There’s always something so exciting when new music drops – the uncertainty and anticipation of what the album might hold, especially in K-pop. The genre itself is on another level when it comes to creativity and vibrancy, never feeling dull or lacklustre. One group consistently goes the extra mile to embody all of that while…
Tag: review
KANGDANIEL Delivers a Powerful and Polished Performance in London
If you’ve never heard of KANGDANIEL (also known as Kang Daniel) the South Korean singer who first captured hearts as a member of the wildly successful boy group Wanna One, then now is the perfect moment to discover him. Having debuted six years ago, Daniel’s journey in the music industry has been anything but linear….
Riding the Wave: Big Ocean Reflect on “Underwater” and Their European Journey – Exclusive Interview
Big Ocean, the world’s first K-pop group made up of hard-of-hearing members, is truly one of a kind. Formed through auditions by Parastar Entertainment, the trio uses a mix of smart technology, visual cues, and relentless practice to perfect their performances. Their debut single, GLOW, a cover of H.O.T’s classic, incorporates Korean sign language to…
Why KATSEYE’s “Gnarly” is a Must-Listen for 2025’s Music Fans
After crashing onto the scene with their debut EP SIS (Soft Is Strong) and snagging the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Emerging Artists and Heatseekers Albums Charts, KATSEYE are back and louder than ever. Enter Gnarly, a no-holds-barred club banger filled with thundering 808s, rave-ready synths, and a swagger that refuses to quit. It’s bold,…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with E.oni, Director of “Love in the Big City”
In the contemporary Korean cinema, director Lee Eon-hee, known professionally as E. oni, is recognised for her quietly revolutionary voice in telling human stories. E.oni was part of the first graduating class of the Korea National University of Arts, where she majored in film. Her early career was rooted in foundational, behind-the-scenes work: she served…
27th Far East Film Festival: “Love in the Big City” Review
If you never thought a plastic uterus model would make a good plant, prepare yourself for some redecorating. The stolen emblem sitting atop glass marbles as the years tick away is the most profound object you’ll see in the whole of E.oni’s Love in the Big City, a film that, despite the assumed subject matter,…
Inspiring K-Pop Performance by Big Ocean: Overcoming Challenges – Concert Review
It’s no easy task to become a K-pop idol. Now imagine doing that while being hard of hearing. Sounds near impossible? Not for Big Ocean, the world’s first hard-of-hearing K-pop group, who just floored London with a concert full of great choreography and more charisma than Soho on a Saturday night. Comprised of Lee Chan-yeon,…
The Power of Fire and Sound: GEMINI, BLASÉ, Kwaca and DJ Pool Live in London – Concert Review
Before reading it, drop everything! Because this article will need your full attention. GEMINI, BLASÉ, Kwaca and DJ Pool blew my mind at their London show! DJ Pool just took us straight to the disco world, and it felt like stepping into Fabric or Ministry of Sound on a Saturday night, bass in your chest…
wave to earth: Leading Korean Indie Rock onto the Global Stage
In recent years, South Korea’s global musical influence has expanded well beyond the borders of K-pop. Among the acts reshaping what Korean music looks – and sounds – like on the world stage is wave to earth. This Seoul-based indie rock trio, consisting of Kim Daniel (vocals, guitar), Shin Dong-gyu (drums), and Cha Soon-jong (bass),…
82MAJOR Step Up: Bold Sound, Bigger Vision on 3rd Mini-Album “SILENCE SYNDROME”
82MAJOR are on the run. Well, at least they are in their latest music video to TAKEOVER, accompanied by their 3rd mini-album SILENCE SYNDROME. If it’s your day one with 82MAJOR, six prison escapees getting down on a train track while dressed in soft pink pyjamas with bunny motifs will be the first impression you…
“Cloud” Review: Capitalism and Alienation in the Digital Age
Few directors are as skilled as Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa when it comes to articulating the alienation and paranoia of the digital age. One of his first international breakouts, already decades deep into his career, was 2001’s Pulse, a distressing ghost story about the gradual supernatural invasion of the online world which managed to accurately…
Introducing HANA: J-Pop’s Fearless New Group Debuts with “ROSE”
The wait is over! HANA, the seven-member girl group formed through the wildly popular audition show No No Girls, officially makes their major-label debut today with the superb single ROSE. A swagger-filled track that depicts themes of survival and self-love leads the way into a fresh, fearless wave of J-pop. ROSE doesn’t just introduce HANA,…
Discover Joh!: The Chaotic Soul of Hyperpop-R&B – Exclusive Interview
If you’re unfamiliar with Joh! – yes, the exclamation point is part of the name, and yes, he earns it – consider this your official introduction to one of the most exciting genre-pushing voices coming out of Korea right now. A former hip-hop kid turned hyperpop-R&B romantic with a chaotic soul, Joh! is the type…
Fresh Boy Group NEWBEAT On Living Up To Their Name
We’ve witnessed pineapple hair, wolf howls, and crazier; with K-Pop, there’s no limit to how weird and wonderful things can get. Newest kids on the block NEWBEAT have decided to spark their debut with something very fitting to their name: real hiccups recorded on their predebut release of the same name. At a recent press…
