Kumho Art Hall violinists shine at international music competitions

Just a few weeks ago, three local Kumho Art Hall piano prodigies took the top three spots at this year’s Prague Spring International Music Competition in the Czech Republic. Kumho violinist Jang Yoo-jin has now added to the phenomenon of Korean musicians dominating the podiums at international music competitions with her first place win in Japan this weekend.　Jang, 25, took home first place in the violin section at this year’s sixth Sendai International Music Competition in Japan on Saturday, be

June 5, 2016

Solo K-pop acts go strong on Billboard chart

Solo albums released by K-pop singers Jonghyun, Tiffany and Jessica are ranking high on the Billboard World Albums Chart.　The most recent chart, which shows the results for the week of June 11, lists SHINee’s lead vocalist Jonghyun’s first album “She Is,” released on May 24, at the No. 4 spot.  　Reports say the position is a testament to the continued global popularity of five-member group SHINee, which debuted in 2008 under S.M. Entertainment. Lead vocalist Jonghyun of boy group SHINee (S.M. En

June 3, 2016

[Album Review] EXID’s ‘Street’ hovers between eclectic and hectic

EXID　“Street”　Banana Culture 　Five-member K-pop girl group EXID dropped its first LP album, consisting of 13 tracks and titled “Street,” on Wednesday. The album is coproduced by Shinsadong Tiger and EXID’s LE, who shows off her rapping, songwriting and producing talents here.　Over the past four years, EXID has released four digital singles and two EPs. 　The new album’s title track “L.I.E,” composed partly by LE, shows EXID in a significantly different light from last year’s hit tracks “Up & Down

June 3, 2016

[Album Review] Beth Orton turns to nature on electronic ‘Kidsticks’

Beth Orton　“Kidsticks” 　(Anti/Epitaph)　Beth Orton’s sixth album, “Kidsticks,” amalgamates electronic sounds with profuse references to nature, counterparts evenly matched in the intriguing mix.　With assistance from producer, cowriter and fellow Brit Andrew Hung, “Kidsticks” finds Orton following an experimental route, with nods to the likes of Talking Heads, Kraftwerk and Everything But The Girl.　Orton has been melding electronics with folksy vibes -- “folktronica” -- throughout her career. On “

June 3, 2016

[Album Review] The groove’s still the thing for Paul Simon

Paul Simon　“Stranger to Stranger” 　(Concord)　No ’60s folkie has written more great music for dancing than Paul Simon, and at 74 he still wants us to feel the beat. “Stranger to Stranger” showcases Rhymin’ Paul’s polyrhythms in new, exotic combinations by employing custom-made instruments with microtonal tunings created by 20th century composer and theorist Harry Partch.　It sounds better than that sounds. Along with Partch’s instruments, Simon uses doorbells, clapping, Italian EDM, Flamenco and A

June 3, 2016

EXID tops iTunes in Asian countries

K-pop girl group EXID’s first full-length studio album “Street,” released on Wednesday, has slayed charts at home and abroad.　Its lead song “L.I.E” topped domestic music charts Mnet, Genie, Bugs, Olleh Music and Soribada. A still from the music video of “L.I.E,” the lead song of EXID’s first studio album “Street” (Banana Culture)　The album was also released on iTunes on Tuesday and garnered attention in Asia. In Hong Kong, the album topped the K-pop albums chart and the lead song also topped the

June 3, 2016

EXO to drop new album ‘EX’ACT’ next week

Boy band EXO will release a new album titled “EX’ACT,” featuring two contrasting lead singles, next week, its agency said Thursday.“Monster” is a dance track noted for its nose-smashing percussion. It is produced by Kenzie and LDN Noise and has straightforward lyrics about a man frustrated with the end of a relationship, S.M. Entertainment said.Kim Min-seok, who goes by the stage name Xiumin, of EXO (S.M. Entertainment)“Lucky One,” the other main song, fuses R&B, punk and dance music and explore

June 2, 2016

Big Bang to release World Tour movie

At the end of June, Big Bang will release a movie tracing the world tour concerts the group held last year, YG Entertainment said Wednesday. The film, titled “Big Bang MADE,” will open June 30 exclusively at CGV theaters in Korea. The group’s agency YG released a poster for the film on its official blog and social media outlets Wednesday. “Big Bang MADE” recounts the group’s 66 concerts held across 32 cities throughout 13 countries in North and South America, Australia and Asia from last April t

June 1, 2016

Dream Concert boasts stellar lineup

The 2016 Dream Concert, one of the largest K-pop concerts in Asia, will be held Saturday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul. This 22nd edition will feature a stellar lineup of 28 acts this year, ranging from established superstars EXO and Taemin of SHINee to recent fan favorites like Mamamoo and VIXX. Other acts include popular girl groups GFriend and Red Velvet, as well as rising newbies CLC, I.O.I and NCT U. Model and actor Hong Jong-hyun, actress Kim So-hyun and Super Junior mem

June 1, 2016

Chungmu Arts Center’s new head talks future of Korean productions

Newly appointed Chungmu Arts Center CEO Kim Seung-up has unveiled his vision for the arts center, which includes a heavy emphasis on creating and exporting more original Korean productions. 　Kim officially became head of the Chungmu Arts Center, formerly the Chungmu Art Hall, on Jan. 18, following the retirement of the center’s former leader Lee Jong-deok.  　On Wednesday, Kim met with press to announce his plans to make the Chungmu Arts Center the new “mecca of original Korean productions” and t

June 1, 2016

Leibovitz talks high-fliers and photo phobics at Hong Kong show

HONG KONG (AFP) -- From dancers to corporate executives and rights campaigners, the latest show by photographer Annie Leibovitz revolves around high-flying women she says are more confident than her previous subjects -- though some still hated having their picture taken. “Women: New Portraits” opened in Hong Kong on Tuesday, the fifth stop on a 10-city tour, displayed in a bare bones setting on a disused floor of an industrial building. The images were produced on an Epson printer in her office,

June 1, 2016

EXO to drop new album next month

Popular K-pop boy band EXO will release its third studio album next month, the group’s agency said Tuesday.It will be the first album by the act in six months, following “Sing for You,” a winter seasonal special album that came out in December. EXO (S.M. Entertainment)S.M. Entertainment said the album will come out on June 9, and the group will celebrate with a large-scale showcase at Olympic Park in southern Seoul upon the eve of its release.Debuting in 2012, EXO rose to fame in South Korea and

June 1, 2016

Dynamic Duo to hold first concert in three years

Korean hip-hop duo Dynamic Duo will kick off a solo concert tour next month, the duo’s agency Amoeba Culture announced Wednesday.　The duo released their eighth studio album, “Grand Carnival,” last year, touring across seven cities in North America. The group also performed at the record label’s “2015 Amoebahood Concert.”　It has been three years, however, since they last headlined their own concert, “Lucky Moment with Dynamic Duo” in 2013. Korean hip-hop duo Dynamic Duo (Amoeba Culture)　The duo w

June 1, 2016

YG inks deals with Chinese online giants

YG Entertainment has jump-started its expansion into China, forming financial partnerships with online giants there and collaborating with them on variety shows.　The entertainment agency that houses K-pop superstars Big Bang and Psy, among others, announced its partnership with China’s leading online and mobile ticketing company Beijing Weiying Technology Co. and the online video platform of Tencent, China’s most-used Internet service portal, at a ceremony at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday.　The fi

May 31, 2016