Most contemporary sci-fi blockbusters proudly wear their influences on their sleeve. In a movie culture where franchises are dominant, any nods to beloved films of the genre’s past can help gravitate an audience’s attention towards any original project; as much as science fiction thrives on originality, when making movies on this scale, it doesn’t hurt…
“We Are Very Grateful to Those Who Have Supported Us.” – In Conversation with XEED, a South Korean Idol Group
K-pop has become such a huge phenomenon that even the Billboard chart can’t deny the greatness of the genre. It evolved throughout the years, not only in how idols execute their choreography, which is a true spectacle nowadays, but also in their use of other languages, such as English and Japanese. The most popular is,…
Seo Ji-hoon on Acting and His Role of Seok Jae-beom in “Revange of Others”
Seo Ji-hoon, a 25-year-old South Korean actor, debuted in 2016 in Signal, a drama show that consists of a gripping multilayered plot. Although Seo took on a minor role, he quickly gained recognition and was cast in Matching Boys Archery and The Legendary Shuttle, with the latter giving him his first nomination for KBS Drama…
Jackson Wang Brings Magic to London’s Eventim Apollo
The lights faded away, music began to play, and the Magic Man show commenced. The spectacle that we, the audience, witnessed at Jackson Wang’s London concert was purely magical. As part of the artist’s world tour, MAGIC MAN, with only two European stops (London and Paris), Jackson proved that he is one of the best…
Strong, Stylish, Sensuous: SF9’s “The Piece Of9” Mini-Album Review
Less than a month after wrapping up their “Delight” tour in the USA, SF9 returns to the stage with their new mini-album “The PIECE OF9”. Bringing back the suits and sheer charisma, the boy group proves once again why they’re famous for their class. While SF9 has long been praised for having a strong, impenetrable…
SINCE – “I Feel a Great Deal of Relief Whenever I Release Music.” – Exclusive Interview
The hip-hop scene, despite all the richness of its various facets, has been dominated by men for years. And although it is a male-dominated industry, one can finally see a decent change within. And while Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Foxy Brown paved the way for female rappers in the 1990s and 2000s,…
Indigo at The O2 Welcomes JAY B, a South Korean Singer-songwriter
GOT7, an Idol group consisting of seven members: Jay B, Jackson Wang, BamBam, Mark, Jinyoung, Yugyeom and Joungjae, made history by being the first K-pop act to chart on Billboard’s Artist 100 since Psy (peaking at nr. 88), entering the chart at nr. 45. But that’s just one of their many successes. Formed in 2014,…
“I Have Been Quiet for Some Time, but I Am Back with More Arsenal, More Motivation, and More Love. Let’s Enjoy This Ride All Together” – In Conversation with Loopy
When Loopy steps on stage, he is so captivating that time seems to freeze, and all the verses he raps are a deep flow of emotions. Without a doubt, Loopy, born Lee Jin-yong, knows how to deliver a message through his music. Being based in both Seoul and Los Angeles opened his mind and allowed…
Lee Tae-sung On Movies and Arts – Exclusive Interview
What happens after watching Korean dramas for over 15 years? You develop first lead syndrome or second lead syndrome. Of course, this sounds absurd, but it does happen. Throughout the years, a few actors and actresses have really stuck in my head thanks to their acting, and that includes Lee Tae-sung. Although Lee Tae-sung was…
“I Love to Make Creative Meaningful Stuff, so When I Perform, I Can Show the Audience Who I Really Am.” – In Conversation with XENZU
What do we know about Chinese hip-hop? Although it’s been around for over 20 years in the country itself, it is in the last decade that the genre has been somewhat successful overseas. Many argue that Chinese is not suitable for rap music because it is a tonal language, however, those who claim that have…
“Broker” Review
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda has long claimed his biggest directorial influence is that of the British social realist master Ken Loach, even though the similarities between the pair prove superficial when examined beyond the surface. Both are most renowned for their humanist dramas that explore the struggles of those living on society’s margins, although their…
The More We Listened, the More It Became Clear That This Was Going to Be a Special Performance – Loopy Takes Over the O2 Academy Islington
Lee Jin-yong, also known as Loopy, is a one-of-a-kind South Korean artist. While initially pursuing a career in producing, his time spent living in Los Angeles had influenced the artist to become a rapper. Beginning his career in 2014 under the name Loopy, the artist grabbed my attention when he released his first mixtape, King…
K-pop Boy Group CIX to go on their 2nd World Tour, “Save Me, Kill Me”, in 2023, Including Six European Cities
Popular K-pop boy group CIX is heading to Europe and U.S. in January and March 2023. This will be the group’s 2nd World Tour, which will include six European cities. CIX is a five-member K-pop boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of members BX, Seunghun, Jinyoung, Yonghee and Hyunsuk. In 2019, CIX has actively promoted…
Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man: RM’s “Indigo” Review
Art doesn’t come from someone who takes the shortcut. Only by taking the longest and most strenuous path can art send forth its fragrance. Truth is only realized and expressed through suffering. Yun Hyong Keun Strictly speaking, Indigo is not Namjoon’s first solo album, as prior to this he had released two free mixtapes, RM…
