[Album review] Groovy and emotional, that’s Leo of Vixx

Vixx’s Leo“Canvas”(Stone Music Entertainment)Welcome to the dreamy land of this magician. It seems like Leo, an effortlessly seductive vocalist and songwriter of Vixx, had a pile of stories to unpack on his first solo album “Canvas” -- not a single track in the seven-track collection sounds insipid. Poised as an artist, Leo did a good job in painting his canvas with his own colors, as the songs, woven together with overarching groovy beats, trendy melodies and an emotional attitude, reflect his

Aug. 1, 2018

Tiger JK to spearhead Black Music Festival

South Korean hip-hop artist Tiger JK will oversee the Black Music Festival, a music event that celebrates various genres of black music including R&B, hip-hop, soul and jazz.The rapper has taken on the role of art director for the two-day outdoor festival, which will take place from Aug. 24-25 in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province.Tiger JK said he hopes to see amateur and up-and-coming hip-hop musicians take the stage and keep hip-hop culture alive at the festival. (Yonhap)The BMF embraces the cultura

July 31, 2018

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek on chamber music spree

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek will perform in a series of chamber music concerts in August, starting with a performance with the rising Veits Quintet on Aug. 14 at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul.Established in 2012, Veits Quintet is a Berlin-based ensemble group of young artists who are currently performing at prestigious orchestras in Europe. The members are flutist Cho Sung-hyun, oboist Ham Kyeong, clarinetist Kim Han, Portugese hornist Ricardo Silva and bassoonist Rie Koyama.Veits Quintet received i

July 31, 2018

[Herald Review] Kendrick Lamar storms Seoul, despite glitches

The first concert in Korea for hip-hop royalty Kendrick Lamar was long overdue, but he showed his mastery in Seoul, despite a short set with a few hiccups. Performing before the sell-out crowd for the Hyundai Card Super Concert on Monday at Jamsil Sports Complex, Lamar proved his reputation through and through, as he orchestrated the 20,000 crowd.Opening the action was “DNA,” a wildly-popular song that you hear it in virtually every hip-hop club in Korea.  Kendrick Lamar performs in a concert he

July 31, 2018

KARD: 'We're walking our own path'

Mixed-gender group KARD has had a world tour even before its official debut in its home country. The group has collected more than 1 million subscribers on its official YouTube channel, and the video for its first digital single recently surpassed 20 million YouTube views.Since KARD is better known to overseas K-pop fans rather than locals, its two EPs from July and November last year have not charted high on local music streaming services.But the four-piece group said during a recent interview

July 29, 2018

K-pop light sticks explained: BTS, Apink, GOT7, Mamamoo

In K-pop culture, a light stick is so much more than a glow stick for concerts.While it is a practical item to have in dark concert venues, light sticks act more like a symbol of fans’ unity and strength. It enables artists to look out into a crowd and see a sea of their trademark color being emitted from light sticks they have created.Although they typically have the same purpose, artists put in the effort to add a special twist to their light sticks, whether it be using a specific color, type

July 29, 2018

Twice wins No. 1 on ‘Inkigayo’ without appearance

Girl group Twice topped the charts again on the local music show “Inkigayo,” even without making an appearance. This is the group’s sixth win on a music show. Twice took first place Sunday for its new song “Dance the Night Away.” Twice wins No. 1 on a music show (Screen capture from SBS’ ‘Inkigayo’)Since the release of the song on July 9, the group has earned a total of six wins on the main local music shows, including “Inkigayo,” “M Countdown,” “Music Bank,” and “Show! Music Core.”Promotional a

July 29, 2018

iKON B.I melts fans’ hearts with teaser for ‘New Kids: Continue”

With just four days left to its much anticipated return, iKON unveiled Sunday a teaser image of B.I for its upcoming EP “New Kids: Continue” via YG Entertainment’s official blog (www.yg-life.com). In the teaser, B.I looks straight ahead while resting his face on one hand. He wears a red sleeveless T-shirt and has red highlights in his jet black hair.  iKON B.I teaser poster with lyrics (YG Entertainment)The boy band, known for its creative lyrics, is poised to return with its third installment o

July 29, 2018

Zico releases more teaser images for ‘Soulmate’

Rapper Zico of boy band Block B released more teaser images for his upcoming single “Soulmate” featuring singer IU.The rapper’s agency Seven Seasons Entertainment released an image of Zico dressed in a checkered shirt with chino pants inside a yellow elevator. The elevator is distorted like a wave, evoking a dreamlike image.(Seven Seasons Entertainment)Previous teaser images portrayed surreal imagery of a yellow elevator door filled with red flowers and Earth seen from outer space.“Soulmate” is

July 29, 2018

Fans saddened by death of Spectrum’s rapper Kim Dong-yoon

Kim Dong-yoon, the main rapper of K-pop group Spectrum, died Friday, shocking his fans both at home and abroad. Fans were deeply saddened by the news. The 20-year-old had been active on social media up until the day before his death. Not only did he post pictures on the group’s Instagram account, he also initiated a livestream broadcast to interact with fans.  (MIXNINE)On the day of his death, Spectrum’s agency WYNN Entertainment said, “Spectrum member Kim Dong-yoon left our side. It was so sudd

