As a signal part of their self-described “mixxpop” genre, which pairs disparate genres in intentionally discordant ways, NMIXX often titles their albums with a juxtaposition of terms that don’t usually fit together: a “Blue Valentine” or a “Heavy Serenade.” On their 2026 EP Strange Muse, the K-pop girl group continues to chase pop-driven surprise, with an album title that hints at it, though with a softer touch. Vocally lush lead single “Birthday Wish” opens with 23-year-old HAEWON speaking of a broken heart before her narration “reboot[s] into a new chapter.” Orchestral instrumentals swell, and the other members join in as the anthemic mash-up bounces from dance pop to synth-rock to moombahton in a tale of two souls finding one another across time and space that could also be applied to NMIXX’s formation. Strange Muse features the first-ever subunit tracks from NMIXX. LILY and HAEWON team up for the lilting piano ballad “Sing to the Moon.” SULLYOON and BAE embrace a Latin-inspired groove for the irreverent “Hot ’n Unbothered,” while rappers JIWOO and KYUJIN bring the boldest sound with the hip-hop track “WHIP.” The songs allow the members a chance to break from their mixxpop thesis while still tying into the EP’s broader theme of NMIXX finding inspiration in one another.