83rd Venice Film Festival: “Diane in the Loop” Review

A mother wants to leave the past behind but her daughter wants to dig it back up. That difficult starting point is the premise of Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni’s Diane in the Loop. Diane (Ninon Borsei) learns that her mother (Sandrine Blancke) was raped three years before she was born. For Diane, discovering what…

Asian Cinema at the 70th BFI London Film Festival

The BFI London Film Festival has unveiled the programme for its 70th edition, and Asian cinema will once again form an essential part of the celebration. From long-awaited works by some of the continent’s most respected filmmakers to daring debuts, intimate documentaries and large-scale genre spectacles, this year’s selection reflects the extraordinary breadth of filmmaking…

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,…