“aftertaste” - LiTrilla [feature article]

 Yappalachian Mountains Vol. I

“aftertaste” - LiTrilla

[feature article by desi]

A mid-summer afternoon in Seoul’s cultural epicenter, Gangnam; the blazing sun and suffocating humidity infuse a grogginess into the heavy steps of patrons, drowsiness fogging the cityscape as all and sundry await the ever-beckoning weekend. That is, all but the four musically impassioned persons gathered within the cozy walls of Korea’s next rising artist LiTrilla’s studio space, eager to unpack the next chapter of the musician’s discography. Warm-toned downlights illuminate the room’s wooden accents with life, the AC comfortably oscillating cool air around the quaint space and providing unintentional white noise to the conversational ambience.

Sitting in the center of the room, donned in distressed jeans and a graphic band tee, LiTrilla was the main character of this session, inviting us (that is myself, my sister, and LiTrilla’s partner-in-crime, gyun) to chat about his first studio album, “aftertaste”... if you can call a 5-hour kickback a ‘chat.’ Though honoured with the opportunity to sneak-peek the project, “aftertaste” was officially unveiled to the public on September 1, 2026; a triennium since his magnum opus EP, “OXYTOCIN,” was released. The three-year interlude made way for personal and musical growth alike, generating melodies, stories, and emotions of bona fide worth. A genuineness pierced through the soul of this project, an intrinsic maturity setting it apart from many of his earlier bodies of work. Sitting down with LiTrilla to talk backstory, inspiration, and results uncovered countless layers that only added to the depth this album has to offer, nominating it as a potential AOTY candidate in my personal listening reservoir. 

13 tracks. 6 features. 8 producers.

A project that is so LiTrilla-like in its sound, while simultaneously offering up something new from the artist. “aftertaste” is a refined evolution in LiTrilla’s discography, tapping into a novel vulnerability that characterizes the last 6 months of his life in an almost diary-like arrangement. Ironically, though, rather than taking pen to paper in a therapeutic journaling session to hash out his lyrical genius, LiTrilla found himself improvising on the mic in an unfiltered confession of heartbreak. Recalling sincere emotions – melancholy and grief – numbed in a musical depiction of drunken solace; from thoughtful evenings with a glass of wine to intoxicating tequila shots thrown back in suppression. Although the album doesn’t exactly have a linear storyline, each track acts as a snapshot into the mentality of what gyun defined as “a (heartsick) loverboy [who is] coping by pretending not to be one.” The final composition of the tracklist takes you on a late-night drive through disbelief, psychosis, acceptance, and ultimately peace, portraying an endured relationship dissolution cycle.

This transparency, however, wasn’t always present in LiTrilla’s work. Debuting at only 16 years old with his first extended play, “COUNTDOWN EP,” LiTrilla didn’t quite have the lived experience to reference personal anecdotes, rather drawing inspiration from his environment and imagination. Experimenting not only with artist identity in the form of production and lyrical creativity, but also with self-discovery and confidence as an individual beyond his craft, the musical development over time is clear. “I think before, my music was like 80% made-up stories,” the artist confessed. This isn’t to say that his formative releases were lacking in any way due to this anecdotal distance. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The seven years since his artistic genesis have allowed him not only to discover his creative calling but also to find the sonic niche that resonates with him and his growing fandom. Genre fusions, external inspirations, sought-after collaborations, and notoriety within the local music scene. He found ways to mold his own unique sound by pulling inspiration from both plausible and unlikely musical role models, from the likes of Travis Scott and Frank Ocean to bands like Maroon 5 and Radiohead. This early stage of his musical journey was like a developmental goldmine, providing an outlet for that teenage angst that had nowhere to go and creating a digital time capsule of self-efficacy and learned confidence. 

This growth and self-realization of now 23-year-old LiTrilla manifests in a myriad of ways throughout “aftertaste,” from the stylistic production and aesthetics designed by the singer himself to the honest storytelling in the lyrics, making it the perfect first studio album in his catalog. A plot twist to this streamlined outcome? LiTrilla is an ADHD warrior. He admits his workflow can be rather chaotic, with ideas coming to him sporadically. And yet, “I think ADHD is like a gift for me as an artist,” he says, as it provides him infinite inspiration and creativity – something clearly exemplified by this album’s versatility. Even so, he confesses, “when I’m super locked-in, I can [only] work for, like, 40 minutes.” So, when asked how the final lineup of songs was ultimately decided, LiTrilla divulged that the creation and selection of songs was actually fairly simple: a process where he could clock early on if a song were worth keeping, only scrapping about 4-5 tracks in total because “they were lowkey too depressing” for the vibe he was aiming for in this project. A sonic sensibility that activates every bodily sense, begging the question of which colors, materials, and flavors truly embody the essence of “aftertaste.” 

Rather than the sensations of a wet pillow soaked through with tears, the “vibes” embodied a sophistication and maturity reminiscent of cashmere and silk, of black and white, and of late nights indulging in spirits. The authority, strength, and formality of the achromatic color palette visually set the scene of classic timelessness, a perfect symbol to exemplify a debut LP. The binaries of night and day: an album suitable for various atmospheres, representing new beginnings. The mystery, darkness, and grief of breakups and makeups: a main inspiration and emotion behind this project. And the outlying accent of blue – dark, royal blue, to be specific – signifying melancholy, but also the ability to come to terms peacefully. Concurrently, an emotional safety blanket: buttery, fluid cashmere. A lingering sensation that is almost craveable, like the enveloping auditory blanket of flawless production that layers together in a seamless blend. A cloud-like emotional tone that conveys intimacy, effortless swagger, and late-night comfort, like a pair of silk pajamas – a visual luxury but internal therapy. Palatably, the weight of a Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon - a full-bodied wine that establishes the emotional introspection of this album, while hinting at a deeper brooding that is equally present.

Because while a baseline of gravitas is present in the vocal and lyrical aspects, there’s another layer of punchy grit and contrast accessible in the production that makes “aftertaste” that much more interesting and addictive. A grounded bounciness akin to the rubbery tread of a tire. The reflective, system-shocking impact of the first track, like an unexpected clang of metal. A sophisticated texture, sometimes rough, at other times smooth, like the suede upholstery of a bar seat – a comforting escape in a moment of vulnerability. Letting go of your inhibitions with a shot of tequila, the raw sting of emotion burning slowly as you reach for a glass of whiskey. A lingering type of sorrow masked by the high-energy party vibes visible on the surface. 

As the title suggests, this sense of lingering captures the entire mood of “aftertaste.” An album that leaves you with residual thoughts, a lasting impression that cannot be shaken. An album that makes you want to rewind, over and over again, just to get another taste. An album that not only has you wanting more but also compels you to pull others into its orbit. It’s with this all-consuming mindscape that we finally left the studio – sunset long gone, and a low rumble in our stomachs a reminder of the lengthy discourse that wiped appetite and urgency from our thoughts, as the intoxicating remnants of “aftertaste” permeated the atmosphere. This project is undeniably LiTrilla’s best to date, so with pride and passion, I invite you on this journey to discover your own ~aftertaste~