July 29, 2018

Wanna One not quite over? Rumors swirl over contract extension

One of the hottest boy bands in K-pop today, Wanna One has an expiration date: Dec. 31, 2018. The project band comprises former trainees of different talent agencies here who won the opportunity to perform together by placing atop the standings of the second season of “Produce 101.”Hopes are running high for their fans, however, as Swing Entertainment recently met with the agencies of each of the bandmates to discuss the future of the group. (CJ E&M)“We did meet with the agencies, but nothing ha

July 27, 2018

Lawmaker discusses military service exemption for BTS

Well-known lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung has criticized the current military exemption law, perhaps giving reason to hope to global megahit boy band BTS. All able-bodied men in Korea are conscripted in the military for around two years. Exemptions can be granted, however, to those who rank atop certain international competitions designated by the government.  (Big Hit Entertainment)“The list of the designated international competitions is unfair,” Ha said in an interview with a local radio show Friday.

July 27, 2018

Bob Dylan set for his 1st concert in Seoul in 8 years

American music icon and Nobel laureate for literature Bob Dylan will awe Korean fans in his first concert in Seoul in eight years, set to take place at a venue in the southern part of the capital on Friday.The 77-year-old singer-songwriter reportedly arrived in Seoul on a chartered plane through Gimpo International Airport on Thursday, one day before the concert at the Gymnastics Arena of Olympic Park in southern Seoul. (AFP-Yonhap)It is his first performance in Seoul since he last threw a conce

July 27, 2018

Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang displays wide-ranging virtuosity in Pyeongchang

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- The 2018 Pyeongchang Music Festival is a great chance to hear versatile violinist Clara-Jumi Kang. She will appear as a chamber music member on one occasion, as a concertmaster of an orchestra on another day and then -- of course -- as a soloist.She might have been tired from the previous night’s performance, but she appeared to be in high spirits while talking about music. “I think I have this mode that gets switched on when I am participating in a festival like

July 26, 2018

More K-pop singers creating own video content

More Korean singers are creating their own video content online amid the rising popularity of YouTubers and internet broadcast jockeys. Comedians Kim Sook, Kang Yu-mi, Kim Ki-soo are among celebrities who create personalized content but singers are now jumping on the bandwagon. Singer and artist Kwon Ji-an, better known as Solbi, launched her own YouTube channel Roman Princess Solbi on Friday to better communicate with her fans. She plans to upload four videos per week related to eating and drin

July 26, 2018

Pyeongchang Music Festival kicks off, pianist Son Yeol-eum makes her debut as director

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Pianist Son Yeol-eum, the new artistic director of the Pyeongchang Music Festival, appeared nervous but excited to see the very first concert she has devoted herself to. The Korea Herald met the artistic director Wednesday at the convention center near the Alpensia Concert Hall and Music Tent. “It’s unbelievable. I had doubted this day would ever come, but here I am, feeling nervous yet excited. The only thing I am very certain of is that the performances will be

July 25, 2018

Preorders for BTS’ new album top 1.5m in Korea

BTS’ upcoming album “Love Yourself: Answer” has sold over 1.5 million albums nationwide, according to BTS’ management agency Big Hit Entertainment on Wednesday.Preorders for the album began July 18 and ended Tuesday with a total of 1,511,910 orders, recording the highest number of preorders for BTS. (Big Hit Entertainment)“Love Yourself: Answer” sold 62,000 more preordered albums than “Love Yourself: Tear,” which was released in April. “Love Yourself: Answer” has also claimed the No. 1 spot in A

July 25, 2018

VIXX’s Leo confirms first solo concerts

Leo of VIXX will perform next month, this time without his bandmates.According to Jellyfish Entertainment, Leo’s first solo concerts will be held at the Blue Square in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. They share the same title with his first EP as a solo artist, “Canvas.”  The poster for Leo’s upcoming concert. (Jellyfish Entertainment)The EP will be released at 6 p.m. next Tuesday, with the lead track “Touch&Sketch.”Tickets for the concerts will be made available online at I

July 24, 2018

Twice, Apink wrap up promotional activities

Girl groups Twice and Apink officially wrapped up their respective promotional activities with appearances on SBS K-pop ranking show “Inkigayo,” Sunday.Twice edged out Apink to take the No. 1 spot with “Dance the Night Away,” securing the top spot on all five major TV music ranking programs, including KBS’ “Music Bank” and MBC’s “Show! Music Core.” Twice (JYP Entertainment)“I’d like to thank Once for always being there for us for the past two weeks (of the promotional period) despite the heat,”

July 23, 2018

[Herald Interview] Victon believes in value of taking it slow

When Victon’s recent single “Time of Sorrow,” which was released in May, topped Japan’s Tower Record chart earlier this month, the bandmates could hardly believe their eyes and ears. The song was the group’s first song since its debut in November 2016 to enter the top 100 of a Korean music chart and won third on popular music show “M!Countdown.” However, the song’s crossover success in Japan, a country where the group had not officially debuted, was completely unexpected. “I first heard the news

July 23, 2018