The Unbearable Lightness of Being: BTS’ “BE” Album Review

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…

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…

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…

KNK Light Up The Stage With Their Stellar Performance in London

K-Pop is the leading trend these days, there is no doubt about it; it does not only stand for a change of power on the charts, no: the door to South Korea’s cultural and commercial invasion of western markets has been blown wide open. It comes as no surprise that more K-talents have been set…

“Just like BTS, EXO and BlackPink, We Want to Keep Working Hard in Order to Become a Popular Group Everywhere.” – In Conversation with KNK, a South Korean Idol Group

KNK, a South Korean idol group, first saw the light of day in 2016 when they debuted on the domestic market. They relatively quickly made a name for themselves with their mature and serious looks, music and gentlemen attires. In 2017, a huge crowd welcomed their performance at the Feel Korea concert in London and…