Following YUNA’s solo debut earlier this year (with Ice Cream), ITZY regroups with their latest single, Motto, from their 12th mini-album of the same name. It is also ITZY’s first release since their November 2025 TUNNEL VISION comeback and the unexpected resurgence through the track THAT’S A NO NO.

Motto has had the benefit of further listens since its release a couple of weeks back. But to be fair, I don’t think Motto needed them. Since its release, Motto has been a satisfying listen that I have really enjoyed. If anything, Motto has grown on me even more and become one of the top releases of the year in my opinion. The track delves into a dreamy synthpop style, with a hint of funkiness and grooviness. In comparison to the rest of their lead singles, Motto‘s instrumental is a little more muted than usual. But that doesn’t mean the ITZY quality isn’t there. I quite enjoyed the choruses, which are a definite highlight of the song. I really liked how clean and straightforward it is. ITZY’s delivery and its melodies are extremely pleasant (in a good way), and I liked how simple yet catchy the hooks were. For the most part, the rest of Motto was also really good. I really liked the relatively intense ramp-up in the second half of the pre-chorus and YEJI’s piercing note just before the final chorus. The only part of Motto that I am not a fan of is when the song gears towards a hip-hop motif in the first half of the pre-chorus. It felt cliché and didn’t fit the rest of the pop track.

ITZY is at the 7-year mark of their music careers. While they are able to survive the 7-year curse that ends other groups’ careers (they renewed their contracts last year with JYP Entertainment), Motto‘s music video serves as a reflection of some sort. This complements Motto‘s lyrics, which are about choosing oneself even in uncertain situations. In this case, their ITZY identity. The music video starts with small replicas of their past music videos, briefly reflecting on their career. They are pulled away to reveal a castle that appears like a blank canvas. Throughout the video, the members go through events and circumstances that help define them, building the castle around them, which they perform in front of at the end.

Many people have noticed that their signature crown move is missing from their performance. But I don’t think it is missing. Reflecting on the song’s lyrics and meaning, the formation the members stand in, and the outward arm movement they make at the very end, these elements symbolise the shape of a crown. In the context of the song, they have become the crown, choosing themselves over anything else, which is probably the biggest honour you can bestow on yourself.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10