The South Korean producer and multi-instrumentalist Dept is a purveyor of calm and languid, beats-driven, R&B-infused pop. 2016 saw the release of his first single, the gentle, piano- and acoustic guitar-laden "Easily," featuring Taewoo Kang. In his first six years as a recording artist, he released no fewer than 70 singles or EPs, many housed in striking, consistently themed artwork. The agreeable, relaxed tone of his material oozed commercial appeal which helped to secure a digital distribution deal with Warner Music. By 2022, Dept's catalog had achieved over a million streams, and he began to collaborate with a number of U.S.-based artists including Ashley Alisha and Kelsey Kuan on EPs such as that year's Love Affair.