BE is BTS’ fourth (Korean) studio album and follows the record-breaking Map of the Soul: 7 from earlier in the year (February 21). Released on the 20th November, six months after the later, BE is a project album that is best understood as a personal response to COVID-19. BE is grounded in reality; while the…
Category: Music
In Conversation with DONGKIZ, a South Korean Idol Group
“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…
“Artists Must Guard and Maintain One’s Own Style and yet Be Able to Show Various Colours.” – In Conversation with SURL, a South Korean Rock Band
It has been just over two years since SURL, a pop/rock band, debuted. Although they are fresh-faces in the South Korean music market, Ho-seung, Han-bin, Myung-seok and Do-yeon have already won over not only a domestic audience but also gained a decent European fanbase. In September of 2018, SURL released their 1st official song called…
“I Want to Definitively Develop My Colour as a Dancer so That I Become an Irreplaceable Master No One Else Can Copy.” – In Conversation with Jay Kim, a Contemporary Dancer and Choreographer
Dancing has been a way of life for Jay Kim, a former 1Million Dance Studio choreographer and contemporary dancer, since he was 13 years old. Known for his artistic choreography for K-pop idols such as Taemin of SHINee, Luhan (former member of EXO), The Boyz, Jay Park, and an emerging group called KAACHI, Jay Kim…
“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…
“My Latest Album, UNITY II, Is the Beginning of My New Chapter as a Musician.” – In Conversation with Samuel Seo, a South Korean Artist
Neo-soul is believed to have originated in the mid-1990s with the exquisite work of Tony! Toni! Toné! and with D’Angelo’s debut album, Brown Sugar, released in 1995. While Tony! Toni! Toné! was well-known for their soul and R&B sound in the late 1980s, it was their 4th album, the last one they made as a…
“My Constant Wish Is to Make Good Music and Have a Lot of People Listen to It.” – In Conversation with Grizzly, a South Korean Singer-songwriter
R&B, like many other musical genres, has evolved over the years. Originally having its roots in blues, jazz and gospel, with time, it embraced a mixture of pop and soul with elements of hip-hop. And with many new emerging talents on the horizon, the R&B music market is experiencing a huge boom – just look…
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…
“Being an Artist Has Opened Me up to Loving a Much Bigger and Beautiful World.” – In Conversation with Dabit
Born and raised in the state of Ohio, Kim Jeong-wook, also known by his stage name Dabit, discovered his passion for music at the age of 10. Prior to moving to Seoul, South Korea, he went to a school for contemporary music and jazz. Dabit began his professional journey as a solo artist back in…
‘MILEZAWAY’ Is an Exciting Burst of Immersive Grooves That Will Make One Dance Throughout the Day and Night – Jvde’s EP Review
Prior to becoming a solo artist, Jvde Milez, a South Korean singer-songwriter, was a part of a boy group called Big Star. Upon halting his career as a K-pop idol, he dived into R&B and Hip-hop and began working on his own music as well as collaborating with singers such as Zelo (former B.A.P member),…
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…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 