4 Walls

4 Walls
Type	Studio
Artist	f(x)
Released	October 27, 2015 (digital) October 28, 2015 (physical) December 18, 2015 (Taiwan ed.) July 8, 2017 (Kihno)
Format(s)	CD, Kihno, download, streaming
Recorded	2015
Length	35:18
Label(s)	SM Entertainment
Distributor(s)	KT Music
Release chronology
Previous	"Summer Special Pinocchio / Hot Summer"
Next	"12:25 (Wish List)"

4 Walls is the fourth full-length album by f(x). It was released on October 27, 2015 with "4 Walls" serving as the album's title track. "Diamond" was also promoted on music shows.

Background

The record's musical styles are diverse, incorporating the group's signature electropop and synthpop sound with elements of various genres including house, EDM and UK garage.

It marked the group's first release as a four-member group after former member Sulli left the group in August 2015.

Concept

The album's visuals and packaging won a iF Design Award in 2016 for Design Excellence. The jury praised the attention to detail and consistency of the concept: "The logo released before the official release of the album shows four walls forming a room and also f(x). In another logo, four walls formed the number "4" while a box was formed for another different logo. The four walls refer to the four members of f(x) while also embracing various shapes and meanings. On the whole, it maintained the association with the exhibition held as a part of the comeback promotion, [...] by being created to look like a catalog for an exhibition."

Events

An art exhibition to showcase and tease the group's comeback, [4 Walls] An Exhibit, was set up in Itaewon, Seoul and ran from October 21 to 26. It is described as "an installation art of f(x) music and video contents". The theme of the exhibit changed daily, and the exhibition could only be seen beyond the glass from the street. The album's track list was revealed there.

Instagram teasing

Exhibit poster

Reception

The album received favorable reviews from music critics, who noted that the other members had the opportunity to showcase their vocal abilities more following the departure of Sulli.

The album was a commercial success in South Korea, selling 75,625 copies in 2015 among the two months of its release and becoming the 33 biggest-selling album of the year in the country. The title track was also the group's most successful single since "Rum Pum Pum Pum", selling over 619,022 units as of June 2016.

Track list

1. "4 Walls" - 3:27
2. "Glitter" - 2:59
3. "Deja Vu" - 3:40
4. "X" - 3:23
5. "Rude Love" - 4:18
6. "Diamond" - 3:59
7. "Traveler" (feat. Zico) - 3:38
8. "Papi" - 3:05
9. "Cash Me Out" - 3:21
10. "When I'm Alone" - 3:23

Merchandise

On November 25, 2015, exclusive 4 Walls merchandise was made available for sale at SMTOWN Stardium stores in Seoul, and at the Everysing store of Incheon Airport.

In November 2018, a 4 Walls LP coaster was added for sale at SMTOWN &CAFE and online store.

2015 merch detail

LP coaster

Trivia

• "Cash Me Out" is a Korean remake of the song of the same name by Swedish singer Zara Larsson. The original song has English lyrics and is featured on the singer's second EP, Allow Me to Reindroduce Myself.
• "When I'm Alone" was originally a song for Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen, composed by her and intended for her third album E·MO·TION. The singer revealed in an interview that the original song was about masturbation. However, the song did not make it to the final tracklist of E·MO·TION and SM Entertainment bought the rights to the song. Korean lyricist Jo Yoon-Kyung wrote its Korean lyrics about the sad loneliness of missing a loved person.

Gallery

Victoria teaser

Luna teaser

Krystal teaser

Amber teaser

Group teaser

Track list reveal
@ 'An Exhibit'

Album packaging detail

Kihno packaging detail

Video links

• "4 Walls" music video
  • Teaser
• Audio teasers:
  • "Glitter
  • "Deja Vu"
  • "X"
  • "Rude Love"
  • "Diamond"
  • "Traveler"
  • "Papi"
  • "Cash Me Out"
  • "When I'm Alone"