[Today’s K-pop] Ateez returns with 7th EP

Ateez came out with its seventh EP “Zero: Fever Part 3” on Monday and discussed new music at an online showcase.   　 “I’ve stayed up all night tingling with excitement,” said leader Hongjoong.   　 The new album deals with the fever and confusion surrounding the youth, he explained, comparing it to the color of blue. The color also is similar to that of the mysterious lights of dawn, just as the world is ready to be revealed, added Yeosang.   　 The

K-popSept. 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink has the most YouTube subscribers among artists

Blackpink became the artist or group with the most subscribers on YouTube around the world.   　 According to label YG Entertainment, subscribers to the girl group’s official channel surpassed 65.2 million Friday afternoon, surpassing Justin Bieber.   　 “It’s unbelievable. It is a moment of miracle made by Blink,” the bandmates said through their management firm, thanking their official fandom.   　 “This is a result achieved with our fans so we hop

K-popSept. 10, 2021

Lisa shows who she is through ‘Lalisa’

After rumors about Lisa’s first-ever solo album circulated months ago, she finally answered questions to the anticipation by stretching her solo legs. Lisa of Blackpink sent fans abuzz with excitement by releasing her first EP, “Lalisa,” which dropped Friday evening. The two-track package aims to talk about who Lisa is, as both the name for the album and its title track go by the singer’s real name, which is why her debut album gives her butterflies, she said during an

K-popSept. 10, 2021

K-pop girl group LOONA set for official debut in Japan next week

K-pop girl group LOONA will make its official debut in Japan with its first Japanese language songs next week, its management agency said Thursday. 　 　The 12-member group will pre-release four songs Wednesday, including double main tracks of its upcoming Japanese album -- “Hula Hoop” and “Starseed: Kakusei” -- according to Blockberry Creative. The group‘s first Japanese album will hit shelves on Oct. 20. 　 　K-pop producer Ryan Jhun co-composed “Hula Hoop,&rdq

K-popSept. 9, 2021

HyunA and Dawn say love is a riddle with ‘Ping Pong’

Soloist HyunA and singer-songwriter Dawn of P Nation released their first-ever duo album, “[1+1=1],” on Thursday, dazzling fans with their sizzling chemistry. The four-track album is packed with stories about love and talks about turning big dreams into reality, conveying their honest feelings, the two musicians said during an online press conference Thursday. Title track “Ping Pong” interweaves Moombahton, a rhythm originated from Dutch house and house music, with 8

K-popSept. 9, 2021

Impact of China’s crackdown on K-pop fandom limited as agencies diversify markets, business models

On Saturday, photos of a Jeju Air airplane featuring BTS’ Jimin on its exterior circulated on Weibo as part of a BTS fan club’s campaign to celebrate the K-pop star’s 26th birthday. K-pop fan clubs often celebrate the birthdays of their stars by buying advertisements in newspapers, on public transport or on subway billboards. But the photos sparked serious backlash in China, and Weibo banned the fan club-run social media account with over 1.1 million followers from posting f

K-popSept. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS gets 400m-plus views for another video

BTS now has as many as 14 music videos with more than 400 million views on YouTube. 　 The kinetic manifesto film for “ON” from its fourth full-length album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” logged 400 million views as of Wednesday. The video features over 30 dancers and a 12-piece marching band, manifesting the band’s energy and determination to accept fate and march forward without hesitation. 　 The septet’s fourth LP landed atop the Billboard 200 when it was released

K-popSept. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to collaborate with Enhyphen

Tomorrow X Together turned out to be the the featured artist in Enhyphen’s soon-to-be-released album.  Taehyun and Huening Kai of TXT appeared in a late-night Japanese radio show hosted by Jay and Niki of Enhyphen on Monday and at the end of the program thanked the two for inviting them.  “It was fun doing this together with Enhyphen. Please have us again,” said Taehyun and Huening Kai. They also told listeners that their first Japanese EP “Chaotic Wonderland&

K-popSept. 7, 2021

[Herald Interview] DPR Live on striving for perfection

It’s often said that one’s life follows one’s name -- how we label ourselves can shape the attitude we take in life, affecting our decision-making, and in end, determining our destiny. And since forming in 2015, Dream Perfect Regime, an independent multi-genre music and video production label, has tried to do just that. “Our spirit was to set the goal as high as possible and just try our best to get the closest we could to it. The dream felt far-off at first, yet we ha

K-popSept. 7, 2021

StayC hopes to break cliches through ‘Stereotype’

StayC returned in nearly five months since they rose to fame with their second single album, “Staydom.” The up-and-coming K-pop rookie act dropped their first EP, “Stereotype,” on Monday evening, in a bid to launch their new songs onto the September music charts. Perky yet mature, the sextet aimed to take another fresh approach to the “teen fresh” genre, a coined term of “teenager” and “fresh,” which represents their unique identity i

K-popSept. 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to put out 1st EP in Japanese

