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'Cloud': Primary and AOA's ChoA serve up some retro goodness in new single, fans say 'welcome back ChoA'

The duo previously collaborated on the track 'Don't Be Shy' featuring rapper IRON, a smooth, sultry track with a rather perplexing yet intruiguing music video to go with it

South Korean musician and producer Primary returns with 'Cloud' featuring vocalist ChoA from the girl group AOA. Featuring Primary's all-too-recognizable hip-hop, R&B, and soul undertones and paired beautifully with ChoA's unmistakable sultry vocals, 'Cloud' is yet another feather in Primary's already impressive cap.

Born Choi Dong-hoon, Primary began his career in 2004, collaborating with artists like Dynamic Duo and Garion while attending the Seoul Jazz Academy. He made his debut with the 2006 album 'Daily Apartment' in collaboration with rapper Beenzino, promoting the album while dressed as his on-stage avatar who wore a cardboard box mask with a bird's beak attached to it. The look would come to be Primary's signature. Over the course of his career since, Primary has put out some stellar music, including a track he created in collaboration with Dynamic Duo's Gaeko for Quincy Jones in 2011, the four-part album 'Primary and The Messengers' in 2012 which included collaborations with 23 artistes, and a song he produced for Park Ji-yoon in 2013 while he was participating at the Infinite Challenge Song Festival. The latter track, along with several others Primary produced at the time, was later pulled up for plagiarism, though the issue was settled with the appropriate credit being given. In 2020, Primary's contract with the label Amoeba Culture was terminated, with many noting that it was a huge loss for the label, though the reason behind this partnership dissolving isn't overtly apparent.

Park Cho-a, who goes by ChoA, debuted in 2012 with the girl group AOA, immediately earning praise for her powerhouse vocals and ability to deliver equally powerful performances live. Within a few years, she branched out as a soloist, also appearing on variety shows like MBC's 'We Got Married' along the way. In 2015, she teamed up with Primary and rapper Iron for Primary's single 'Don't Be Shy', before making her official solo debut a few months later. While her career was clearly on the rise, ChoA decided to exit AOA in 2017 citing depression and insomnia as her reasons. Since then ChoA has slowly built up her solo career. AOA, sadly, ran into trouble when member Mina revealed the group's leader Jimin had bullied her for a decade, pushing her to self-harm and attempt suicide. Jimin was forced to leave the band and retired from the industry when it became apparent this wasn't a situation that would dissipate over time.

Despite their respective ups and downs, both Primary and ChoA have managed to put out quality music, with the latter making her grand return to the industry following a three-year hiatus earlier this year. Their previous collaboration, 'Don't Be Shy', was praised as much for its reggae-influenced sound as it was for its witchcraft-themed visuals, and the song turned out to be one of the most interesting summer releases of 2015. 'Cloud' is sure to match its predecessor's success, with the song giving off retro vibes and the lyric video delivering some nostalgic visuals.

The song is off Primary's latest EP 'Box Tape', which includes remastered versions of several of his older songs, including an instrumental version of 'Don't Be Shy'. 'Cloud is already earning praise from listeners, with many congratulating ChoA on her return. One tweet read, "Finally, ChoA's new song is here!!" Another shared, "This is so goood...welcome back, ChoA." And one said, "GIVE IT UP FOR CHOA EVERBODY."

Seeing as their second collaboration is just as much of a hit among fans as the first, many are already asking for more. One fan said, "I think it's not too much to say that PRIMARY has expanded her potential. What's next? I'm really looking forward to it!!" Another shared, "Primary better produce Choa's album like PLEASE cloud is so good." ChoA has not yet confirmed when her next album will drop, but if 'Cloud' is any indication, it's bound to be a solid return to form for the singer.

Check out the lyric visualizer for Primary and ChoA's 'Cloud' below: