The rapidly rising rock-pop girl band QWER has caught fans completely by surprise by dipping into a treasure trove of nostalgic subcultures for their latest media drop.
On May 25, 2026, the four-member musical force officially unveiled a special, highly stylized music video for their popular B-side track, “BAD HABIT.”
Subtitled the “80’s Video Tape Ver.,” the release serves as a brilliant creative extension of their current promotional cycle, offering a visual and auditory landscape that stands in stark, thrilling contrast to their mainstream television broadcast concepts.
The track originates from QWER’s highly successful 4th Mini Album, CEREMONY, which initially made its grand global debut a month prior on April 27, 2026.
While the group initially dominated domestic music charts and streaming platforms with the project’s high-energy, self-titled title track, “CEREMONY,” they are explicitly keeping their promotional momentum going strong by giving this fan-favorite rock anthem its own dedicated spotlight.
The release has immediately triggered intense praise from listeners who appreciate the band’s willingness to experiment with raw, underground aesthetics rather than sticking strictly to conventional pop formulas.
The Raw Aesthetic of an Analog Punk Era
True to its title, the special music video for “BAD HABIT” leans heavily into a vintage, old-school punk rock subculture.
The production values are intentionally structured to replicate the exact experience of watching an authentic, low-fidelity recording captured straight out of the 1980s.
The video relies on creative techniques including a grainy 4:3 aspect ratio, muted neon color grading, low-light filming locations, and realistic tracking distortion lines that flicker across the screen to create a genuinely convincing VHS tape aesthetic.
This visual choice perfectly mirrors the song’s underlying musical architecture.
Driven by punchy basslines, driving drum patterns, and sharp, distorted guitar riffs, “BAD HABIT” represents one of the heaviest and most aggressive rock offerings in the band’s current discography.
By pairing this heavy instrumentation with a retro garage-band performance style, the video successfully captures a raw, unpolished energy that highlights the members’ genuine capabilities as instrument-playing musicians who are deeply immersed in their craft.
A Milestone of Hand-On Creative Growth
Beyond its distinct styling, the CEREMONY mini-album as a whole marks a monumental milestone regarding QWER’s creative independence and artistic maturation behind the scenes.
Moving far beyond the realm of simple performers, the members- Chodan, Magenta, Hina, and Lee Siyeon- stepped up to take a direct, hands-on approach to the album’s structural development.
Remarkably, the members actively contributed to the songwriting, composition, or lyrical arrangements for four out of the five distinct tracks featured on the project, proving their longevity as a self-producing band.
Track Number Song Title Core Highlights
- 01. CEREMONY The bright, high-energy main promotional title track that defined their initial television appearances.
- 02. BAD HABIT The heaviest rock track on the album, now given a retro spotlight through the special 80’s version.
- 03. Bani Bani (바니바니) An incredibly catchy, upbeat B-side that has emerged as a major favorite within the fandom.
- 04. Our Voyage A beautifully layered track showcasing deep emotional textures and melodic band harmonies.
- 05. PIONEER A bold, cinematic, and anthemic closer that leaves a powerful lasting impression.
The overwhelming positive reception to the “80’s Video Tape Ver.” music video underscores QWER’s unique position in the contemporary music landscape.
By seamlessly blending infectious pop hooks with a genuine appreciation for retro rock subcultures and analog aesthetics, the group continues to carve out a distinct identity that sets them completely apart from their peers.
As fans continue to dissect the vintage references scattered throughout the new video, QWER has firmly established that their musical journey is defined by constant reinvention, leaving the industry incredibly eager to see how they will continue to push their boundaries in the future.
