Art that mirrors social networks’ connectedness

The fast pace and wide reach of social media is a source of inspiration for artist Lee Ye-seung. Social networks allow people to exchange information and ideas with people they have never met in person and expose content to a large number of people.Mirroring this interconnectedness, Lee came up with interactive kinetic media installations that operate on signals they receive from adjoining installations as well as the movements of viewers. They are on view at the Artside Gallery in Tongui-dong,

Feb. 15, 2016

Rainbow’s Jae-kyung opens up about scandal, popularity

Jae-kyung of Rainbow (OSEN)Rainbow’s leader Kim Jae-kyung spoke openly about the girl group’s views towards their lukewarm success as well as their member Hyun-young’s public relationship. At a media showcase at the Yes24 MUV Hall in Seoul on Monday, Jae-kyung said that the members supported Hyun-young’s public relationship with electro pop group Clazziquai’s singer Alex.“When we first heard the news, I honestly was a little proud of Hyun-young,” Jaekyung joked, as a media scandal meant Rainbow

Feb. 15, 2016

Girl group Rainbow brings the energy for ‘Prism’

 Girl group Rainbow (Kim Ji-young/The Korea Herald)The seven members of girl group Rainbow returned on Monday with their fourth EP “Prism,” powered by high-energy rock dance tracks, including their lead track “Whoo.”At a showcase for press at the Yes24 MUV Hall in Seoul Monday, leader Jaekyung said that the album was a result of combining the “opinions of the members” and the “opinions of our company.” “The lead track ‘Whoo’ is more special to us because we were able to participate in choosing i

Feb. 15, 2016

EXID sheds tears at first concert

　Five-member girl group EXID held their first concert in their four-year career, “EXID’s LEGGO SHOW,” on Sunday at 6 p.m. in Mapo-gu district, Seoul. 　The two-hour concert was attended by a 500-strong audience. They performed nine songs onstage, including megahit “Up&Down,” their debut song “I Feel Good,” and their latest single “Hot Pink.” 　　 Poster of EXID’s mini concert, “EXID’s LEGGO SHOW” (Yedang Entertainment)During the concert, a talk show dubbed “LEGGO Radio” took place. EXID shared stor

Feb. 15, 2016

Herald Phil to perform at ‘Golden Opera’ gala concert

Conductor Kim Bong-mee leads the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra during its concert performance at the Seoul Arts Center last year. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)Following its win at last year’s 8th Korea Opera Awards, the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra will be taking the stage at the upcoming “Golden Opera Gala Concert” on Feb. 22. The gala concert is being held as part of the Korea Opera Awards and will stage performances by all of last year’s winners. The Herald Phil was honored with an arts a

Feb. 14, 2016

DJ Koo named musical director for PyeongChang Olympics test event

Former Clon member and popular local electronic dance music icon DJ Koo (Koo Jun-yup) has been picked as the music director at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games’ second round of test events. “We have selected Koo Jun-yup as the music director at the upcoming ‘2016 FIS Freestyle Ski-Snowboard World Cup’ second test event from the 18th to 28th at the Bokwang Phoenix Park in PyeongChang,” said PyeongChang Organizing Committee President Cho Yang-ho, in a press release Sunday. 

Feb. 14, 2016

Mika takes Seoul to ‘Heaven’

He’s no stranger to Seoul, but that didn’t stop British artist Mika from drawing in thousands on Friday night, performing at a sold-out concert in Seoul as part his three-day South Korean “Heaven” tour.British singer-songwriter Mika performs at a concert in Seoul last Friday. (Yonhap)The singer songwriter lit up Jamsil Arena with sparkles, sequins and confetti in his return to Seoul for the first time in 2016 on Feb. 12. “Good evening, Seoul,” the artist announced, stepping onto the stage in a g

Feb. 14, 2016

N.EX.T urge passage of Shin Hae-chul law

Rock band N.EX.T, formerly led by the late Shin Hae-chul, held a concert at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on Friday.　The concert was aimed at gathering the National Assembly members’ signatures to hold a public hearing for a medical law amendment called the Shin Hae-chul Act, according to KCA Entertainment, the late singer’s agency.The poster for the N.EX.T live concert is seen at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on Friday. (KCA Entertainment)　Singer Hong Kyung-min

