On a chilly winter day in Seoul, opposite the grandeur of Changgyeong Palace, I settled into a cosy café, patiently awaiting the arrival of Kim Kyu-jong. The moment he walked in, his bright smile radiated enthusiasm, instantly lighting up the entire space. Kim Kyu-jong is a man of many talents. Known for being a singer,…
Tag: Korean Artist
Kang Hui: Brushing Life’s Canvas with Smile Boy – Exclusive Interview
In the midst of a chilly Seoul afternoon, as snowflakes gently graced the city, I had the pleasure of meeting Kang Hui, a South Korean model, actor, and painter. Filled with warmth, Kang Hui shared insights into his creativity, where art intertwines with life, inspiration births vibrant canvases, and Smile Boy takes centre stage. In…
Crush Navigates Everyday Life with His New Full-length Album, “wonderego”
Almost four years after the release of 2019’s From Midnight To Sunrise, the K-R’n’B singer Crush is back with his emotionally packed full-length album, wonderego. Celebrating his tenth year in the industry, he made a successful return in 2022 with the Hip-hop single, Rush Hour featuring BTS’s J-Hope. The release went on to become a…
Bang Yedam’s Emotional Prelude: “Miss You” Pre-Release Single Review
Prior to his solo beginnings, singer-songwriter Bang Yedam saw his rise to fame in 2012 by competing in season two of the reality TV show SBS’ K-Pop Star. His talent landed him second place, leading him to sign with agency YG Entertainment. It was this that led him to triumph in the survival show YG…
KOREA ON STAGE IN LONDON: Xdinary Heroes – Exclusive Interview
The day that we discovered Xdinary Heroes was a happy one. Under JYP Entertainment’s sub-label, Studio J, this South Korean Rock band is literally EXTRAORDINARY. Consisting of Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon, these six musicians are rewriting the Korean Rock ‘N’ Roll rulebook. Xdinary Heroes officially emerged on the music scene on…
A Palette of Dreams: Kang Hye-jeong on Her Art, Inspiration, and StArt – Exclusive Interview
Kang Hye-jeong, a prolific South Korean painter known for her fascinating, vibrant abstract art, has created a harmony of colours that takes any art lover into a universe of untamed imagination. Her approach to the Impasto technique, combined with her creativity, paints a very lively picture of mythical horses, flourishing landscapes, and humans. Kang’s artwork…
Jungkook’s Star Shines Brightly on “Golden” – Album Review
Jungkook is the youngest member of the mega-group BTS and the last to debut as a solo artist. With eleven songs, his debut album, Golden, runs at just under 32 minutes. The album features two pre-release singles, the record-breaking “Seven” (feat. Latto) and “3D” (feat. Jack Harlow) which sees the return of David Stewart (part…
Moon Jong-up: From B.A.P to Solo Stardom
In January 2012, Moon Jong-up was unveiled as a member of the idol group B.A.P, a sextet that would impress many K-pop fans globally. In B.A.P, he served as a sub-vocalist and main dancer, showing off his versatile talent. The group made its official debut just nine days later, releasing the single album Warrior. I…
SE SO NEON Takes Over the Electric Brixton
Sitting in a cafe while pondering what I could write about SE SO NEON’s London show, one thing came to mind: there are not enough adjectives out there to describe how incredible the group was. Consisting of Hwang So-yoon and Park Hyun-jin, the duo bravely breaks the mould, presenting their unique approach to Rock on…
OFTB: Creating a Beautiful Sound in the World of Korean R&B – Exclusive Interview
If you’ve been paying attention to the music scene lately, chances are that you’ve come across K-R&B. The genre itself has been growing in popularity over the years, and while K-pop is still one of the most dominant music genres on the Korean market, K-R&B offers a new listening experience. Kang Juwon, a.k.a. Oceanfromtheblue, is…
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