K-pop sweethearts Lovelyz’s music has been a remedy for those craving some sonic sweetness. And “Twinkle,” the lead song from the eight-piece group’s new third EP, offers K-pop fans another sugary treat to indulge in this winter.

What is notable about the latest album “Fall In Lovelyz,” out Tuesday, is that the girls took their first attempt at electro dance pop with “Twinkle.”

The group’s tonal transition, shifting from its signature bubblegum sound to powerful dance-driven pop, came after its first collaboration with the rising producer duo 1Take and TAK, the masterminds behind hits like Infinite’s “Air” and Golden Child’s “What Happened.” Saturated with dance-triggering perky melodies, “Twinkle” is also peppered with catchy bell ringing sounds, offering a festive Christmas vibe. 

“Before our new album, we’ve been working with producer Yoon Sang. And working with new producers for the first time has been an experiment for us as well, as many things have changed,” said member Sujeong of the group’s latest project during a media showcase for the new EP in Seoul on Tuesday.

“Compared to our light-hearted work with Yoon, our new songs feature more high notes and strong verses. Some of us had difficulty getting used to it. The recording process was a bit hard as well.”

While many K-pop acts tend to chase after the latest pop trends, Lovelyz has long thrived on its cheery and easy-to-listen tunes such as 2014’s “Ah-Choo,” the group’s biggest hit, by having worked with Yoon for the last three years.

But still, there are callbacks to old hits. The members croon to mid-tempo R&B ballad “Fallin’,” where their vocals beautifully blend into rhythmic drum synths and orchestral strings, reminiscent of Lovelyz’s old hits that were sweet in its pop effusiveness.

The seven-track album also includes love songs like “Triangle,” “Just,” “Secret Garden” and “Sleepy Dream,” all of which are awash with fantastical elements, inspired by fairy tales.

Asked if there is any chance the group will reunite with Yoon, Jin said, “We call Yoon whenever we have questions when recording. We are getting along well.”

Sujeong said, “Our collaboration with Yoon is not over yet. He was involved in our project very recently before our comeback.”

After making its debut in November 2014 under Woolim Entertainment, the act made global headlines in October 2015, when it featured on Korean music show “You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” to perform an acappella cover of late US pop star Michael Jackson’s classic “Beat It.”

The gig was broadcast on the American Fox News Channel with numerous foreign media reporting on it.

In April last year, Lovelyz released second EP “A New Trilogy,” with its lead track “Destiny” having debuted at No. 7 on the Gaon Digital Chart.

The group went onto drop its second repackaged album “Now, We” in May this year, which earned the group a trophy from SBS’ “The Show,” the first prize they won from a music show.

By Hong Dam-young (lotus@heraldcorp.com)