“I was drawn to how I can express my own thoughts and emotions through the lyrics or the melody”, says Jaechan, a 19-year-old member of a South Korean group, DONGKIZ, when asked if music was his future. While not all of the members thought of starting their adult lives as a part of a K-pop…
Category: K-pop
“I Will Work Harder to Grow Into an Incredible Artist.” – In Conversation with Kisu, a South Korean Singer-Songwriter
What really happens to idols after leaving their K-pop groups? Following several years of training and sometimes years of performing, regardless of their level of fame, the future is often bleak. There are various reasons for why idols part ways with their companies, but from what one has seen, it is often because of the…
In Conversation with IN2IT, a South Korean Idol Group
Can an idol group become independent artists after leaving their management company? They surely can, as IN2IT are living proof of that. Founded through a survival show, Boys24, the group officially debuted in October 2017 with the song Amazing which quickly brought them recognition among not only Korean but also international fans. Consisting of six…
BTS’ “Map Of The Soul ON:E” Online Concerts Worthy of a Las Vegas Residency
When the details of Map of the Soul ON:E were first released, the event was planned to take place both offline (with appropriate social distancing in place) and online. However subsequent clusters of COVID-19 in South Korea meant that the plans for the offline concert had to be scrapped as stricter regulations on gatherings of…
“I Cannot Say That Working in the Music Industry Is Easy, However, I Am Very Thankful That I Can Still Make Music” – In Conversation with AOORA, a South Korean Artist
Music has been in Park Min Jun’s veins, a.k.a AOORA, since he was a young boy; his passion for the arts led him to majoring in dance and art. After debuting as a solo artist in 2009, he was seen as a young and promising artist. Two years later, he launched his career as a…
Dancing the Night Away: Review of BTS’ ‘Dynamite’
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now” – Art Buchwald. Dynamite is BTS’ first English language single since their collaboration with Steve Aoki for Waste it On Me (25th October 2018). The surprise release of the single was announced on 2nd August and accompanied by a countdown…
Golden Child, an Idol Boy Group, Announces Their 1st Online Concert
South Korean boy band Golden Child announces their first online concert to meet the global fans, Goldenness [fan club’s name]. Golden Child’s agency, Woollim Entertainment, states that the concert titled GOLDEN CHILD ONTACT CONCERT – NOW will be held on September 13, 2020, at 3 PM (KST). This show will be co-produced by Woollim Entertainment…
D-2: The Pursuit of Perfection (Album Review)
Min Yoon-gi’s alternative rap persona Agust D (as separate from Suga) dropped his second mixtape, appropriately titled D-2, on 22nd May 2020. Earlier the same week, Big Hit started a mysterious countdown showing a barely distinguishable shadowy figure against a black background with the timer at the centre, starting from D-7. On D-2, the mixtape…
“We Will Work Harder Every Day until Our Sincerity Can Reach the UK Audience.” – In Conversation with UNVS, a South Korean Idol Group
The trend, where K-pop was mostly built of incredible dance performances and not so much of strong vocals – let’s put aside experienced groups such as SHINee, EXO, Brown Eyed Girls, Super Junior, Girl’s Day or BTS as those guys can deliver striking shows – has recently changed its course. While dance performances are still…
With Their Vivid Performance, DAY6 Takes Over the Brixton Academy in London
JYP Entertainment, one of the main players on the Korean music market, made the right decision by giving DAY6 their debut. Since 2015, the group has been storming the world with its rock, K-pop and pop-punk tunes continuously. Comprised of Jae, Sung-jin, Young K, Wonpil and Do-woon, the group embarked on their 2nd World Tour…
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