[Herald Interview] Every word Davii sings is the answer to unanswered questions

Searching for the exact math in music is synonymous with finding a deeper groove. In line with the saying, singer-songwriter Davii reaches out to innovative tunes by interweaving jazz and R&B. And now, the singer aims to lead creative hijinks in the music scene by bringing his studio sounds to the masses. ‘?=1 Re:new’ Love isn’t unique to music -- it’s an element that plays a crucial role in people’s lives and music lovers tend to associate themselves with

K-popDec. 21, 2021

[Herald Review] Three-day Seoul concert links NCT 127 and fans

K-pop boy band NCT 127 reunited with fans in person for the first time in three years through their concert “Neo City : Seoul - The Link” last week. The three-day concert took place on Dec. 17-19 in Gocheock Sky Dome in western Seoul. The recent entertainment was the second concert of NCT 127, a subunit of S.M. Entertainment’s popular boy band NCT, since their debut in July 2016. Chinese member Winwin did not take part, as was the case of the group’s first concert conc

K-popDec. 21, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] aespa remakes 90s hit song

aespa put out its own take on “Dreams Come True,” a 1998 hit song by S.E.S., on Monday. 　 BoA participated in producing the remake for the rookie girl group adding fresh energy and hip-hop vibes to the dreamy sounds of the main track from the second studio album of S.E.S. 　 This is part of a project by label SM Entertainment and YouTube that seeks to upgrade the music videos and songs of legendary artists produced by the entertainment giant from over the past two decades. 　 On Thur

K-popDec. 20, 2021

BTS nominated for 2022 BRIT Awards International Group of the Year

K-pop superband BTS has been nominated for the 2022 BRIT Awards for International Group of the Year, the awards' website showed Sunday. This is the second consecutive year the group has been nominated for the British annual music awards, both times in the same category. BTS will be competing against four other contenders -- ABBA, Maneskin, Silk Sonic and The War On Drugs. The awards ceremony is slated for Feb. 8, 2022. (Yonhap)

K-popDec. 19, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice’s Seoul concert partially canceled

Twice decided to cancel the first show of its three-day concert that was originally planned to start from Dec. 24-26. 　 This is to keep in line with strengthened measures to curb the recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases, according to which the concert venue has to close at 10 p.m. The first day’s concert was to begin at 7:30 p.m. and running time was 2 1/2 hours. 　 The concerts on the following two days start at 6 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively and will be held as scheduled. The Sunday concer

K-popDec. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen dominates Japanese charts with single

Seventeen continues to reign at the top of Japanese charts with its special single “Ainochikara.”  The single topped Billboard Japan’s weekly single sales chart, logging close to 247,000 copies in sales. It also was No. 2 on Billboard Japan’s Hot 100, according to the publication’s latest announcement on Wednesday. It was released on Dec. 8 and landed atop Oricon’s daily single ranking and maintained the spot for six days before hitting its weekly sing

K-popDec. 16, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT sweeps iTunes chart in 30 regions

NCT’s third full-length album “Universe” landed atop iTunes top albums chart in 30 regions as well as all major charts in Korea. 　 The 13-track album was fully unveiled on Tuesday and won the platinum album certification from China’s largest music platform QQ Music for having logged over 1 million yuan ($157,000) in sales. 　 NCT U, a subunit of the 21-member band, performed “Universe (Let’s Play Ball),” one of the double title tracks of the LP, in advan

K-popDec. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT’s 3rd LP sells over 1.7m copies in preorders

NCT has sold more than 1.7 million units of its third full-length album in preorders, according to label SM Entertainment. 　 The album, named “Universe,” is due out Tuesday and would become another million-seller for the band. 　 “Beautiful,” one of the double title tracks, hopes to remind listeners that each and every one of them is a special and unique being, and they should pursue their dreams even though life can be challenging. Johnny, Taeyong, Mark and Hendery part

K-popDec. 14, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s Woozi to drop 1st solo mixtape next month: report

Woozi of Seventeen will put out his first solo mixtape in January, according to a local media report on Monday. 　 He is the leader of the vocal team within the band and has been writing and producing songs as one of the two main producers of the 13-member act since its debut. He won the best producer award at 2021 Asia Artist Awards.  　 “I am overwhelmed and wonder if I deserve to receive an award with such big title when I’m only 26 years old,” said the musician at the c

K-popDec. 13, 2021

[Newsmaker] BTS win big at MAMA with nine trophies, top honors

BTS ruled the night at 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards on Saturday even without attending, as the K-pop megastars nabbed a total of nine trophies, including four grand prizes. The event, held at CJ ENM Content Studio in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, was conducted in person for the first time in two years since the COVID-19 outbreak. After making history at the American Music Awards last month as the first Asian act to grab the top honor, BTS extended their winning streak, taking home all four main p

