f(x)'s Krystal Reveals the Team Behind New Single 'PWLT' — The Man Who Found Bruno Mars, Hyukoh, and Sunset Rollercoaster

Former f(x) member Krystal is stepping back into the spotlight with her second solo single, and the team she has assembled for it is unlike anything Korean pop fans might have expected. On May 26, the singer-actress will release "PWLT" — a track that brings together Grammy-caliber American producers, a legendary Taiwanese indie guitarist, and one of Korea's most beloved indie rock frontmen.

The single is set to be included on Krystal's upcoming first solo album. CD pre-orders opened on May 15 at 2 p.m. KST and run through midnight on May 21 at major online and offline retailers across South Korea. Fans who pre-order will receive a limited-edition poster separate from the standard poster distributed after the official release on May 27.

The Producers Who Shaped the Sound

At the production helm of "PWLT" are two American producers: Pat Howard and Steve Lindsey. Howard is an LA-based drummer and producer known for his work in Latin pop circles, bringing a rhythmic sensibility that sets this project apart from typical K-pop releases. It is Lindsey, however, who carries the more extraordinary creative résumé.

Lindsey is a songwriter and producer whose fingerprints can be found across decades of American pop history. He has contributed to recordings by Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Celine Dion — artists who collectively represent soul, classic R&B, and sweeping pop balladry at their most definitive. Perhaps most notably, Lindsey is widely credited as the producer who discovered Bruno Mars and helped launch his career, playing a pivotal role in signing one of the 21st century's defining pop stars before Mars became a global phenomenon.

That Krystal has attracted producers of this caliber for her debut album underscores how seriously both she and her agency, Beasts And Natives Alike (BANA), are approaching this chapter of her career. This is not a casual solo side project — it is a fully considered artistic statement backed by genuine creative firepower.

K-Indie Icons Join the Recording

The Western production team is only part of the story. For "PWLT," Krystal also turned to two figures who represent the best of the Korean and Taiwanese indie music worlds, resulting in a collaboration that meaningfully blurs the usual lines between idol pop and independent music.

Guo Guo (궈궈), the guitarist of Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster, contributed guitar sessions to the track. Sunset Rollercoaster has spent years building a devoted following across Asia with their warm, hazy sound that blends surf rock, jazz, and dream pop. His fluid, emotionally expressive guitar work is central to the band's identity, and his presence on "PWLT" adds a distinctly indie texture to a release that already has considerable international ambitions.

Oh Hyuk (오혁) — the creative driving force behind Korean indie band Hyukoh (혁오) — contributed synth work. Hyukoh is perhaps South Korea's most internationally recognized indie act, known for fusing indie rock, jazz, and art pop in a way that has won them fans from Seoul to Paris. Oh Hyuk's willingness to contribute to this record signals that Krystal's artistic vision resonated with him genuinely — a meaningful endorsement from someone who has carefully built his reputation specifically outside the idol industry.

The recording sessions were split between Jeju Island, where Krystal worked at the creative space House of Refuse, and Taiwan, where she collaborated directly with Guo Guo. The entire process has been documented in "Charging Crystals," a behind-the-scenes series released through BANA's official YouTube channel. Its second episode, which dropped alongside the "PWLT" announcement, offered fans a rare and intimate view of Krystal at work across two countries — a level of creative transparency that has deepened anticipation before a single note of the new song has been streamed.

From f(x) to Solo Artist

For those new to Krystal's story: born Jung Soo-yeon in 1994, she debuted in 2009 as a member of SM Entertainment's f(x) — one of the most conceptually adventurous girl groups of the Korean Wave's second generation. Alongside Luna, Amber, Sulli, and Victoria, f(x) built a reputation for genre-pushing records that challenged what idol music was expected to sound like.

Their discography remains a touchstone for fans of that era. "Electric Shock," "Rum Pum Pum Pum," "Red Light," and "4 Walls" are records built with genuine sonic ambition — and that spirit appears to have traveled directly into Krystal's solo work. As f(x)'s activities wound down through the late 2010s, Krystal built a parallel acting career in K-dramas, demonstrating real range across genres. She most recently appeared in a tvN drama series, keeping her visible to audiences while her solo music plans developed.

In November 2025, she released "Solitary" under BANA — her first solo single — formally announcing her intentions as a solo recording artist. "Solitary" introduced a new audience to what a Krystal solo project might sound like and laid the groundwork for the full album she is now building.

Fan Response and What Comes Next

Online reaction to the "PWLT" announcement and its collaborator lineup has been enthusiastic. Long-time fans who have followed Krystal since the f(x) era have expressed particular excitement about the indie connections. Oh Hyuk's involvement in particular has drawn responses from Hyukoh listeners who might not have closely followed Krystal before — a crossover effect that speaks to the strategic intelligence behind the collaboration choices.

The "Charging Crystals" documentary approach has resonated equally well. Rather than relying solely on teasers and concept photos, Krystal and BANA have built genuine narrative content around the music-making process itself. Fans who watch the episodes arrive at release day already invested in the journey, not just the finished product.

With "PWLT" arriving May 26 and the first full solo album on the horizon, Krystal is in the process of building something that feels genuinely new. The collaborators are serious artists with remarkable credentials. The creative process has been shared with rare openness. And when the music lands on streaming platforms worldwide, it will be the result of conversations that began in Jeju, traveled to Taipei, and ended up ready for listeners everywhere.