Song Review:: Ravi (VIXX): Dust

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  • Release date: 2026 June 22

  • Album tracklist: Dust

  • Album runtime: 2 minutes

 I would have had no idea he'd released a new song if I hadn't been wandering about Tumblr today and if one of my mutuals didn't post about the song like twelve times. And now you all get to know about it too! I'm going to leave him connected to VIXX here and in the future, because while the whole mess over his enlistment is deeply serious, as are his health problems, and he did finish his military service back in December with a double enlistment. He may not be able to be part of the group anymore since withdrawing back in 2022, but I'm accepting what happened as the final consequences as far as I'm concerned and I'll leave him connected to his group. As long as nothing else happens with him. I will be most cross and disappointed. I'm also disappointed in the runtime, but you know what? It's his first one back after years. I'll give him this one, but I'm not rounding it up even though it technically would round up.

Oh, damn, his voice. Pardon my language, and the fact that I'm going out of order because this paragraph should be the instrumental, but his voice hit me like a freight train and I will not be able to do anything with the instrumental if I don't talk about his voice first. I have a feeling that when I take a look at the lyrics, I'm going to cry because this is all in Korean and a higher level than I know, but it sounds sad and the artwork is him as a happy kid, I assume. This is that melodic rapping that I love so well (and I'm struck by the sudden desire to have him and Ilhoon do something together because their separate vocal tones and similar rapping style would be a delicious combination), where sometimes the cadence softens and turns a little more mushy and less clear, and sometimes it tightens up into something almost sharp, but never aggressive or dangerous. I'm really trying not to let context and what I assume is my projection affect this reading, but it feels pained and vulnerable all the way through, just how that's expressed changes. Also his voice is so low that it sent literal shivers down my spine. That's a very pleasing sound. 

The end of the instrumental almost sounds like a music box, and it's the same chords that you have at the beginning with the watery effects on the instruments. That's very satisfying as it creates a sort of frame narrative in the sound of the song, which I think is important if I'm right about a few things (theory before I go look at the lyrics: he's looking back at moments where he was happy, but the time he's in right now has turned that happiness to dust). The instrumental is oddly shrill in a discomforting way in places, which is good because if it had been like that the entire way through the song, I wouldn't be able to listen to it. But it's just uncomfortable and just soothing enough that I'm not able to relax into the song. And that spot where it's just the guitar? That part is going to be the one that breaks my heart. I can guarantee it.

No music video, which I'm actually happy about. Let him ease back in after what happened. 

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