Paris is hardly short of festivals, but on 24 and 25 October 2026, something rather different is taking shape at the Paris Event Center. The A Festival is setting out to bring several corners of Asian entertainment into the same space: K-pop and T-pop, P-pop, Japanese rock and pop, Chinese artists, Thai hip-hop, music from…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 7: Joong and Dunk – Roman Adventures, New Challenges and a Little “Dare You to Death” – Exclusive Interview
Rome had plenty of reasons to be loud that weekend, and JIB DREAM FANMEET 7 added a few more. Two days, some very excited fans and a line-up of much-loved Thai stars – the event certainly gave the city something to shout about, and yes, there was a lot of shouting. Joong Archen and Dunk…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 7 – No Easy Roles: Sky and Nani on “WU”, Trust, Growing Together and Fanmeet in Rome – Exclusive Interview
There is something quite extraordinary happening with Thai BL right now; its stars are no longer loved only at home, or even within Asia. They arrive in cities such as Rome and are greeted by fans who know the characters they have played, the stories they have told and the journeys they have followed despite…
TAEMIN “PHASE 1: Soft Violence” Review: An Attempt At Something New – EP Review
What do you do when you’re an artist with an already well-established visual and musical language? Do you tap back into what everyone loves you for, or try something new? Taemin is having a go at the latter in his newest 10-track EP PHASE 1: Soft Violence, promoting it with a title track we wouldn’t…
Love Includes Everything: JUNHEE on “LOVED METHOD”, Healing and the Music He Wants to Leave Behind – Exclusive Interview
JUNHEE, a member of the beloved K-pop group A.C.E, has worked incredibly hard to reach where he is today. Although his solo career is still in its early stages, he has already shown that he has no intention of pausing. One thing that has always impressed me is that, whether with A.C.E or as a…
XG’s THE CORE Tour Lands in London
Japan has never lacked girl groups; what it has lacked is the international machinery needed to turn its acts into global phenomena. Much of the Japanese idol industry has traditionally focused on its domestic audience, leaving many talented performers without the visibility they deserve elsewhere. Yet when a Japanese girl group does break through internationally,…
coldrain Announce Eighth Album “OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE”
Japanese alt-metal band coldrain are back with new music. The Nagoya five-piece has announced their eighth studio album, OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE, set for release on September 25, 2026, via Century Media Records. The announcement comes alongside a new single, “EX-HUMANITY”, their first new song since the OPTIMIZE EP arrived in October last year. The new track hits…
K-Music Festival Returns to London with Its Most Diverse Programme Yet
The K-Music Festival returns to London this autumn with another ambitious programme that highlights the richness and diversity of Korean music. Running from 28 September to 23 November, this year’s edition brings together traditional folk music, shamanic rituals, jazz, hip-hop, indie rock, experimental sound art and even video game music, offering audiences a chance to…
ZELO Finds a New Sound with “ELA” – Single Review
ZELO has never been afraid to try something different, and “ELA” is another step away from the sound many fans first knew him for. Instead of going for a powerful K-pop sound, ZELO takes a different approach with the song. The Latin-inspired pop track is light and very catchy. But while the melody feels carefree,…
The Wind: Keeping Feel-Good K-Pop Alive with “Second Wind: S#00” – Exclusive Interview
Just ahead of their appearance at Sound in Colors – the biggest and first-ever K-pop festival in Poland – View of the Arts sat down with The Wind following the release of their 4th mini-album, Second Wind: S#00. Since their debut in May 2023, the six-member group – Thanatorn, Choi Hanbin, Park Hayuchan, An Chanwon,…
“Kung Fu Soccer” (2026) Review: Stephen Chow’s Ambitious Return Doesn’t Quite Score
Surprisingly announced just one month before its release, Kung Fu Soccer (2026) grossed over 260 million RMB (38 million USD) on its opening day, surging past 2.1 billion RMB (310 million USD) within three weeks. The film quickly secured its place as China’s second-highest-grossing release of the year. The craze was driven by none other…
Trapped Inside the Hive Mind: “Colony” Review
Yeon Sang-ho, the director of Train to Busan (2016) and Peninsula (2020), once again ventures into the zombie film genre he is well-versed in. In Colony, the zombie outbreak takes place in an enclosed high-rise in Seoul. The visceral horror of the film is enhanced by its choreography, sound design, as well as its claustrophobic…
ZELO Explores Latin Pop on New Single “ELA”
B.A.P member ZELO has returned with his new digital single, “ELA”, a vibrant Latin pop-inspired song that combines dance beats with a surprisingly emotional story. With tropical percussion, electric guitar and a catchy hook, “ELA” is the kind of song made for summer. It draws on the global pop hits of the 2010s, but ZELO adds his own…
HYPER JAPAN 2026: Exploring THE SIXTH LIE’s Impact on Anime and Rock – Interview
Hyper Japan is always full of surprises, but THE SIXTH LIE never needed one. The Japanese rock band walked on stage, played the first song and straight away had the audience with them. Whether fans knew every lyric or had only discovered them through anime, everyone seemed equally caught up in the performance. While the…
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