Sam Kim debuts two years after ‘K-pop Star’

Korean-American musician Sam Kim will release the first part of his debut album “My Name is SAM” on March 28, the singer’s agency Antenna Music announced Wednesday. 　Kim was the runner-up in the third season of the SBS music competition program “K-pop Star.” In 2014, Kim signed with Antenna Music, which is run by Yoo Hee-yeol, one of the judges of the television program. 　Kim, a self-taught singer and songwriter, will present his debut album, which is written entirely by himself.  Singer-songwri

March 17, 2016

Indie bands, Artists Union fight back against ‘unfair’ contracts

Public backlash continues against big-time media entertainment and production companies in Korea after a number of local indie artists recently went public about their working conditions. 　The controversy first ignited when some of the artists who helped make the soundtrack to the popular TV drama “Cheese in the Trap” took to social media to vent their anger at not being paid for their work.　The outrage has spiraled throughout the local artist community, prompting the Artists Social Union -- a l

March 16, 2016

Mariah Carey to turn life into reality series

NEW YORK (AFP) - Mariah Carey announced Tuesday that she would star in a reality television series about her upcoming tour and marriage.　The pop diva known for her soaring five-octave range said that the E! entertainment network would follow her for an eight-part series entitled “Mariah's World.”　“Mariah is one of the most captivating pop superstars of our time and one of the rare artists whose first name alone is instantly recognized around the globe,” Jeff Olde, the network’s executive vice pr

March 16, 2016

[Herald interview] A violinist’s relentless pursuit of joint South -North Korea orchestra

Even after eight years of dedicated struggle and failed attempts to hold a unified South and North Korean orchestra performance, violinist and human rights activist Won Hyung-joon has not lost hope. 　Inspired by the work of Daniel Barenboim, who in 1999 founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra composed of Israeli and Palestinian musicians, Won established the Lindenbaum Music Company in 2009, combining his musical and humanitarian efforts to forge a historic orchestra alliance between the two ho

March 15, 2016

[Hallyu power] How paths crossed for Love X Stereo

As with most indie bands, things were never planned to a T for electro-rock duo Love X Stereo.　Asked about the meaning behind the band’s name in an interview last week, the two members looked at each other and laughed. “Bands hate being asked that question,” member Toby Hwang said before adding that it had been a mixture of happenstance and compulsion.　“I’m a big fan of The Cardigans,” said Hwang, seated on a rickety chair in the duo’s basement studio in northern Seoul. Electro-rock band Love X

March 15, 2016

Busan artist receives Sony photography prize

Busan-based photographer and graphic designer Lee Chang-hun has won the first prize of the Korea National Award, which is part of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.　Kim Tae-hoon and Kim Seok-jin won the second and third prizes respectively, in the Korean category of the world’s biggest photography competition.  “Wonderland” by Lee Chang-hun (World Photography Organization)　The National Awards competition rewards the best single image taken by a local photographer. It is held in 60 countries

March 15, 2016

In Whitney exhibit, Poitras explores the art of surveillance

NEW YORK (AP) -- Here's a question you’ve likely never asked yourself: Can covert surveillance be beautiful?　But you might be asking it as you stroll through "Astro Noise," journalist and filmmaker Laura Poitras' exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art, in which images stemming from mass government surveillance are, in a number of cases, physically striking.　Take, for example, the patterns of bright greens, blues and oranges adorning the wall as one enters the exhibit. Seen from afar, they

March 15, 2016

Lee Hi returns -- more pensive, still passionate

It’s been four years since high school student Lee Hi made judges’ jaws drop on audition show “K-Pop Star” with her precocious rendition of Jazmine Sullivan’s “Bust Your Windows” -- a song about smashing an unfaithful lover’s car.　It’s been three years since she debuted as a solo singer with retro-soul album “1,2,3,4.”　Now 21 years old, the still-young starlet has returned after a long hiatus with new album “Seoulite,” released March 9. The lead track “Breathe” is a soft, piano-based ballad; Lee

March 15, 2016

Yoga class, craft beer brewing, lunch with artists

Tango dance, yoga and craft beer brewing -- activities you may never imagine would be taking place at museums -- are happening in traditional art museums.  In an effort to broaden their audience base, museums are coming up with programs to make themselves more accessible to the general public. In addition to the traditional docent-guided tours and artist talks, museums now offer a chance for visitors to have a hands-on experience not only with art, but also with other diverse cultural fields.  D

March 14, 2016

[Herald interview] Opera director Umberto Fanni to attempt first world opera production

Italian pianist-turned-artistic director Umberto Fanni has his eyes set on premiering the world’s first global opera production. 　Once a touted concert pianist, Fanni is currently director general of the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman, where he is working on his latest large-scale international project, looking to bridge the gap between global opera performances. 　During his first visit to Korea, Fanni is consulting with the head of the Korea National Opera about the state-run opera’s partici

March 14, 2016