Feb. 12, 2016

Insooni denies evading taxes

Veteran singer Insooni denied claims of tax evasion after singer Choi sung-su‘s wife, surnamed Park, accused her of evading about 5 billion won ($4.13 million) in taxes, the singer’s agency Blue Sky Entertainment said Thursday.　Park submitted documents to show tax evasion by the singer in 2008 to the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office and the National Tax Office on Feb. 5.  Insooni (Blue Sky Entertainment)　Park claimed that she had returned 4 billion won of the singer‘s 5 billion won investment in her

Feb. 12, 2016

[Album Review] 'Cold Chilling: Compton' just sort of tepid

California knows how to party. So goes the refrain on 2Pac’s enduring rap favorite “California Love.” That love is on display in the form of an homage on “Cold Chilling: Compton,” an album of reimagined takes on West Coast rap classics.　Musically, the release is polished. The vocals are carefully crafted and the lyrics are true to their origins. But songs like Snoop Dogg's “Gin and Juice,” reworked by The Rooks, seem conflicted. The lyrics don’t seem a solid fit for the mature, lush vocals. More

Feb. 12, 2016

[Album Review] 'The Driver' focuses on love, life on the road

On the song “Leaving Nashville,” singer Charles Kelley delves into the personal and professional struggles that a songwriter faces after tasting a modicum of success. The complex narrative establishes why this member of the country trio Lady Antebellum wanted to record a solo album: Kelley’s intimate, emotional performance would have sounded out of place with a group identified with vocal interplay and harmonies. Charles Kelley “The Driver” (Capitol Records Nashville)　Kelley's album, “The Driver

Feb. 12, 2016

[Album Review] Lucinda Williams' new album isn’t a fun listen

Singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams digs deeper into raw, mystical electric blues on her new double album, “The Ghosts of Highway 20.” Focused on faith, death, the afterlife and rural Southern settings, “Highway 20” sounds like a William Faulkner novel put to music.  Lucinda Williams “The Ghosts of Highway 20” (Highway 20 Records)　It's not a fun listen; it’s not something you'll sing along to; it’s not something you‘ll put on at a party. But it conveys a haunting gravitas that conjures spirits an

Feb. 12, 2016

[Herald Interview] Korea’s buzzing classical music scene

A classical music craze has swept over the country ever since young pianist Cho Seong-jin’s historic win at last year’s International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. He is the first Korean ever to win the prestigious title and his win has helped revive classical music here. Costa Pilavachi, senior vice president of classical artists & repertoire for Universal Music International Group, is among those looking to capitalize on the current buzz in the classical music scene. “Korea is a hot place

Feb. 11, 2016

Top art collection to be shown outside Russia for first time

PARIS (AFP) - One of the world's greatest private collections of modern art is to go on show for the first time outside Russia, museum curators told AFP Wednesday.　The collection of more than 250 paintings put together by Sergei Shchukin before the Russian revolution will go display in its entirety in October at the Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris -- a major coup for the newly-opened gallery. Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris will host “Icons of Modern Art” from Oct. 20 to Jan. 20, showcasing

Feb. 11, 2016

Paul McCartney tries new sound - emojis

NEW YORK (AFP) - The Beatles were masters of concise yet catchy songs and now Paul McCartney is writing tunes that are even more succinct -- to accompany emojis.　The former Beatle announced Wednesday that he has written a series of sounds to go with emojis on video chat service Skype, mostly designed for Valentine‘s Day messages.　“At first I thought, hmm, strange proposition, is this for me? And then I thought, you know what, why not? Something fun, something nice and new,” he said in a video on

Feb. 11, 2016

Hendrix‘s restored flat provides glimpse into swinging '60s London

LONDON (AFP) - “It's like travelling in a time capsule,” enthused Jimi Hendrix’s former girlfriend, marvelling at their old London flat which has been painstakingly recreated to look exactly the way he left it in the swinging 60s.　The apartment where Hendrix and Kathy Etchingham lived between 1968 and 1969, which opens to the public on Wednesday, reveals the ordered domestic life behind the extraordinary U.S. rock star's mind-blowing music. Kathy Etchingham, the former girlfriend of U.S. musicia

Feb. 10, 2016