Tomorrow X Together will launch its first Japanese EP on Nov. 10, label Big Hit Music announced Monday. 　 The EP, titled “Chaotic Wonderland,” will consist of four tracks including the Japanese version of “0X1=LOVE SONG (I Know I Love You)” and “MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari)” from the repackaged second LP “The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape,” as well as new songs. 　 The same-titled lead track will feature a yet-to-be-named artist. 　 The boy band

K-popSept. 6, 2021

Young K wishes to convey kaleidoscope of emotions through ‘Eternal’

Young K of boy band Day 6 welcomed autumn by hopping onto the September music chart craze with his first-ever solo album. The singer-turned-soloist’s album “Eternal,” which dropped Monday evening, touches on the different colors and melodies of music. The fall-themed seven-track package aims to talk about “Kang Young-hyun as a person,” referring to his real name, and “Young K as an artist,” the singer and bassist said during an online press conference

K-popSept. 6, 2021

BTS to appear on YouTube music show next week

South Korean superband BTS, along with Coldplay front man, Chris Martin, will appear on YouTube's weekly music show next week, the septet's agency said Saturday. The K-pop sensation and Martin are set to appear on a special episode of YouTube Originals' weekly music series "Released" that will air at 12:45 p.m. Friday, according to Big Hit Music, the group's agency. They are expected to share their experiences as musicians on the global stage and talk about a set of topics, such as

K-popSept. 4, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice gives glimpse of upcoming English-language single

Twice uploaded the first teaser photograph for its first English-language song, “The Feels,” Friday. 　 In the group photo, the nine band members are sitting together in a girly powder room, sporting preppy looks tweaked with trendy accessories. Jeongyeon is with her bandmates even though she is taking some time off, for the second time, due to panic and anxiety attacks since last month. 　 The band released English versions of “More & More,” “I Can’t Stop

K-popSept. 3, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhypen members positive for COVID-19

Five members of Enhypen tested positive for COVID-19, agency Belift Lab announced Thursday. 　 Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake and Sunghoon were found to be infected with the virus during self-quarantine. The bandmates began self-isolating as a preemptive measure on Aug. 26, when they learned a staff member had been diagnosed with COVID-19. 　 Jake started showing symptoms, including a cough and fever, so he got tested and the results came back positive on Monday. The rest of the band showed simila

K-popSept. 2, 2021

[Feature] Goodies and give outs, how K-pop birthdays are celebrated

Signboards welcoming bypassers for a cup of joe, the scent of a fresh bag of coffee beans, little nooks for a sip and music playing in the background are no different from an ordinary cafe. But cafe buffs would see a minor tweak to the definition once stepping inside the venue. Birthday cafes Kim Na-young’s dream was to run a cafe business with her older sister. Although the two are nine years apart, they share similar tastes and hobbies. And after years of talking about living out

K-popSept. 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen to be 11-piece act for rest of 2021

Seventeen will be active as an 11-member group for the remainder of the year so that Chinese bandmates Jun and The8 can focus on activities in their homeland, agency Pledis Entertainment announced on Wednesday. 　 The company supports the activities of all Seventeen’s members, as well as the band as a whole, and is actively looking for opportunities for them at home and abroad, the statement continued. 　 Jun and The8 will work on projects in China that they had postponed, Pledis added, a

K-popSept. 1, 2021

[Photo News] BTS Army euphoric on Jungkook’s birthday

K-pop megastar band BTS’ global fandom gathered at a coffee shop in Yang-jae, southern Seoul, to celebrate Jungkook’s 24th birthday on Saturday. Fans of all ages came together to talk, laugh, share memories and mark the special day with Jungkook-themed goodies and songs.  Since the pandemic has made it impossible for stars to perform at live concerts or hold meet and greets, the BTS Army took to cafes around the country to pay tribute to their favorite singer. 

K-popSept. 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee’s Key to hold online solo concert

Key of Shinee will be hosting an online concert on his own on Sept. 26 that will be livestreamed around the world via Naver’s V Live. 　 The concert, titled “Key: Groks in the Keyland,” will be his first standalone concert in about 2 1/2 years. Tickets to the show will be available for purchase from Sept. 1. 　 In the meantime, his prerelease single “Hate That ...” that came out on Monday hit No. 1 on iTunes’ top songs chart in 10 regions as well as several mu

K-popAug. 31, 2021

[Herald Interview] Band Lucy: Creating music to be heard, seen and felt

Reaching the final stage of 2019 JTBC music competition “Superband,” the show’s runner-up group Lucy brought light upon a genre still unfamiliar and unexplored in the Korean music scene -- ambient pop. With an unconventional harmony of a violin, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drums, and two on vocals, sprinkled with real-life sounds -- self-handedly recorded by the group’s producer and bassist Cho Won-sang -- Lucy’s music was able to help listeners visualize the

K-popAug. 31, 2021