Homecoming and Healing: BTS’s “ARIRANG” – Album Review

ARIRANG is BTS’s first studio album in four years. At the height of their fame in 2022, the group announced a hiatus in order to complete their mandatory military service: Jin enlisted in December of 2022, with the others in 2023. Jung Kook and Jimin were the last to serve their terms, finishing June 11th,…

40th BFI FLARE: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: “Beyond the Fire – The Life of Japan’s First Pride Parade Pioneer” Review

Japan is one of those societies where discussions about sexuality have traditionally remained private. However, the country has made visible progress in LGBTQ+ awareness in recent years; local partnership systems now exist in dozens of prefectures, Pride celebrations are held in cities across the country, and public discussion around marriage equality continues to grow. Yet…

40th BFI FLARE: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: “Body of Our Own” Review

Presented at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, the documentary Body of Our Own follows three members of the Hijra community: Momo, Neshi, and Jannat. Directed by Rahemur Rahman and Lily Vetch, the film gives us a beautifully observant portrait of identity and friendship. Filmed over seven years, Rahman and Vetch take a…

The Magic of moon tang: An Intimate Show in London – Concert Review

Inside the nice surroundings of EartH in Hackney, the stage was set with simplicity: a small table, a chair, soft lighting, and at the centre of it all stood Hong Kong singer moon tang, dressed in a breathtaking purple evening dress. I Hate You was the first song performed, and from moon’s 2023 album WATER…

ZELO Returns: B.A.P Star Ready to Reclaim the Spotlight with Solo Comeback

After more than a decade in the music industry, Choi Jun-hong, professionally known as ZELO, is ready to step back into the spotlight, this time as a fully independent solo artist. Formerly the youngest rapper and dancer of the iconic K-pop group B.A.P, ZELO debuted in 2012 and quickly became known for his powerful, rapid-fire…

Still Rocking: Kris Main Talks His Double EP “JANUS” – Exclusive Interview

In our third conversation with Kris Main, the Korean artist reflects on a period of intense growth since our last interview. Over the past year, he has expanded his presence across multiple creative fields, collaborating with K-pop idols and rising hip-hop artists, performing at Korea’s largest hip-hop festival, and even stepping onto fashion runways. These…

Yuen Woo-ping’s “Blades of the Guardian” Review

In Blades of the Guardians, director Yuen Woo-ping returns to the wuxia tradition with a film that emphasises the physical and moral foundations of the genre. Known internationally for influencing the style of cinematic combat – just look at The Matrix trilogy and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Yuen treats the film as a way…