K-popDec. 12, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez returns to wrap up “Fever” series

Ateez came out with a repackaged EP on Friday, just in time for the holiday season. 　 “It felt as if we were preparing a surprise gift, making music that fans would like to listen to and putting together performances they’ve been waiting for,” said Hongjoong in a statement released by the group’s agency KQ Entertainment. 　 Seonghwa was filled with emotion that the 10-track EP wraps up the “Fever” series and added that he felt that the band was maturing alon

K-popDec. 10, 2021

Monsta X drops new English-language album

South Korean boy group Monsta X released a new English-language album Friday for its international fans, the group's management agency said. The full-length album titled "The Dreaming" hit various music services at midnight, Starship Entertainment said. It is the group's second English album after "All Above Luv" released in February 2020. "This album will once again make us realize that all of us, some of whom have lost lots of things and some others have found hope

K-popDec. 10, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Suga featured in Juice WRLD’s new posthumous album

Suga of BTS made a guest appearance on a track from Juice WRLD’s upcoming posthumous album, “Fighting Demons.” 　 The rapper/producer is the featured artist on “Girl of My Dreams,” confirming a rumor that has been circulating for a while. 　 Suga, along with RM, collaborated with the American rapper, who died two years ago, on “All Night” from the original soundtrack for the mobile game “BTS World.” 　 In addition to his solo works under the

K-popDec. 9, 2021

Verivery successfully kicks off first US tour in LA

To much fanfare, Verivery successfully kicked off their first US tour in Los Angeles, where they reunited with their global fans for the first time since the pandemic outbreak. Marking the first leg of the band’s stateside tour, dubbed “2021 VERIVERY 1st TOUR IN US,” the gig took place at the Vermont Hollywood, a live performance venue in LA, on Dec. 5. As the clock ticked toward 7 p.m., concertgoers started queuing up from the entrance all the way to the end of the street

K-popDec. 9, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT127 maintains spot on Billboard 200 for 11th week

NCT127 extended its stay on the Billboard 200 for another week as its third studio album “Sticker” ranked No. 103 on the newest tally that was announced on Wednesday. 　 The LP hit the chart at No. 3 when it was released in September and topped four more charts from the publication including the top album sales chart. The album sold over 3.58 million copies and swept the charts in Korea, Japan and China. 　 The band will hold its second standalone concert “Neo City: Seoul - The

K-popDec. 8, 2021

BTS secures three prizes at People's Choice Awards

K-pop superband BTS has won three prizes at the 2021 People's Choice Awards, the latest in a series of honors it took home from the United States this year. The South Korean group won the group of 2021 and both the song and the music video of 2021 for its megahit "Butter" at the annual ceremony held in person in Santa Monica, California, Tuesday (US time). The septet, in particular, beat out big name stars, such as Coldplay, Dan + Shay, Jonas Brothers and Maroon 5, to win in the gro

K-popDec. 8, 2021

Justin Bieber to perform at Hybe’s joint year-end hybrid concert

Hybe, home to South Korean pop group BTS, is throwing a live concert featuring its artists to celebrate the end of the year with fans. The concert, titled “2022 Weverse Con [New Era],” will take place at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) located in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. The event will also be streamed live on Weverse, the fan community platform created by the entertainment firm. Under the theme “New Era,” the 220-minute conce

K-popDec. 8, 2021

[Reader's Voice] Feeling alive with BTS: an ARMY’s review of PTD On Stage

I remember the moment when I became a full-fledged Army: I saw screenshots of the “On” kinetic manifesto film on Twitter and was drawn in by the intensity of the visuals and choreography. So, I watched the music video and listened to the song, which was much different from the few BTS songs I’d heard of. As soon as Jungkook hit that high note during the bridge and they went into the dance break, I was a goner. Over the next year and a half, I went from listening (and crying) t

K-popDec. 8, 2021

Mino says music goes infinity and beyond through ‘To Infinity’

When Mino of boy band Winner teased a snippet of his return to the music scene in a visual film with “Mino 3rd Full Album,” little did fans know that the singer would be expanding solo. After a year away from music, Mino hopped back into the pop scene during one of its most vibrant months with the solo release “To Infinity” on Wednesday evening. The solo act said in an online press conference the same day that the album consists of 10 tracks spanning across genres and

K-popDec. 7, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Onewe drops 2nd demo album

Boy band Onewe put out its second demo album “Studio We: Recording #2” on Tuesday.   　 “It feels more special because we can show the whole process of making music,” said Kanghyun through agency RBW Entertainment. Although all fans know the songs, it would let them feel the sensation of listening to them for the first time all over again, he added.   　 The bandmates wrote all the songs themselves, putting all of their hearts and more into their efforts, underli

K-popDec. 7, 2021