by Hailie Balding
CHUU is ready to make 2026 another great year with the release of her first studio album, XO, My Cyberlove. The album dropped January 7, and I’ve had it on repeat since. The album is filled with heartfelt tracks from CHUU, and it’s one of her strongest albums to date, coming second only to her previous EP Only cry in the rain. Prior to the release of XO, My Cyberlove, she had only three EPs and a plethora of singles under her name as a soloist.
XO, My Cyberlove kicks off with its same-named title track. Propelled by a dreamy, synth pop beat, the song is immensely catchy, urging the listener to follow along and catch on quickly. In its live performances, the track is paired with a smooth yet robotic choreography that looks beautiful on stage. These two pieces come together perfectly to craft the digital love story of “XO, My Cyberlove.”
The song is meant to detail a relationship from the perspective of an artificial intelligence, while, in its bittersweetness, questions if the concept of such feelings is even possible. However, some fans have also noticed that the message of the lyrics and music video could dually represent the parasocial relationship between fans and a musician.
The second track, “Canary,” is an emotionally driven power ballad with crooning vocals and lyrics like “Come flying to me, I miss your voice, the wingbeats that lifted me up,” and “I’ve had enough of becoming a lonely island.” With a simple instrumental, CHUU’s vocals absolutely carry the emotion of the song. The listener is taken through the story of drifting apart from someone you once found solace in and trying to find your way back.
Between references in the music video for “XO, My Cyberlove” and the lyrics of “Canary,” these opening tracks felt like a nostalgic, heartfelt message to CHUU’s time spent in the 12-member girl group, LOONA. This reminiscence is not out of the box for the artist as she has never hesitated in expressing how much she misses her members.
While being the third track on the album, “Cocktail Dress” is not a song to look over in any means. It’s got an addictive, thrumming baseline and strong, playful vocals from CHUU. The artist’s voice, blended with the rhythm of the track, feels like smooth velvet. Her sweeping vocals overtake the feeling of the song, making it something truly unique.
It is personally my favorite track from the album. I think it does a great job of highlighting a sound from CHUU that we don’t get to frequently see since she is more well-known for her brighter, cute concepts.
Over halfway through the album, “Heart Tea Bag” returns to the mature sound from “Cocktail Dress” through its steady melody and heartbeat-esque rhythm. It is a melodic R&B track that immediately chills your mood. It is the perfect song to turn on at the end of a long day or even as background music.
Immediately following this, we get the classic CHUU sound back in “Hide & Seek.” It’s got a bright and playful melody, but the fun doesn’t stop there. The song’s lyrics detail a cat and mouse relationship in lines like, “Hiding and Hiding, you’re hard to catch, I’m curious about you, I’ll find you.” These lyrics, paired with a groovy bass and bouncy rhythm, make “Hide & Seek” a perfectly upbeat love song that’ll be stuck in your head before you even know it.
Running with nine tracks for a total of 25 minutes, there is something for everyone in this album. From synth-pop and ballads to an electronic pop genre like “Loving You!” or an afrobeat inspired track like “Limoncello,” XO, My Cyberlove really has it all. On top of its variety, the album’s high-quality production makes an experience worth listening to.
I’ve absolutely fallen in love with this album over the course of a few weeks, and I am excited to see what else CHUU has in store for the year. She’s definitely an artist to keep on your radar.
