Then & Now: A look back at the changing tides of K-pop

From traditional Korean folk music and the sounds of pansori, to the heavily Western influence of Korea’s old rock ’n’ roll scene, all the way to the current trends of choreograph-heavy K-pop idol groups, the nation’s music industry has had a number seismic shifts. After the trend of popular music shifted from folk to rock to pop, the modern era of music gave birth to the continually growing, internationally recognized genre that is now referred as K-pop, or Korean pop music. Within the first ha

Aug. 13, 2013

War seen through a lens

Rare original prints by the late Robert Capa are on exhibit in Seoul for the first time to mark the centennial of the photographer’s birth and the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War. Hailed as the world’s greatest war photographer, Capa captured moments that became iconic war images and inspire many photojournalists and filmmakers like Steven Spielberg to this day. The exhibition features 160 photographs selected from the 937 photographs of the Capa collectio

Aug. 12, 2013

World’s first pop-art satellite headed to space

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― If aliens ever target Earth, Jon Gibson and Amanda White are counting on them having an appreciation for pop art and a sense of humor.The duo created an elaborate, Andy Warhol-like design that has been etched into a satellite’s panel, transforming the spacecraft into a replica of an oversized electrical charging device.“If someone is going to invade our planet, presumably they’re going to come in some sort of electronic, electricity-powered ship,” Gibson notes whimsically. “Ma

Aug. 12, 2013

Kings of Leon go ‘young and fun’ for new album ‘Mechanical Bull’

Rock group Kings of Leon are getting less serious with age, as the band prepares to bring “young and fun” new music on Friday to their fans across the world in a quirky collaboration with comedian Fred Armisen.Kings of Leon, formed by Followill brothers Caleb, Nathan, Jared and cousin Matthew, are marking a decade in the music industry since their debut album “Youth & Young Manhood” was released in 2003.After a hiatus in 2012, Kings of Leon are back on the road to support their upcoming sixth st

Aug. 11, 2013

The best is yet to come

This is the first in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. ― Ed.Before producer Artisan Beats was first exposed to Korean underground hip-hop in 1997, he said the scene was effectively nonexistent.He had just graduated from high school in Singapore and moved back to Korea for university. He was first exposed to hip-hop in the late ’80s, but by the ’90s, what he calls the “golden age of hip-hop,” he was a hip-hop head and had begun writing hi

Aug. 11, 2013

Eyelike: Expect the unexpected in ‘Pink Tape’

Expect the unexpected in ‘Pink Tape’f(x)“Pink Tape”(KT Music)Filled with catchy, weird-in-a-good-way tracks, “Pink Tape” stands out from the usual mainstream pop affair.Title track “Rum Pum Pum Pum” compares a first love to the first time a wisdom tooth comes in, pushing other teeth aside and leaving a hole when removed. The track features a bass line with a muted guitar riff, resulting in a one-of-a-kind song.“Shadow” is also a standout track about a girl stalking a person and calling it a “dat

Aug. 9, 2013

Sinawe returns after 7 years with album, DMZ show

Heavy-metal rock band Sinawe, nationally recognized as being the very first metal band in Korea, has made its return to the big stage. Last week the iconic rock band released “Mirrorview,” its first album in more than seven years.Members Shin Dae-cheol, Kim Jung-wook and Yoon Gee-hyun had previously commented that the concept of their latest album was “bibimbap.” The veteran rockers who are known for the hard-core rock tunes have tried to incorporate a variety of different styles into their newe

Aug. 9, 2013

Countertenor Andreas Scholl set for three recitals in Sept.

Prominent German countertenor Andreas Scholl will have a recital on Sept. 23 at Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall, three years since his last performance in Korea.A specialist in Baroque music who performs worldwide, Scholl is known for having a singing voice equivalent to that of a female contralto or mezzo-soprano. Countertenors were first introduced to the stage in the 16th century when women were restricted from performing, resulting in men with higher vocal ranges playing the female roles. 

Aug. 8, 2013

Culture Ministry acts against music chart manipulation

A day after major record labels YG Entertainment, S.M. Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and Star Empire Entertainment filed a complaint with Seoul Supreme Prosecutors’ Office claiming local digital music charts were being illegally manipulated, the Culture Ministry announced related countermeasures on Thursday.According to the complainants, the number of cases where firms were paid to illegally manipulate music chart rankings has been on the rise. The manipulators boost song rankings by playing

Aug. 8, 2013

S.M. Entertainment to open hallyu museum in L.A.

Entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment, home to Girls’ Generation, Super Junior, TVXQ, SHINee, f(x) and others, announced on Thursday that it would establish a museum-entertainment complex tentatively named SMTOWN Museum. In collaboration with S.M. Entertainment USA, the SMTOWN Museum, which will be located on Oxford Avenue in L.A.’s Koreatown, will feature an entertainment space, a Korean restaurant as well as other content related to K-pop stars including hologram displays. “Through the remod

Aug. 8, 2013

Crayon Pop's comic code captivates fans

A motorcycle helmet, a polo shirt buttoned up to the neck and loose jogging pants under a skirt: These are the costumes that members of girl group Crayon Pop decided to wear while hitting the stage with their latest single “Bar Bar Bar.”When South Korea’s music industry is flocked by girl groups competing with each other to show who can be sexier or sweeter, Crayon Pop’s tactics to distinguish itself from others with a comic concept seems to be working well. Hwang Hyun-chang, the chief executive

Aug. 8, 2013

Cellist-conductor Chang continues sharing music through orchestra

Now dedicating the majority of her time to conducting, cellist and conductor Chang Han-na is one of the brightest conducting talents of her generation as she takes up the roles of music director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Both appointments immediately followed her debut appearances with the orchestras. QPO is one of only two professional orchestras in the Gulf region and TSO is a Norwegian professional orchestra that per

Aug. 7, 2013

Wind band festival to gather Korean, foreign ensembles

The 4th Korea International Wind Band Festival kicks off Aug. 25 with a grand opening ceremony at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul. Under the slogan “Dynamic Korea,” the festival will feature bands and ensembles from Korea as well as abroad, with a select number of special invitees including world-renowned conductor Philippe Langlet and president of World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Bert Alders. The opening ceremony for the festival will feature performances by Jeju Provincial Seogwi

Aug. 7, 2013

Webcam to broadcast from Andy Warhol’s U.S. grave

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― The Andy Warhol Museum is launching a live video feed from the pop artist’s gravesite to honor his 85th birthday.The project, a partnership with the EarthCam webcam network, was to go live Monday at midnight, the museum said.Warhol museum director Eric Shiner said the project is titled “Figment” because of a Warhol quote in which the artist said, “I always thought I’d like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph and no name. Well, actually, I’d like it to say, ‘Figment.’”The s

Aug. 6, 2013