BABYMONSTER is trading its signature high-energy performances for a more intimate sound with “DESERVE,” a new digital single released Friday that showcases the K-pop group’s vocals and more mature musical direction. The pop ballad dropped at 1 p.m. Friday, blending lyrical synthesizer melodies and a retro atmosphere with heartfelt lyrics reflecting on past memories and wishing happiness for a former partner, according to the group’s agency, YG Entertainment. The song’s emotional intensity builds toward its chorus, highlighting the members’ expressive singing and marking a departure from the hip-hop and dance-driven tracks that have helped define their stage performances. The release comes about four months after the group’s June single, “SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA,” offering a different perspective on the seven-member act as it continues to broaden its musical range. Its accompanying music video draws on the song’s wistful mood, using cinematic visuals, interconnected character narratives and increasingly dramatic effects to heighten the emotional impact. In a statement ahead