone from their fandom, they will think 'aaaa not this kind of song again'.

Changing genre/concept doesn't mean you can't have a group identity, we can see how few groups that brave enough to do that as their title track not just some B-sides that only majority of the fandom listen to it

A signature sound is what I personally prefer, it makes albums more enjoyable for me overall from the artist. I understand how people get upset with different things but for the sake of group financial success if something works it's understandable how the company will keep doing it.

Plus in recent concept changes, poor Weeekly, that sound change did not work out well from what I gather, but hopefully it'll be like Apink's Hush(I like it but it's one of their least liked titles) and they'll bounce back.

(G)I-DLE are stellar examples.

They change genres every comeback, but still have their own defined "sound". Their previous 2 albums have both been extremely consistent, thematically and sonically, with a consistency in approach that's rarely replicated. Having all their songs being self-written and self-composed is obviously extremely helpful in that approach.

They make their variety of genres and titles work, but still maintain a core identity.

I feel a group should try something different with each concept otherwise it gets a bit monotonous and then they get stereotyped for only being able to do the one thing.