D4vd And Stray Kids' Hyunjin Duet On New, Dreamy 'Always Love' Single
When d4vd and Hyunjin of Stray Kids first began trading praise in interviews, few could have predicted the virtual admiration would bloom into one of the most heartfelt and cohesive crossover collaborations of the year. Yet today, June 27, the internet bromance becomes a reality on record with the release of 'Always Love,' a swirling duet blending of melancholy pop and R&B production that manages to feels like the perfect union of the two respective musical viewpoints.
From the dreamy opening offering psychedelic guitars with simple percussion, d4vd's signature atmospheric soundscape sets a sonic stage that allows his and Hyunjin's soothing, feather-light vocals to float effortlessly on top. The track's lyrical journey unfolds through a progression of intimate questions — beginning with 'Do you…' before moving to 'Would you…' and, ultimately, 'Are you…' — before resolving to the tender resolution: 'I don't need no one else but you.' It's the kind of track that feels both universal while remaining deeply personal.
Just weeks before the 'Always Love' release, d4vd met up with Stray Kids backstage at their June 3 concert at SoFi Stadium to snap a photo with the group and a separate selfie with Hyunjin. That image served as the official photo teaser for 'Always Love,' leaving global fans buzzing ever since.While Hyunjin has previously dipped his toes into a solo feature with Troye Sivan's 'Rush' remix alongside PinkPantheress, 'Always Love' marks the first time the K-pop superstar commands a larger section of a song outside of his and Stray Kids' releases, showcasing his ability to shine solo a song on his own and likely paving the way for further solo ventures.
'This was a true full circle moment,' d4vd said in a press statement. 'Hyunjin mentioned me in an interview last year then I mentioned him on the radio when I was in Korea and it just kind of kept spiraling until ultimately we got to work together. He's so talented and I'm really excited with how the song turned out. I'd like to especially thank the Stray Kids fans for being so supportive and accepting of this collaboration.'
d4vd co-wrote 'Always Love' the track with producers Andrew Luce and LeeLee. Luce's credits include Lil Nas X's 'Sun Goes Down,' Tomorrow X Together and iann dior's 'Valley of Lies,' and Hannah Bahng's 'perfect blues,' while LeeLee has shaped tracks like Jackson Wang's 'Blow,' keshi's 'Euphoria' and Vedo's 'I Blame You.' The combined expertise and long-running creative relationship with d4vd helps polish the cut into a lush, genre-blurring cut that feels both indie-idiosyncratic and ready to soundtrack a few thousand aesthetic TikTok posts.
With 'Always Love,' 20-year-old d4vd not only broadens his artistic palette but cements Hyunjin's growing reputation as a cross-border collaborator capable of holding his own in any musical setting. While summer playlists tend to boast upbeat and bright party songs, this collab can be a lingering late-night anthem to soundtrack everything from friends watching the sunset from a rooftop to lovers lying on the beach awaiting the sunrise.
Looking Ahead for dv4d and Hyunjin: WITHERED Deluxe, More Touring
'Always Love' arrives after the April release of d4vd's debut album, WITHERED, a string of high-profile festival appearances like Coachella and Lollapalooza, as well as a sold-out European tour. d4vd teased a deluxe version of the album dropping soon (which 'Always Love' could make as part be part of the tracklist) and will tour Australia in December with Hannah Bahng (who also happens to be the sister of Stray Kids member Bang Chan).
Meanwhile, Hyunjin is in the midst of the North American leg of Stray Kids' 'dominATE' World Tour, which will wrap after eight more shows in Europe throughout July. The group previously announced their plans for two album releases in 2025, meaning a new record shouldn't be far off.
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