MONSTA enters 2026 with intention, vulnerability and a clear global vision.
The K-pop powerhouses have returned with their brand new English-language single, “growing pains”, marks their first release of the year and sets the tone for what promises to be a defining chapter in their career.
The track follows their latest digital release ‘baby blue’, which they debuted live at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball last month, and both tracks will appear on their forthcoming English album. It’s a landmark not only for the group, but for K-pop’s growing presence in Western markets.
With “Growing Pains,” MONSTA leans into emotional honesty without losing their signature dynamism. Mixing polished pop production with deeply personal lyricism, the song traces the quiet weight of ambition, self-discovery and identity.
Texts like “I was just a child when the lights found me” and “I left home behind when I was only eighteen” pull back the curtain on the cost of chasing dreams early, while grounding the story in real, lived experience rather than spectacle. the hook – “I’m finding my way to deal with these growing pains” — lands with bittersweet clarity, instantly relatable to anyone navigating adulthood, change and self-doubt.
What makes the track resonate is its emotional balance. MONSTA admits exhaustion and uncertainty, but they refuse to stop there. Texts such as “Baby I’ll be alright… one day I’ll understand that I’m fine just the way I am” signal a quiet shift toward self-acceptance, while “All the strength I’ve found, I’m still standing now” boosts resilience without bravado. Instead of portraying struggle as weakness, the song turns it into strength, turning “growing pains” into an anthem of perseverance and personal growth.
As MONSTA continues to expand their global footprint, “growing pains” stands as a powerful preview of what their upcoming English album aims to deliver – music that crosses borders without losing its soul.
Listen to “growing pains” below on Spotify!
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